US to reclassify weed as a less dangerous drug

The US Department of Justice said on ​Thursday it would immediately loosen restrictions on some marijuana products and move quickly to reclassify the drug as less dangerous, in one of the biggest changes to ‌US drug policy in decades.

The move does not legalize marijuana across the United States, but it is likely to reshape the $47 billion industry, which has faced continued barriers at the federal level, even as all but two US states have legalized it in some form for medical use and nearly half have legalized it for recreational use as well.

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State-regulated medical marijuana products now would be moved from a group of drugs classified ​as highly addictive, such as heroin, to a less restrictive category for products that have a low to moderate potential for abuse, including common painkillers, ketamine and ​testosterone. 

Marijuana products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration also would be moved to that category.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said ⁠the US government would also fast-track a broader effort that would reclassify all uses of the psychoactive plant as less dangerous.

The measures are likely to lower barriers for research, ease tax ​burdens and make it easier for firms to secure funding.

“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors ​with more reliable information," Blanche said in a statement.

The move follows a December executive order from President Donald Trump directing the Justice Department to loosen marijuana restrictions.—Reuters