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President Biden Announces Next Step in Reclassification of Cannabis

by Omar Figueroa and Lauren Mendelsohn May 16, 2024   On May 16, 2024, the Biden Administration announced that the United States Department of Justice is taking the next step in the reclassification of cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III controlled substance — which would […]

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Update on the Legal Consequences of Rescheduling Marijuana

by Omar Figueroa & Lauren Mendelsohn May 1, 2024 Yesterday, we wrote that the Drug Enforcement Administration is anticipated to support the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.  Today, the Congressional Research Service issued an updated report on the Legal Consequences of Rescheduling […]

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DEA to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III controlled substance

by Omar Figueroa and Lauren Mendelsohn April 30, 2024 On April 30, 2024, the Associated Press reported that the “U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.”  The proposal would “not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use” but “would move marijuana from its current […]

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California Attorney General Issues Legal Opinion on Interstate Cannabis Commerce

by Omar Figueroa December 21, 2023   On December 19, 2023, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a legal opinion addressing the question of whether an agreement between California and out-of-state licensees would result in significant legal risk to the State of California and its officials under the federal Controlled […]

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Governor Newsom Vetoes SB-58, Preventing Possession of Small Amounts of Psilocybin and Other Psychedelics from Becoming Legal in California

October 7, 2023   Today, in a major upset to drug policy reformers, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 58, a landmark piece of legislation that would have legalized certain activities involving a set list of psychedelic substances (including psilocybin, psilocyn, spores capable of producing “magic mushrooms,” DMT, and […]

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Recommends that Cannabis Be Rescheduled to Schedule III Under Federal Law

by Omar Figueroa and Lauren Mendelsohn August 30, 2023 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is suggesting that cannabis should be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law. This significant shift reflects the view that cannabis no longer has a high potential for abuse […]

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The Legality of Magic Mushrooms in California in 2023

by Omar Figueroa March 27, 2023 California has been at the forefront of psychedelic policy change for years.  In 2019, the City of Oakland became “the first in the nation to decriminalize a wide range of psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca.”  Similarly, in early 2020, city leaders in […]

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Application Form for Federal Marijuana Pardon Certificates Now Available

by Omar Figueroa March 3, 2023 On March 3, 2023, the United States Department of Justice announced that those pardoned under the October 6, 2022 proclamation by President Biden could now apply to receive a certificate of proof of pardon:   Today, the Justice Department is launching an application for […]

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