As the U.S. government moves toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, there may be little immediate impact in the dozen states that have not already legalized cannabis for widespread medical or recreational use by adults. “It is very common for a state legislator to tell me, ‘Well, I might be able to support this, but . I’m not going to vote for something that’s illegal under federal law,’” said Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for cannabis legalization. Although a proposal to reclassify marijuana would not make it legal, “it is a historic and meaningful change at the federal level that I think is going to give many state lawmakers a little less hesitation to support a bill,” Schweich added.
Some dispensaries owners warn that moving the plant to a Schedule III classification could open the cannabis market to larger retail pharmacies who already have the capacity and licensure to dispense Schedule III drugs with a prescription.