Voice Your Support: DEA Public Comment Period on Cannabis Legalization

July 6th, 2024 Legislation & Policy Updates
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The DEA is currently accepting public comments for two more weeks regarding cannabis legalization. Despite an estimated 70% of American voters supporting the legalization of cannabis for recreational use by individuals 21 and older, the DEA has received only 27,000 comments, far from a representative sample of public opinion.

Why Your Voice Matters

Cannabis Legalization and Rescheduling

This is a critical time to support the legalization and rescheduling of cannabis. A greater number of public comments are needed to accurately reflect the public's interest in this issue.

Economic Impacts

Legalizing and regulating cannabis can create jobs, generate tax revenue, and stimulate economic growth.

Criminal Justice Reform

Legalization can reduce incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses and help expunge records for past cannabis-related convictions. This would save government resources and focus on more serious issues such as drug trafficking, while also restoring individual freedoms.

Medical Benefits

Many patients rely on cannabis for medical treatments. Rescheduling can enhance research opportunities and improve accessibility. Cannabis contains a variety of natural cannabinoids with medical potential beyond THC and CBD, including some that are non-psychoactive.

Public Health and Safety

Regulation ensures product safety and quality, protecting consumers from harmful substances and impurities. This can lead to a better understanding of the long-term effects of cannabis use.

Preventing Harmful Practices

Advocate for safer production practices. While some safety measures are in place, such as child-proof packaging and lab test results on labels, there is no framework to prevent harmful practices similar to those seen in the tobacco and alcohol industries.

  • Tobacco: Cigarette manufacturers add over 600 chemicals to tobacco to "improve the experience," making cigarettes more harmful and addictive. Similar practices could affect cannabis if preventative measures are not implemented.
  • Alcohol: Alcohol products often lack nutrition labels and fail to disclose adverse health effects. This issue could also affect cannabis products, including flower and edibles.

Additional Advocacy Opportunities

Psychedelics

Advocate for the legalization and decriminalization of other substances, such as psychedelics, which have been unfairly demonized and criminalized. Some psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms, could be legal for recreational use, while others, like LSD, MDMA, mescaline, and ibogaine, have significant medicinal value.

Tobacco and Alcohol Regulations

Advocate for stricter regulations on cigarettes, such as child-proof packaging, lab test results, and limits on additives. Similarly, push for alcohol products to improve transparency and safety measures.

Consistent Regulations Across Substances

Advocate for consistent regulations across all substances. Flavored cannabis and tobacco products are often targeted for appealing to children, yet similar marketing tactics are prevalent in alcohol products. Consistent standards can address these inconsistencies. Currently, products like SunnyD vodka and Voltron beer are available on shelves, while clove cigarettes and flavored vapes are banned.

Participate in the DEA's public comment period, contact your representatives and congresspeople, and encourage others to do the same. Act now to ensure your voice is heard before the deadline! Please share this information.

Important Links

Need help figuring out what to say? Use these customizable boilerplates to effectively voice your support.


Submit this template to the DEA comment form to express your support for cannabis rescheduling. Replace [Your Name] with your own name to ensure your voice is heard in this important discussion.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my strong support for the rescheduling of cannabis. This policy change is essential for several key reasons:

- Economic Benefits: Legalization and regulation of cannabis can drive job creation, generate tax revenue, and stimulate economic growth.

- Criminal Justice Reform: Reducing incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses and expunging past cannabis-related convictions will save government resources and restore individual freedoms.

- Medical Benefits: Many patients depend on cannabis for medical treatments. Rescheduling will enhance research opportunities and accessibility, helping unlock the therapeutic potential of various cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD, including non-psychoactive compounds.

- Public Health and Safety: Regulatory measures ensure product safety and quality, protecting consumers from harmful substances and impurities, and promoting a better understanding of the long-term effects of cannabis use.

- Preventing Harmful Practices: A robust regulatory framework can prevent harmful practices seen in other industries, such as the addition of harmful chemicals in tobacco or the lack of transparency in alcohol products.

Furthermore, I advocate for the consistent regulation of all substances, ensuring fair and uniform standards across cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol products. This approach will address market inconsistencies and promote fairness.

With overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization, it is crucial that our voices are heard in this process. Thank you for considering my perspective.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]


Use this template to convey your support for rescheduling cannabis to your representatives. Make sure to personalize it by changing [Recipient's Name], [Your Name], [Your Address], [City, State, ZIP Code], and [Email Address] with your own information.

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am writing to express my strong support for the rescheduling of cannabis. As a concerned citizen, I believe this change is crucial for several important reasons:

- Economic Benefits: Legalizing and regulating cannabis will create jobs, generate tax revenue, and stimulate economic growth. This can provide much-needed financial support to our communities.

- Criminal Justice Reform: Legalization will reduce incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses and help expunge records for past cannabis-related convictions. This will save government resources and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious issues, while also restoring the freedoms of many individuals.

- Medical Benefits: Many patients rely on cannabis for medical treatments. Rescheduling will improve research opportunities and accessibility, allowing for the exploration of the therapeutic potential of various cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD, including non-psychoactive compounds.

- Public Health and Safety: Regulation ensures product safety and quality, protecting consumers from harmful substances and impurities. This can lead to a better understanding of the long-term effects of cannabis use and promote responsible consumption.

- Preventing Harmful Practices: Implementing a robust regulatory framework will prevent harmful practices seen in other industries, such as the addition of harmful chemicals in tobacco or the lack of transparency in alcohol products.

Additionally, I urge you to consider advocating for the consistent regulation of all substances, ensuring that the same standards are applied to cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol products. This will address inconsistencies and promote fairness in the market.

This is a pivotal moment for cannabis policy, and public support is overwhelmingly in favor of legalization. I hope that my voice, along with the voices of many others, will be heard and considered in this decision-making process.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]

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