Gov. Beshear supports proposal easing restrictions on marijuana

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – According to officials with Governor Beshear’s office, Governor Beshear is supporting a federal proposal to ease restrictions on marijuana.

Officials say on Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), expressing his support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that the DEA ease restrictions on marijuana.

According to officials with Gov. Beshear’s office, the move would reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Gov. Beshear wrote that the step would help patients have an alternative to deadly opioids and continued access to safe products and help communities further reduce crime and illicit drug use. Rescheduling would also create fair markets by placing cannabis businesses on the same economic footing as any other business and provide real opportunities for research on marijuana.

Officials say as a Schedule I drug, marijuana is currently in the same classification as heroin and LSD as having “no current accepted medical use.” It places marijuana as more dangerous than Schedule II drugs such as fentanyl, oxycodone, methadone, methamphetamine and Vicodin.

“But the jury is no longer out on marijuana: It has medical uses and is currently being used for medical purposes,” Gov. 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.”

The letter can be viewed below.

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