What changes will you see once the government reschedules pot?

The average American’s attitude toward cannabis has shifted toward a more favorable one over the years. Today, the federal government’s position reflects this change, with plans to reclassify the plant from the most strictly controlled substance like heroin, to a less restrictive classification, alongside less dangerous drugs like Tylenol with codeine.

This is important because it is the first time that the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services have agreed that cannabis has potential medical benefits and is less likely to be abused. This could go a long way toward reducing stigma issues around the drug, have implications for cannabis research, and pave the way for financial relief for cannabis businesses in New York.

Rescheduling pot will not make it federally legal. And it won’t be a game-changer for New York cannabis businesses, since the state’s legal market is already open. But it will open the door to significant benefits for New York cannabis businesses, which operate under stricter rules and financial restrictions than most businesses.

“This is a positive step forward,” said Chris Alexander, executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

But there is a lot of confusion about what it does and does not mean.

(RELATED: Hochul calls on Office of Cannabis Management director to resign, promises overhaul)

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