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Will Donald Trump Presidency Deschedule Marijuana?

By Bella Harshan | Update Date: Nov 14, 2016 08:22 AM EST

At present, medical and recreational marijuana is legal in the following US states: Alaska, Colorado, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Donald Trump has stated that, the decision to legislate marijuana is a state's right. Although he said that he would respect a state's decision to regulate their marijuana industry, he did not make any suggestions regarding the federal government taking efforts to legalize the drug. Earlier, Trump has stated in an interview that legalization of drugs is US's solution to win its war on drugs.

During his election campaigns, Trump had expressed his interest in amending the current illegitimate status of marijuana. According to him, the status of marijuana would be moved to a Schedule 2 or lower substance from its current Schedule 1 status. Schedule 1 substances are those that are illegal and medically ineffective.

Trump is in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, which is clearly evident from his public speeches. By legalizing medical marijuana at the federal level, universities, researchers, and drug companies will have easier access to cannabis, in the form of medical research on the drug. With marijuana going legitimate and legal, physicians would be authorized to offer it as a prescription drug.

Whilst the decision to legitimate medical marijuana is almost certain, the use of recreational marijuana still remains illegal at the national level. As a result, the license to buy, grow or retail recreational marijuana remains constrained and is dependent on the law of each state.

At present, small players will still have the control of the industry. When the Trump government decriminalizes and legalizes medical marijuana, cannabis is expected to be a regulated drug under the strict regulation of Food and Drug Administration of US. FDA would inspect the facilities where marijuana is grown, and it will be responsible for approving standards of medical-marijuana companies. 

From being a federally illegal and medically ineffective drug to a medically beneficial drug, marijuana's status can soon be expected to change with Trump Presidency.

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