SPOKANE, Wash. – The Trump administration is taking steps to reclassify marijuana at the federal level, according to a recent report. This change aims to expand medical research opportunities but will not make the drug legal.
Marijuana would be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III, allowing researchers greater access to study its medical uses and potential risks. Spokane regional health leaders say this research could help guide safer use, especially as marijuana products continue to change.
“The ability to have research is always going to be a positive thing because then we can really start to say like, hey, you know what? The super high THC concentrate isn’t the best thing. If we’re also looking at marijuana usage and trying to say like, what is the best thing for people who have chronic illness and disease,” said Josh Pierce, Program Manager from Spokane Regional Health District.
The Spokane Regional Health District noted that the change would not affect Washington’s marijuana laws. However, it could shape future public health decisions nationwide.
