KENTUCKY (WOWK) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is supporting a federal proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that would ease restrictions on marijuana.

If the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration approves the recommendation, marijuana would be rescheduled from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act . Beshear says he believes the step would help patients by creating an alternative to deadly opioids, reducing crime and illicit drug use.

The governor also says he believes rescheduling marijuana would help to create a fair market for cannabis businesses.

“As Governor, my job is to move our state forward,” Beshear said. “Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III is a significant, common-sense step forward for all Kentuckians, especially those with significant medical conditions.”

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As a Schedule I drug, marijuana has the same classification as LSD, ecstasy and heroin as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” according to the governor’s office and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The scheduling also places it above dangerous Schedule II drugs such as fentanyl, oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine and methadone.

Moving the drug to Schedule III would place it on the same level as ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone and products with less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit such as Tylenol with codeine. According to the US DEA, these products are considered as having a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” and have a lower abuse potential than Schedule I and II drugs. For more information on the US DEA’s drug scheduling, click here .

Beshear pointed out that research has shown marijuana does have accepted medical uses.

“But the jury is no longer out on marijuana: It has medical uses and is currently being used for medical purposes,” Beshear said in the letter. “The recognition is overwhelming – and bipartisan. For example, I signed a medical marijuana law that passed with support from Republican legislative supermajorities and a Democratic Governor.”

Last year, Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 , which legalized medical marijuana in the Bluegrass State. That law goes into effect in January. In November 2022, he signed an executive order to allow Kentuckians with certain severe medical conditions who meet specific requirements to possess and use small amounts of legally purchased medical cannabis to treat their conditions.

According to the governor’s office, the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis is currently accepting applications for cannabis business licenses through the online Business Licencing Applications through Aug. 31

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