People Behind Federal Lawsuit That Challenges Cannabis' Drug Classification

These people are suing Jeff Sessions over medical cannabis. On February 12, 2018, Judge Ala K. Hellerstein of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York heard arguments from medical cannabis patients concerning the constitutionality of cannabis being listed as a Schedule I substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act.  

Jose Belen, one of the five plaintiffs, is a U.S. Army veteran who uses cannabis to control his PTSD and suicidal thoughts. He stated, “The judge showed — he’s trying to make the right decision. He asked the questions that needed to be asked. I would rather have a judge that ruled this way than a judge rule irresponsibly or whatever the case may be. It shows articulation, it shows that he cares, and he actually, you know, stood up for us in a way.”

11-yeat-old Alexis Bortell is another plaintiff in the case. She moved from Texas to Colorado in order to treat her intractable epilepsy with cannabis, but she couldn’t be in New York to testify for herself because of the Schedule 1 status of her medicine.

The federal government filed a motion to dismiss the case but the judge said he’s going to review the case and reserve his decision for a later date.