California lawmakers call to federally reschedule marijuana

California will soon begin to regulate a voter-approved initiative to legalize recreational pot use in 2018, and is likely the reason why state lawmakers are now calling on the federal government to reclassify marijuana.

A joint resolution approved by the California Assembly on Thursday presses the U.S. Congress to reschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), reports Forbes‘ Tom Angell.

The Senate resolution passed with a 60-10 vote, and also implores the feds to amend restrictions on scientific research, open more banking options for businesses, and expand medical access.

According to the resolution:

“The Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to pass a law to reschedule marijuana or cannabis and its derivatives from a Schedule I drug to an alternative schedule, therefore allowing the legal research and development of marijuana or cannabis for medical use and allowing for the legal commerce of marijuana or cannabis so that businesses dealing with marijuana or cannabis can use traditional banks or financial institutions for their banking needs, which would result in…