LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The federal government is moving forward with reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
It's the first step in a lengthy process, but if approved, that could mean changes to several state laws, including in Arkansas.
This could be one of the most significant changes in U.S. drug policy in more than 50 years. President Biden said he wants to reverse years of injustice by making this change.
"Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana," President Biden said in a video. "I'm committed to righting those wrongs."
The Department of Justice gave its plan to reclassify marijuana to the federal register.
It would move marijuana from a Schedule I drug, like heroin and ecstasy, down to a Schedule III drug with steroids.
Drugs in this category are considered less dangerous and addictive. It also means the consequences of using them are less severe.
While 24 states have legalized marijuana and 14 others have medical laws, if this proposal passes, then there could be trigger laws for specific states.
Arkansas is working on expanding the medical marijuana program, which includes a trigger law in this newest amendment.
"There is a trigger law if it becomes federally legal," said Melissa Fults with the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment 2024.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 is collecting signatures to get on the November ballot.
If passed, the amendment would not only include a trigger law if marijuana becomes legal nationally. In the meantime, it will expand the medical program to allow a caregiver, such as a pharmacist or nurse, to be able to prescribe marijuana as they see fit.
"This is not about money," Fults said. "This is about patients."
There's still a little more than a month to collect signatures. Petitioners said they are almost at the 90,000 mark, which is what is needed to get on the ballot. They are aiming to get 150,000 signatures for padding.