In Response to Calls for Cannabis Decriminalization: Evaluating the Implications of Rescheduling

Written By Tara Eveland

While HHS's recommendation is seen by the majority as a potential step forward, many cannabis industry groups are sounding the alarm and urging the public to look below the surface of yet another government promise.

One critical aspect that reform advocates underscore in this statement is that rescheduling cannabis wouldn't automatically lead to the release of current cannabis convicts or the expungement of related records. Furthermore, the unresolved issues of immigration-related consequences and eligibility for public benefits would persist. The criminalization's disproportionate impact on Black and Latino communities would continue, despite the change in scheduling