A coalition of Republican state attorneys general are criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to federally reschedule marijuana, saying cannabis is “properly” classified as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“Since before President Trump took office, many of us…have argued against the rescheduling of marijuana as a Schedule I drug,” the attorneys general of Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming said in a joint statement on Thursday. “We all believe the science surrounding marijuana—which has become only more clear in recent weeks—properly establishes it as a Schedule I drug, and we have seen firsthand the harm the drug has caused in our communities.”
The statement, led by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R), who has separately sought to overturn his state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law, says the “negative impacts of expanded marijuana use, especially on children and adolescents, are worrisome.”
“And the public policy challenges, such as the exponential increase in difficult-to-combat driving under the influence, are both significant and serious,” the coalition of GOP AGs said. “We have conveyed our concerns to the Administration, and we are grateful for the Administration’s good faith consideration of our views.”
“Because of our long-held views, we are concerned with the issuance of this Executive Order, which directs the U.S. Attorney General to ‘take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III,’” they said. “We will evaluate the order closely to determine how we can best continue to engage, protect the public health, and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
Separately, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) revealed in a press released that he and other state attorneys general “had a conference call with the White House regarding the implementation and effect of the President’s Executive Order” on Thursday after Trump held a signing ceremony.
Jackley “greatly appreciates President Trump’s Administration’s open and continued dialogue with the Attorneys General,” he said.
“It is important to recognize that the federal rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug does not criminally legalize marijuana under federal law. Also, current federal law also does not permit a licensed physician to prescribe marijuana until marijuana receives FDA approval,” Jackley said. “Marijuana use and possession is also illegal under South Dakota state law for recreational use, and permissible only for medical purposes with a valid prescription, a medical card, and from a licensed medical marijuana facility.”
Earlier this week, groups of House and Senate Republican lawmakers sent letters urging Trump not to reschedule cannabis. Trump, however, dismissed those concerns—pointing out that an overwhelming majority of Americans support the reform and that cannabis can help people—including his personal friends—who are suffering from serious health issues.
Rescheduling will not federally legalize cannabis. But the policy change will allow state-licensed marijuana businesses to take federal tax deductions they’ve been deprived under an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. It will also remove certain research barriers applied to Schedule I drugs.
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