A Democratic congressman says psychedelics are actually “way ahead” of marijuana when it comes to federal legislative momentum—and he’s criticizing former President Joe Biden for not doing sufficient to advance significant hashish reform earlier than the top of his time period final month.
Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, advised Marijuana Moment in an interview on the Capitol on Wednesday that he agreed with the concept psychedelics are more and more taking precedent over hashish—with bipartisan lawmakers persevering with to advance reform to faucet into the therapeutic potential of medication comparable to MDMA and psilocybin.
Marijuana is one other story. While the congressman has lengthy advocated for ending hashish prohibition, he identified that “we’ve been working on cannabis—what, thirty years?” with out seeing substantive outcomes.
And by the years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been reluctant to prioritize analysis into hashish. Yet VA has been seemingly keen to guide on psychedelics research, with a number of scientific trials exploring their potential.
“We’re still not scoring” on marijuana, Correa mentioned. “The PATH Caucus, through our efforts, we’ve got the VA now actually studying” psychedelics.
The congressman lamented the truth that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected an software to approve MDMA-assisted remedy for post-traumatic stress dysfunction final yr—despite his and other lawmakers vocal advocacy for approval.
“But the fact that they’re actually talking about it, debating it, tells me we’re way ahead with the psychedelics compared to cannabis,” he mentioned.
Correa was additionally requested about his ideas on the prospects of marijuana rescheduling, a course of that was initiated beneath the Biden administration and at present sits in limbo as administrative hearings have been delayed. It’s been additional difficult by the truth that new leadership at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has challenged the rescheduling effort, accusing DOJ of hijacking the method for politically motivated causes.
“My man, if I could answer that question, I’d be making a lot of money,” Correa mentioned of his predictions for rescheduling beneath the Trump administration.
“I was hoping that Biden, before he left, would work on this issue. He didn’t do it,” the congressman mentioned. “So I would imagine the Trump administration is not looking at this as a priority issue. In other words, I think it’s gonna be problematic.”
Biden did provoke the hashish scheduling evaluation that led to a Schedule III reclassification advice and in addition issued pardons for individuals who’ve dedicated federal marijuana possession offenses. But to Correa’s level, he’s been extensively criticized by advocates for not doing extra throughout his tenure, leaving many federally incarcerated for non-violent hashish crimes, for instance.
“Let’s see how many DEA agents get asked to get fired,” he added, referencing the proposed gutting of assorted federal businesses by Trump and the newly instated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) individually advised Marijuana Moment final week that it’s “definitely” time to have a talk with Trump’s pick for head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—to persuade him that “marijuana is harmful” and that the way in which to make Americans wholesome is by “limiting” its use.
The LCB contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.
Image ingredient courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.
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