Biden-Harris Trade and Investment Blog.

A Budding Change: The US Rethinks Marijuana Classification For decades, marijuana has been demonized as a dangerous gateway drug, lumped in with heroin and LSD on the federal Schedule I controlled substances list. But a long-awaited shift is on the horizon. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is poised to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug , acknowledging its potential medical uses and reducing its perceived threat level. This decision, a culmination of years of advocacy and scientific research, marks a turning point in the national conversation about cannabis. I am exploring the complexities of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's recent efforts to reclassify marijuana. This is a significant moment in American drug policy, which has far-reaching implications for our society, economy, and understanding of cannabis. It is not just a change in terminology, but a pivotal moment that demands attention. Federal legislation surrounding cannabis has transformed fro...

  UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Office of Press Relations For Immediate Release May 3, 2024 STATEMENT BY ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER  World Press Freedom Day Today, as democracies around the world confront serious backsliding and autocrats continue to repress the free flow of information and ideas, journalists are more essential than ever to safeguarding democratic values. From those employed by international media organizations to those working for local newspapers, courageous journalists all over the world help shine a light on corruption, encourage civic engagement, and hold governments accountable. And they do so at great personal risk – including when their reporting exposes the tactics of regimes or leaders working to undermine human rights. Today, violence, harassment, repression, and censorship against journalists are at record highs. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023 saw the second-highest number of imprisoned journalists in...