President Joe Biden has been accused of yet another election ploy to appeal to younger voters with his historic move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
It would not legalize the drug nationally, but instead change legal restrictions around its use and research.
Critics say his campaign is “grasping at straws” to find new ways to reverse his declining youth support and believe it could increase drug use across the country.
Biden has already forgiven more than $160 billion in student loans, after wiping out another $6 billion for 317,000 students attending art school.
Republican strategist Curt Anderson told DailyMail.com: “Legalizing drugs makes America lethargic and dumber, which clearly benefits the Biden campaign.”
Democrats, meanwhile, have said the move is long overdue and follows Biden pardoning all minor federal marijuana convictions.
President Joe Biden’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) plans to move marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III, easing restrictions on the drug
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is expected to propose changing marijuana from Schedule I, which has the greatest potential for abuse, to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids.
Democrats largely supported the recast, saying cannabis has far fewer dangerous health effects than other Schedule I substances, while its current clarification has also led to the incarceration of many Americans.
While some in the Republican Party support labeling cannabis as a less harmful substance, much of the conference believes this move will increase drug use in the US.
And they also say this is a move by Biden to attract younger voters, among whom his support is wavering.
“I think he’s probably grasping at straws in terms of how he’s going to appeal to younger people across the country,” Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., told DailyMail.com.
“They’re grabbing this or that to see if they can shore up some of the lost support,” he continued. ‘It’s strange that they are looking at that now. And for me that is probably mainly politically motivated.’
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, agreed, telling DailyMail.com, “I guess the whole thing is an election year gimmick.”
Vance also agreed that arrests of Americans for small amounts of marijuana are generally disproportionate to the crime, but added that a balance must be struck between heavy-handed drug enforcement and public spaces full of smokers and odors of marijuana.
“The Biden Administration’s efforts to remove marijuana as a Schedule I drug are irresponsible and will directly lead to increased drug use in the United States,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., wrote on X.
“This will not make Oklahoma families stronger, streets safer, or workplaces more productive.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., responded to the reshuffle, calling it “important news for businesses, tax deductions and research barriers.”
Rescheduling marijuana does not legalize it, but rather reduces federal restrictions surrounding the research and legal penalties associated with the substance
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who has long advocated for cannabis reform and famously asked whether Joe Biden was high in a debate about the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, told DailyMail.com he is grateful the White House is transitioning to rearrange marijuana.
“It’s a big step that the Biden administration is taking a step toward not making it a Schedule I drug,” he said at a news conference Wednesday.
The event was held to discuss the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a bill that aims to decriminalize cannabis and delist it from the Controlled Substances Act.
Booker called the current marijuana planning absurd and outrageous. He also said the need for reallocating the pot is “urgent” and that he welcomes the Biden administration’s work in this area.
“I was pleased with yesterday’s news that the DEA under the Biden Administration is preparing to take a truly historic step by rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., at a rally. Wednesday’s press conference.
“Reclassifying cannabis is necessary, and it is a long-awaited step,” he added.
“I think changing the schedule probably makes sense at this point and I think there is strong scientific consensus and popular agreement that giving the state this authority makes a lot of sense,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. ., to DailyMail. com.
“I don’t think this is going to determine the outcome of the election,” he continued. “I don’t think anyone thinks that.”
Both current and former health and law enforcement officials also weighed in on Biden’s marijuana moves.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., (center) Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., (left) and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., meet with reporters to discuss the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a attempt to decriminalize cannabis and remove it from the schedule Wednesday under the Controlled Substances Act
“The decision to reschedule marijuana is not supported by science. It is a political act in an election year, and the outcome could harm many Americans, especially young people,” former acting DEA administrator Timothy Shea told DailyMail.com in a statement.
“The Biden administration ignored the science, the regulatory process and international treaties to achieve a predetermined outcome,” he continued.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to DailyMail.com that the planning review is currently with the Department of Justice, which includes the DEA.