BEAUMONT, Texas — The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug on Tuesday. This would move marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance which includes Tylenol with codeine.
The DEA's plan would recognize the medical uses of marijuana on a federal level, but recreational use would remain illegal.
"Different strands, do different things," said Beaumont resident Wesley Lewis. "So I think it's a good thing."
Lewis believes that medical marijuana would have helped his aunt who passed from cancer.
"My aunt, she passed away a few years ago from pancreatic cancer," he said. "But I think it's helpful and kind of helped her live a little bit longer."
Marijuana, currently a level one drug, is classified on the same level as heroin, ecstasy and LSD, according to the Federal Drug Administration.
"It reclassifies it and puts it in a category with Tylenol with codeine, as well as certain types of steroids," said CEO of Texas Medical Marijuana Doctors Lamont Ratcliff. "So, I give it that validation that there is a medical benefit to it, and kind of erases that stigma."
Ratcliff plans to open a local medical cannabis clinic in July.
"We're excited to come to the Golden Triangle. We will be the only medical cannabis registered doctors in that area," he said.
A Beaumont defense attorney examined how reclassifying the drug could affect Southeast Texas and impact jails.
If the drug is reclassified, this could affect how law enforcement conduct stops and searches.
"It will change the nature of a lot of stops and searches, and seizures of vehicles because for example, right now if you have Tylenol in your car, that does not allow the police to go search the rest of your car for other stuff," said attorney Ryan Gertz.
Gertz says this may lead to a decrease in arrests and keep low level drug offenders out of jail.
"But there are so many people who are sitting in prison in the United States," said Gertz. "Whether their case started with or ended with basically a marijuana possession situation, who are sitting in prison and it's costing us tons of money."
Gertz says that if marijuana is reclassified, this could be a step forward in the legalization of marijuana.
Texas Medical Marijuana Doctors will open in Beaumont on July 8.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.