Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and LSD, as "drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse" under federal law. Marijuana laws are rapidly changing across all 50 states. However, without a change in federal law, state laws create conflicts and negatively affect states with legalized cannabis programs, as federal law technically takes precedence over state law.
As of December 2022, North Carolina had the third-highest number of marijuana-related arrests in the United States. In 2023, there were a total of 10,909 marijuana-related arrests in the state. Most of these arrests were for possession, while the number of arrests for selling or manufacturing marijuana was significantly lower. Marijuana arrest numbers in the state have been decreasing; the 10,909 arrests are considerably lower than the 21,252 arrests recorded in 2018.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is in favor of regulating cannabis sales and is considering the potential legalization of cannabis for adults. Last June, he established a state advisory council to recommend a comprehensive policy on this issue.
President Trump's administration is potentially eliminating a significant barrier regarding marijuana classification. Recently, he confirmed that his administration is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous substance. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump is weighing the option of moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug.
Schedule III drugs are classified as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Examples include ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. Reclassifying marijuana would enable more research into the drug and provide tax benefits for the cannabis industry.
I was a law enforcement officer for 6 ½ years, involved in the so-called war on drugs. In the early 1980s, school systems were struggling to address the issue of drugs in public schools. As a solution, they decided to place young law enforcement officers in high schools to conduct drug buys and subsequently arrest young drug dealers on campus. I was the undercover officer assigned to E.E. Smith, Reid Ross, and Hoke high schools. Marijuana was the drug of choice and was easily accessible, especially with schools providing smoking areas for students to use tobacco on campus.
After the school campaigns, I was appointed as a special federal marshal and began working on much larger cases. However, reflecting on my experiences, I will always regret my involvement in the high school campaign.
Although it was fair and conducted according to the law, more than 100 students learned a difficult lesson that adversely affected them for the rest of their lives. Marijuana is the drug in question, which is why I align myself with many former law enforcement officials who advocate for the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana.
Is marijuana a gateway drug? It might be, but the real gateway is tobacco use among ten-year-olds. Law enforcement opposes marijuana legalization due to the "smell doctrine," which permits warrantless searches when the odor of marijuana is detected. I hope that both Trump and Stein achieve success; it's time for a change.