In Alabama, some cannabis advocates say the reclassification falls far short of meaningful reform.
) - A major shift in federal marijuana policy is reigniting debate in Alabama , where advocates say the federal government’s move to reclassify cannabis may sound significant but will do little to change life for everyday residents.
The Trump administration announced plans to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act — a change that would remove cannabis from the same category as heroin and LSD and recognize accepted medical uses at the federal level. Supporters of the change say the move could expand medical research opportunities and potentially open the door for marijuana-derived products to be sold in pharmacies in the future.
But in Alabama, some cannabis advocates say the reclassification falls far short of meaningful reform. H. Marty Schelper, founder and president of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, said the move does not legalize marijuana, decriminalize possession or provide immediate relief to people facing cannabis-related criminal charges.
“It does nothing for the average, everyday citizen. There is nothing to celebrate,” Schelper said.
“Nothing is changing for the citizens of the state of Alabama or the citizens of the United States. ” Schelper emphasized that despite the federal shift, marijuana remains illegal under many state laws, including in Alabama, and enforcement will not change as a result of the reclassification.
“People think, ‘Oh, this is legalization. ’ It’s not legalization,” Schelper said.
“People think it’s decriminalization. It’s not decriminalization. ” For many advocates, the concern is that the federal shift benefits research institutions and pharmaceutical companies more than the public. By moving marijuana to Schedule III, the federal government would allow broader scientific research into cannabis and marijuana-derived medications.
That could eventually influence how cannabis-based products are distributed in the medical field, including possible sales through pharmacies.
“It could possibly, just depending on what the pharmaceutical companies end up doing,” Schelper said when asked about pharmacy distribution. “But we don’t want cannabis being sold in a pharmacy. ”“Rescheduling is nothing,” Schelper said.
“All it’s doing is handing cannabis over to the pharmaceutical industry. ” The announcement also comes as Alabama continues to slowly roll out its own medical cannabis program, which was legalized through state legislation in 2021. Licenses for dispensaries and other medical cannabis businesses have faced repeated delays amid legal disputes, leaving patients and businesses waiting. Schelper said the federal reclassification does not impact Alabama’s rollout because the state’s medical marijuana framework operates independently from federal scheduling changes.
“The medical cannabis facilities that are opening are opening because the state of Alabama passed legislation, which has nothing to do with anything at the federal level,” Schelper said. “So moving cannabis at the federal level to Schedule III does nothing for citizens or businesses that sell cannabis. It does nothing. ” That distinction is important for Alabamians who may believe the federal move means marijuana laws will immediately become more relaxed.
Under current Alabama law, possession of marijuana without legal authorization can still carry criminal penalties, and the proposed federal reclassification would not change state enforcement. Schelper said meaningful reform would require broader changes at both the state and federal levels, including removing cannabis entirely from the controlled substances list.
“We support that they deschedule cannabis completely,” Schelper said. “We do not believe that it even belongs on the controlled substance list. ”“Decriminalization at the federal level and at the state level keeps people from being put in the prison industrial system,” Schelper said. Until those changes happen, Schelper said the federal announcement represents a step that may benefit future research, but leaves the legal reality for most Alabamians unchanged.
For now, residents should not expect immediate differences in access, enforcement or legality as a result of the federal move — even as the broader national conversation around cannabis continues to evolve. Dragway events moved from Montgomery after alleged gunfire video surfacesWhat to know about the Southern Poverty Law Center
Cannabis Federal Marijuana Laws Federal Marijuana Reclassification Schedule I Schedule Iii Major Shift Federal Marijuana Policy Controlled Substances Act Heroin Lsd Wbrc Myfoxal Alabama United States Of America Usa Donald Trump Medical Research Nothing Is Changing
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