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For half a century, the federal government has treated marijuana as one of the more dangerous drugs in the United States. On Tuesday, the Biden administration signaled a significant shift in approach.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The Times, explains how big an impact the proposed changes could have.

On today’s episode

Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The New York Times.

Image

Any alteration in the rules governing marijuana use will still face a long road before taking effect, including being subject to public comment.Credit…Steve Helber/Associated Press

Background reading

The Biden administration’s effort to liberalize marijuana policy comes as increasingly more Americans favor legalizing the drug.

After the recommendation to ease restrictions, Democrats in the Senate reintroduced legislation to legalize marijuana.

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 The U.S. government has recommended easing federal restrictions on the drug that have been in place for decades.  Read More  

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