Marijuana is a natural plant that helps people address concerns ranging from chronic pain, to seizures and migraines, to side-effects of chemotherapy, to PTSD, and more. Yet for decades, the U.S. government has categorized this plant as
a "Schedule I" drug, meaning it was (wrongly) considered equally as dangerous - and addictive - as heroin.
Luckily, the U.S. government is finally adjusting this decision, as it rushes to appease voters before the November midterm elections. In fact, Attorney General Todd Blanche
just moved to reclassify marijuana down to the less-severe "Schedule III" category.This is an important step forward for the U.S. Now, the government must go further by decriminalizing this natural medicine, commuting sentences, and expunging the records of people who were convicted on non-violent marijuana charges! Sign the petition!The reclassification down to Schedule III will already help people in the U.S. in many ways. One major shift is that now, it will be much easier for scientists and doctors to research the medical potential of marijuana.
But it's not only about medicine, research, and access. Criminalizing plants and people who use them has led to
an explosion in criminal convictions in the U.S., and a surge in prison populations. This has disproportionately affected people of color, especially Black Americans. The deeply racist War on Drugs ripped families apart and ruined lives. Between 2001 and 2010 alone,
there were over 8 million marijuana-related arrests, which is the equivalent of one arrest every 37 seconds. Black people are 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.
While it's wonderful news that marijuana is being reclassified in the U.S., it's not enough. Millions of people who did nothing more than use a plant had their lives turned upside down. The Trump government must also commute their sentences and expunge their records! Sign the petition!