"Potential Rescheduling of Marijuana: Implications for the Cannabis Industry"

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended downgrading marijuana from a Schedule 1 substance to Schedule 3, which would acknowledge its medical value and end the tax rule 280E that has burdened the cannabis industry. While this move would be a significant step toward federal marijuana policy reform, it would not fully resolve the contradictions in weed's legal status and would still be subject to federal enforcement. The proposal is seen as a compromise option, but some in the industry fear it could perpetuate the quasi-legal status of cannabis and potentially benefit the pharmaceutical industry.