Vice President Kamala Harris has called on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to expedite its review of marijuana rescheduling, highlighting the need for the drug to be classified as less dangerous. Harris voiced her concerns during a roundtable conversation on marijuana reform, attended by rapper Fat Joe, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and individuals who received pardons for past marijuana convictions.

During the discussion, Harris emphasized that no one should face incarceration for using marijuana and framed the issue as a matter of criminal justice reform, particularly highlighting its disproportionate impact on Black and Latino men. As part of his 2019 presidential campaign, President Joe Biden had pledged to decriminalize marijuana, expunge prior convictions related to its use, and support its medicinal use, while leaving decisions on recreational use to individual states.

Since taking office, Biden has granted pardons to individuals convicted under federal law and the District of Columbia's statute, though the majority of marijuana convictions occur at the state level. Harris commended Governor Beshear of Kentucky for addressing the issue within his state and encouraged other states to follow suit.

Currently categorized as a Schedule I drug, on par with heroin, Harris described the classification of marijuana as "absurd" and "unfair." During his campaign, Biden had expressed his intention to reschedule it. In 2022, just weeks before the midterm elections, Biden announced that he had requested a review of marijuana's classification from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice. HHS completed its part of the review last year, but the DEA is yet to provide its findings.

Speaking on Friday, Harris stressed the urgency for the DEA to complete its review as quickly as possible and for a resolution based on their assessment. In his recent State of the Union address, President Biden reiterated his stance, proclaiming that no one should face imprisonment for marijuana possession or use.

The topic of marijuana reform also emerged during Biden's visit to his party's campaign headquarters in Milwaukee this week. A supporter held up a sign praising the President for addressing the issue in his State of the Union speech. Responding to the gesture, Biden assured, "I'm taking care of that."

As the discussion on marijuana reform continues, Vice President Harris's call for a swift review by the DEA adds momentum to the push for reevaluating the drug's classification. The outcome of the DEA's assessment will set the stage for potential changes in federal marijuana policy, which could have significant implications for criminal justice reform and the lives of those affected by marijuana convictions.