Federal Shift on Medical Cannabis Draws Praise and Concern in Colorado

Senior Policy Advisor Mara Sheldon was cited in a Colorado Politics article on the federal government's decision to reclassify medically approved cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The article clarified that although the change does not legalize cannabis at the federal level, it marks a significant shift that could more closely align federal policy with Colorado's longstanding regulatory framework, expand opportunities for medical research and ease pressure on state regulators, investors and cannabis businesses. Ms. Sheldon noted that Colorado's system has served as a model for the medical marijuana industry and said reclassification should create more room for progress, while also underscoring that financial issues such as cannabis banking remain unresolved absent further congressional action.

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