00:00Today, I'm pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 control substance with legitimate medical uses.
00:11We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain.
00:18For decades, this action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more, including numerous veterans with service-related injuries and older Americans who live with chronic medical problems that severely degrade their quality of life.
00:40And it's so, really, I mean, just, I can't tell you, I think I probably have received more phone calls on this, on doing what we're doing.
00:54I don't think I received any calls on the other side of it, but hopefully this reclassification, which, by the way, polls at 82 percent, will help many of those patients live a far better life.
01:07We're joined today by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's doing a fantastic job, Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty McCary, Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Valkow,
01:35as well as Dr. Ilana Braun from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Duke University's Dr. David Kassaret, the National Commander of the American Legion, Dan Wiley, and my friend Howard Kessler.
01:50Howard, how are you feeling?
01:51I'm doing great. Thank you.
01:52I'm telling you, he looks better than he did 20 years ago.
01:56But I don't want to go through what you went through to get there.
01:59Okay.
01:59But it looks like you're doing great. I'm proud of you.
02:02I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign is not the legalization or it doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape, or form,
02:16and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug.
02:19It has nothing to do with it.
02:21Just as the prescription painkillers may have legitimate uses, but can also do irreversible damage and never,
02:29you know, if you look at some of the damage that can be caused, wreck lives, and if it's abused,
02:37it's never safe to use powerful controlled substances in recreational manners.
02:42And especially in this case, if you take a look, illegal and unregulated drugs, very, very bad thing.
02:50So I've always told my children, don't take drugs, no drinking, no smoking, and just stay away from drugs.
02:57I have been, they would look at me and they said, Dad, would you stop saying that?
03:02I would say every time I looked at it practically.
03:05Young Americans are especially at risk.
03:07So unless a drug is recommended by a doctor for medical reasons, just don't do it.
03:14At the same time, the facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered in some cases.
03:26This may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers.
03:32And they cause tremendous problems.
03:35This can do it in a much lesser way, can make people feel much better that are living through tremendous pain and problems.
03:45Forty states and multiple U.S. territories have already recognized the use of medical marijuana.
03:52This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research,
03:57allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers, and future treatments.
04:03It's going to have a tremendously positive impact, I believe.
