LAS VEGAS — The ACLU of Nevada on Monday released the following statement following the Assembly's vote to approve Assembly Joint Resolution 8. AJR8 proposes to urge the U.S. Congress on behalf of the state of Nevada to deschedule cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance.
ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah said:
“Our state has been a national leader on cannabis policy, and we are grateful to lead sponsors Assemblywoman Brittney Miller and Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva for their efforts here, alongside over 30 bipartisan cosponsors. It was only after ACLU of Nevada successfully sued the state last year that cannabis was descheduled, a loophole that should have been closed long ago. The list of Schedule 1 substances in Nevada historically included cannabis alongside heroin until we litigated this, but the list of Schedule 2 drugs in Nevada and federally, which contains substances viewed as less serious than Schedule 1 substances, includes methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. It’s totally absurd. AJR8 demonstrates the Legislature’s clear intent to recognize that cannabis should not be on the Schedule 1 list federally either. By descheduling cannabis federally, banking and research opportunities should open up in Nevada and elsewhere. As the descheduling movement gains momentum, we commend the Assembly for voting to approve this bill.”
About CEIC v. Nevada Board of Pharmacy
In September, a district court judge ruled with the ACLU of Nevada, finding that the Pharmacy Board’s placement of cannabis on the state’s list of Schedule I Controlled Substances violates the Nevada Constitution. Designation as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance means a drug has no value as a medical treatment, but our state Constitution specifically names a number of medical uses for cannabis.
