Biden Campaign Attacks Trump Over Marijuana Policy Shift

The Biden campaign is criticizing former President Trump's position on marijuana, following the Biden administration's announcement that it will move to reclassify the drug from a Schedule I restricted substance to a Schedule III.

President Biden's announcement on Thursday that his administration will initiate the process of reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug has sparked a response from the Biden campaign, which has taken aim at former President Trump's stance on the issue.

James Singer, a Biden campaign spokesman, told Fox News Digital that Trump's policies on marijuana "made America less safe" and targeted "young people and communities of color."

Trump's position on marijuana has been somewhat unclear during his presidency. While he has expressed support for states' rights to determine their own marijuana laws, he has also opposed ballot initiatives related to marijuana, citing concerns that such measures could benefit Democrats.

Despite this, Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp, a substance that had been prohibited for decades. His administration also allocated resources to implement the reforms in the bill.

The proposed reclassification of marijuana will now appear in the Federal Register, where the public can provide comments during a 60-day period. Following this, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will present the proposal to an administrative law judge, who will consider evidence and make a recommendation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will then make a final decision on the reclassification.

Schedule I drugs include substances like heroin and ecstasy, while Schedule III drugs include ketamine and anabolic steroids. According to the DEA, Schedule III drugs have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

The change, while not legalizing recreational marijuana use, could prove popular with young voters, as recent polls suggest Biden is struggling with that demographic less than six months from the November general election.

Polling also shows a divide among Americans on the issue of easing marijuana restrictions. According to research published by Pew earlier this year, only 34% of conservative Republicans support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, compared with 57% of moderate and liberal Republicans.

Among Democrats, 62% of conservative and moderate Democrats support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, while 84% of liberal Democrats hold the same view.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.