TODAY, MY ADMINISTRATION TOOK A MAJOR STEP. IT’S A MAJOR MOVE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE PROPOSAL TO DOWNGRADE MARIJUANA FROM A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG, LIKE HEROIN AND ECSTASY TO A SCHEDULE THREE, LIKE TYLENOL WITH CODEINE. IT IS A REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S HISTORIC MARIJUANA ANNOUNCEMENT. ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL AND PROGRESSIVE THAT WE’VE SEEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LITERALLY IN DECADES. AS MILWAUKEE’S MAYOR EXPECTS THE CHANGE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR SOME. SO WHAT EXACTLY WILL CHANGE FOR MILWAUKEEANS AND WISCONSINITES? SO THIS BUILDS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ACTIONS OVER THE COURSE OF HIS FIRST TERM, WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CONVICTIONS, FEDERAL CONVICTIONS FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION, THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE, UM, UH, THOSE CHARGES REMOVED SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE. SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT. UH, SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO BUSINESS LOANS. SENATOR LATONYA JOHNSON HOPES MORE WILL COME OF IT. IT WILL PREVENT THOSE BARRIERS. IT WILL PREVENT THAT ARGUMENT THAT MARIJUANA IS SO, JUST SO DANGEROUS THAT IT’S CLASSIFIED AS A AS A SCHEDULE ONE. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE MOMENTUM FORWARD AND TO GET THIS PASSED HERE IN WISCONSIN, REPUBLICANS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, BUT IT FAILED TO GAIN TRACTION. WE DOES REMAIN ILLEGAL IN WISCONSIN. IN MILWAUKEE MALLORY ANDERSON WISN 12 NEWS. RECLASSIFICATION COULD BE A LENGTHY PROCESS. IT BEGINS WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,
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Federal Marijuana Reform: Milwaukee applauds Biden’s historic announcement
Milwaukee and state leaders held a press conference Friday celebrating President Joe Biden's announcement of a proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug
Anchor/Reporter
Milwaukee and state leaders held a press conference Friday celebrating President Joe Biden's announcement of a Department of Justice proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. "It is really great to be here to celebrate President Joe Biden's historic marijuana announcement, one of the most consequential and progressive that we've seen from the federal government literally in decades," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.Milwaukee's mayor expects the change will open doors for those with previous convictions."This builds on President Biden's actions over the course of his first term, working to make sure that people who have had convictions, federal convictions for marijuana possession, that they have the opportunity to have those those charges removed," Mayor Johnson said. "So they have opportunities to be able to buy a house. So they have opportunities to gain employment. So they have opportunity to have access to business loans."The downgrade means marijuana would be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III.Schedule I is considered the most dangerous classification, and drugs with this designation are defined as substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Right now, heroin, LSD, and ecstasy are classified as Schedule I, along with marijuana. A Schedule III drug under federal law is defined as a drug with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Examples of Schedule III drugs are Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.Senator LaTonya Johnson hopes this new designation will move the needle on legalizing marijuana use in Wisconsin."It will prevent that argument that marijuana is just so dangerous, that it's classified as a Schedule I," said Sen. Johnson. "That's exactly what we need, to continue to push the momentum forward and to get this passed here in Wisconsin."Some Wisconsin Republicans recently introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana, but it failed to gain traction.For now, weed does remain illegal in Wisconsin, both medically and recreationally. Reclassification at the federal level could be a lengthy process. It begins now, with public comment on the proposal for the next two months.
MILWAUKEE —
Milwaukee and state leaders held a press conference Friday celebrating President Joe Biden's announcement of a Department of Justice proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
"It is really great to be here to celebrate President Joe Biden's historic marijuana announcement, one of the most consequential and progressive that we've seen from the federal government literally in decades," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
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Milwaukee's mayor expects the change will open doors for those with previous convictions.
"This builds on President Biden's actions over the course of his first term, working to make sure that people who have had convictions, federal convictions for marijuana possession, that they have the opportunity to have those those charges removed," Mayor Johnson said. "So they have opportunities to be able to buy a house. So they have opportunities to gain employment. So they have opportunity to have access to business loans."
The downgrade means marijuana would be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III.
Schedule I is considered the most dangerous classification, and drugs with this designation are defined as substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Right now, heroin, LSD, and ecstasy are classified as Schedule I, along with marijuana.
A Schedule III drug under federal law is defined as a drug with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Examples of Schedule III drugs are Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
Senator LaTonya Johnson hopes this new designation will move the needle on legalizing marijuana use in Wisconsin.
"It will prevent that argument that marijuana is just so dangerous, that it's classified as a Schedule I," said Sen. Johnson. "That's exactly what we need, to continue to push the momentum forward and to get this passed here in Wisconsin."
Some Wisconsin Republicans recently introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana, but it failed to gain traction.
For now, weed does remain illegal in Wisconsin, both medically and recreationally.
Reclassification at the federal level could be a lengthy process. It begins now, with public comment on the proposal for the next two months.
Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift
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