The U.S. Department of Justice announced on April 23rd that it is reducing restrictions on specific cannabis products while speeding up efforts to reclassify marijuana as a less harmful substance. This development represents one of the most significant changes to American drug policy in decades.
The reclassification effort would mark an initial step toward bridging the substantial gap between state and federal cannabis regulations, given that marijuana is already permitted in various forms across more than 40 states nationwide.
Currently, marijuana is classified in the same category as heroin and LSD. The proposed reclassification would shift it to Schedule III, placing it in the same group as codeine-containing Tylenol and ketamine.
Medical cannabis has been legalized in various forms across 47 states, three U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
The following breakdown shows which states permit recreational marijuana use versus those allowing only medical applications:
States permitting recreational use: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Maryland, and Colorado. Washington D.C., Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands also allow recreational use.
States allowing medical use only: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Wyoming.
