The restriction on marijuana in the United States may soon be eased, as plans are underway by the Justice Department to forward the proposal to the White House.

Marijuana had, for over half a century, been classified as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin, which, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, has no currently accepted medical use.

The New York Times quoted an anonymous source familiar with the development as revealing that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland will, on Tuesday, tell the White House Office of Management and Budget that the government should change the classification of the drug.

The recommendation, if approved, will only mean there will be few changes about the government’s views regarding the safety and use of marijuana for medical purposes, but will not totally decriminalise its use.

The passing of the recommendation could also affect other laws, such as the softening of regulations that account for the use or possession of cannabis, guidelines on how suspects are sentenced, and banking and access to public housing.

This is coming a year after the country’s Health and Human Services Department recommended to the D.E.A. that marijuana should be a Schedule III drug, thereby making the drug subject to fewer restrictions on production and research and making it available to be taken with a prescription.