Last Thursday, California legislators filed a joint resolution formally urging Congress to pass a law reclassifying cannabis [tweet this]. While a long shot, this move could have massive implications on everything from research to civil rights to banking.

What’s going on? Marijuana is currently known as a Schedule I drug -- the most restrictive -- with the federal government claiming it’s abusive and has “no known medical use” (cough, bullshit, cough).



In 1970, the government cracked down on pot by classifying it as Schedule I -- comparing it to heroin, claiming it’s more dangerous than meth, and restricting it to the fullest extent of the law. Though the bill was intended to be temporary until more research was done, the classification prevented that same research from happening. Add in Nixon, racism, and political apathy and you get modern day prohibition.



Though numerous attempts have been made to re-classify it since then, hearing it from the 6th largest economy in world might finally make the government take notice.

Why is this important? If Congress listens to California, the floodgates will open on cannabis research, finance and even civil rights.



One of the largest fallouts from a Schedule I classification is the inability to conduct large-scale research on the drug. This leads to a whole lot of bunk science and general ignorance. Also, national banks fear that opening cannabis-related bank accounts might break federal law. This causes the industry to be intensely cash-heavy and creates major issues and unnecessary danger. Finally, some have claimed the scheduling of the drug leads to major civil rights violations, unfairly treating those with a medical necessity.



So, will it actually happen? Fortune cookie says….Maybe! While it may be difficult in a Republican-controlled Congress, the country is moving that way anyway, so many believe it’s an eventuality.



Either way, states have adopted their own rules, counting on the government to look the other way. So fear not, Californians...even if the feds are square, your local government is still the best smoke buddy you can wish for 🌬️ .