Posted: | April 20, 2023 12:31 PM |
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From: | Representative Christopher M. Rabb and Rep. Danilo Burgos, Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, Rep. Joseph C. Hohenstein, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Rep. Maureen E. Madden, Rep. Jeanne McNeill, Rep. Darisha K. Parker, Rep. Benjamin V. Sanchez, Rep. Michael H. Schlossberg |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | De-scheduling Cannabis as a Highly Addictive and Dangerous Substance |
Defined by the United States government as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use, Schedule I substances often include things like heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and surprisingly, cannabis. However, cannabis is regulated and used medicinally in 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia, with adult-use regulation in 21 states and two territories. While Schedule I and Schedule II substances, like the incredibly dangerous fentanyl, kill tens of thousands of Americans annually, cannabis is being recognized by states as a low-risk, medically necessary substance, yet it continues to be kept on the federal drug scheduling list. For this reason, we will be reintroducing a resolution (formerly HR 158) which urges the federal government to remove cannabis from Schedule I.Doing this would facilitate medical research, ensure patient access, and remove federal prohibitions. Countless lives would be improved and billions would be saved by reducing the unnecessary incarceration of individuals arrested for low-level cannabis offenses. As legislators, we must raise up the voices of our constituents when they tell us something is amiss. By showing our support for de-scheduling cannabis, Pennsylvania can be part of the push to equitably legalize this historically villainized plant. Please join us in taking this first, important step to push Washington to de-schedule cannabis. |
Introduced as HR420