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Biden urges HHS to lower penalties for weed possession, use ahead of presidential election
Post Millennial ^ | Aug 31, 2023 | Sara Higdon

Posted on 09/01/2023 11:28:52 AM PDT by Red Badger

Jean-Pierre claimed President Biden "has always supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes..."

Almost 14 months out till the 2024 Presidential election, the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Tuesday to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substance Act at the request of President Biden.

According to Bloomberg, a DEA spokesperson confirmed the department received a letter from HHS Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Anne Milgram with the request, and will now initiate its own review of the drug.

When asked about the recommendation Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "The President asked the Secretary of the HHS and also the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to review how marijuana is scheduled."

"The administration process is an independent process want to be very clear on that that is led by HHS and DOJ, it is going to be very much guided by evidence," She added.

Currently, as a Schedule I drug, marijuana is classified as a "drug with no currently accepted medical use, and a high potential for abuse" and is considered the same legally as heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD,) and ecstasy.

Under the recommended Schedule III, it would be defined as a drug "with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence," and placed alongside Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

Jean-Pierre went on to claim that President Biden "has always supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes... consistent with medical and scientific evidence." She added, "That is why it is important for this review this independent review that is going to be again, and guided by evidence."

President Biden acknowledged in 2019 that he hadn't always gotten it right when it came to cannabis. He said, "I haven't always been right. I know we haven't always gotten things right [regarding incarcerations for marijuana offenses], but I've always tried."

As recently as 2010 he told ABC that he believed it was a gateway drug. "There's a difference between sending someone to jail for a few ounces [of marijuana] and legalizing it. The punishment should fit the crime. But I think legalization is a mistake. I still believe [marijuana] is a gateway drug," the then Vice President said.

As a Senator during the 1980s and 1990s, Biden sponsored several pieces of legislation that were tough on drugs and drug users.

In March of 2021, the administration asked all staffers to fill out a background check form and subsequently fired anyone who checked yes to ever trying marijuana even if it was legal in the person's state.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Gardening; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: ganja; grass; hashish; marijuana

1 posted on 09/01/2023 11:28:52 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

He urgently needs the zombie vote!


2 posted on 09/01/2023 11:31:30 AM PDT by AZJeep
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To: Red Badger

Is an election coming up? Last time the bastard bought votes with Student Loan “forgiveness” and draining the Strategic Petroleum Preserve.

He’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel by going for the stoner vote.


3 posted on 09/01/2023 11:35:24 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Biden’s affinity for pot makes we wonder if his mental state is related to the “weed of wisdom”.


4 posted on 09/01/2023 11:39:52 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERBODY'S BUSINESS-REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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To: AZJeep

It’s a State’s Rights issue, entirely. Damned political football that helps the Dems get out the vote.


5 posted on 09/01/2023 11:39:54 AM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (We had enough government in 1789)
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To: Nextrush

Affinity? Per the actual record he’s been about as anti-cannabis as anyone in the Senate for many years. He is the most anti-cannabis Democrat around. Ignore the words, look at the record.


6 posted on 09/01/2023 11:44:41 AM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (We had enough government in 1789)
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To: Red Badger

They definitely want us high, content, and stupid. Not obliging.


7 posted on 09/01/2023 11:48:43 AM PDT by kelly4c
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To: Red Badger

Please ping me when it drops from a schedule one drug. Until then, it’s just the rag weed talking.


8 posted on 09/01/2023 11:52:13 AM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: Red Badger

As I have been saying, here is the three pillars (one additionally possible) of the Democrat’s 2024 campaign strategy:

1) Weed. One way or another they will make the 2024 election a referendum on legalizing Marijuana at the federal level.

2) Abortion. Some event will occur where they will absolutely flog the abortion issue ahead of 2024. Mark my words.

3) Race. Again, watch for some ginned up racial event Democrats will exploit right into November 2024.

4) Mass shooting. It is certainly a possibility there will a traumatic mass shooting to be exploited.


9 posted on 09/01/2023 11:54:04 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: kelly4c

How does that expression go?

Bread and Circuses and Weed, or something like that


10 posted on 09/01/2023 11:54:57 AM PDT by C210N (We're at war: Make them have to cheat so much it becomes comical, then ridicule them into oblivion.)
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To: kelly4c

>They definitely want us high, content, and stupid. <

Just like in “Brave New World”.......................


11 posted on 09/01/2023 11:56:29 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

“...reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substance Act...”

Why not do the same for Vicodin, Kommie Bass Turds


12 posted on 09/01/2023 11:58:33 AM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: Red Badger

Not enough drunks on the road causing head-ons. We need more potheads too.


13 posted on 09/01/2023 11:59:16 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Vendome

It supposedly causes heart attacks.................


14 posted on 09/01/2023 11:59:22 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Republican in occupied CA

He is an opportunistic pol as malleable as a willow switch. He changes his spots at the drop of a hat. (three mixed metaphors — not bad)


15 posted on 09/01/2023 12:02:55 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Most of his time in the Senate he was the *MOST* big corporation owned politician ever.


16 posted on 09/01/2023 12:33:53 PM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (We had enough government in 1789)
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To: Red Badger

Encouraging your supporters to get stoned during election season might not be a good idea. Stoners are great at blowing off appointments (like going to vote).


17 posted on 09/01/2023 12:39:07 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a strong bias will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: Red Badger

HHS can’t change the law. Only Congress can. But what does this corrupt Administration care about that?


18 posted on 09/01/2023 3:17:17 PM PDT by popdonnelly (All the enormous crimes in history have been committed by governments.)
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To: Obadiah

Sorry, but I don’t think that’s nearly enough to push him over the line. Those are things usually used for lower turnout state elections. A presidential election never fills that role. We are routinely spending $1500.00 monthly on groceries now. Gas is murdering the American budget as well. Don’t think it goes unnoticed that while money & opportunities are routinely drying up for Americans, Washington is focused on Ukraine & keeping our southern border as porous as possible. If I read one response about how none of it matters anyway because Democrats will cheat in the election, I’m gonna blow a fuse. I hope the folks who deploy that argument know that you inadvertently are creating a reality on our side where people aren’t showing up because they now believe that there isn’t any point. Not to say that they don’t cheat- they obviously do. But I do think that the argument needs to change & push for our side to show up & overcome it 😉


19 posted on 09/01/2023 3:30:48 PM PDT by redheadedshannon
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To: Red Badger

Mandating a poison and outlawing a weed. Thank you government.


20 posted on 09/02/2023 5:28:58 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
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