Why Police Officers Are Supporting Cannabis Rescheduling
I spent decades on the streets of St. Louis working to keep the community safe. As a former officer, I know firsthand how limited resources force us to make tough choices about where to focus our time and energy.
The Current Classification Problem
For more than fifty years, marijuana has remained a Schedule I substance under federal law, placed in the same category as heroin. This classification asserts that the drug has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Impact on Law Enforcement Resources
Every hour an officer spends handling a simple marijuana possession case is an hour not spent investigating violent crime, disrupting human‑trafficking networks, or keeping fentanyl out of our neighborhoods. Data from the Law Enforcement Action Partnership shows that of the 11.8 million drug‑related arrests nationwide since 2011, over 80 percent involved simple possession. Cannabis alone accounts for roughly 35 percent of all drug arrests and 44 percent of drug possession arrests, meaning that about 16.5 percent of every arrest in the United States during that period was for low‑level marijuana offenses.
Conflicting Federal and State Laws
Thirty‑eight states have legalized cannabis in some form, creating a patchwork where state‑legal businesses operate alongside a federal stance that still treats the plant as a dangerous narcotic. This disconnect fuels real problems for law enforcement.
Unlicensed grow operations—some tied to organized crime—thrive in the gaps between state and federal rules. These illicit ventures ignore safety standards, evade taxes, and often sell products that end up in the hands of minors. Meanwhile, legitimate, state‑licensed cannabis companies face crushing federal tax burdens because they cannot deduct ordinary business expenses under IRS Section 280E. The resulting price disadvantage pushes consumers toward the unregulated market we are trying to eliminate.
Benefits of Moving to Schedule III
Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III would acknowledge its accepted medical use and lower abuse potential while keeping it under federal control. Schedule III substances are still regulated, but the change would remove the most restrictive barriers that hinder research, legitimate business practices, and sensible enforcement.
With a Schedule III designation, legal cannabis operators could access normal tax deductions, leveling the playing field against illegal operators. Regulators would gain clearer authority to oversee cultivation, testing, and sales, allowing law enforcement to redirect efforts toward genuine threats such as violent crime and synthetic opioids.
Supporting First‑Responder Health
The issue is not only about public safety; it also touches the well‑being of those who serve. Studies indicate that rates of post‑traumatic stress disorder among police officers and other first responders can be as much as five times higher than in the general population. Emerging research suggests that cannabis‑based therapies may help alleviate symptoms of PTSD, chronic pain, and anxiety. Current federal restrictions, however, make it difficult for active‑duty military personnel, veterans, and federal employees to access these potential treatments.
A Pragmatic Path Forward
Law enforcement leaders across the country recognize that the existing approach is not working. Both the Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Law Enforcement Leaders have officially endorsed rescheduling to Schedule III as a practical, evidence‑based step. The goal is not to promote or condemn marijuana use; it is to align federal policy with the reality that most states have already accepted, to relieve our officers from low‑level marijuana enforcement, and to allow us to concentrate resources where they truly matter—protecting communities from serious harm.
By regulating cannabis similarly to alcohol or prescription medications, we can enforce clear standards, support scientific research, and create a transparent market that keeps products away from children while ensuring businesses contribute fairly to the tax base. After years of enforcing marijuana prohibition, many of us in law enforcement have reached the same conclusion: it is time for federal policy to catch up with reality.
That’s not politics. That’s just good policing.
Source: Here
