The top seller on Steam is a video game that was released in late November. It’s about how to become a drug dealer and make it big.
Its title—Schedule I—is a cheeky nod to America’s drug war.
In the online description of the game, the Federal Government defines Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. These are “drugs without a currently accepted medical purpose and with a high abuse potential.”
The drug is prominently featured in the game, despite the federal government’s ongoing effort to reclassify marijuana. In the game players can sell and manufacture other drugs, like meth.
Schedule I/ Steam
The latest video game to feature illegal drug sales is Schedule I. It follows a series of games that have featured illicit drug dealing, starting with the text-based Drug Wars in the 1980s and ending today with the massive Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Schedule I sells for 20 dollars and receives “overwhelmingly positive” Steam reviews. The top selling games are listed in order. The game is currently in early access, and will be updated over the next 2 years.
The Steam description of the game says: “You are a small time drug dealer who rolls into a new town without cash, product or connections.” Build your drug empire in Hyland Point, a grungy city on the west coast. Defend your empire against deadly rivals and intensified law enforcement to achieve the heights of underworld.
In terms of how long marijuana’s Schedule I will be retained, the process started by the Biden administration to transfer the substance to Schedule III is still in progress. A recent report claims that President Donald Trump has no plans to reform marijuana laws.
Some remain optimistic. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), for example—President Donald Trump’s first pick for U.S. attorney general before he withdrew from consideration—recently said “meaningful” marijuana reform is “on the horizon” under Trump, praising the president’s “leadership” in supporting rescheduling.
Gaetz stated in an op/ed that was published by The Tampa Bay Times, last week, that moving marijuana from Schedule III to Schedule IV “won’t solve every issue overnight, but is a needed step in the correct direction.” Gaetz expressed confidence that Trump would bring about this reform.
“For too long, cannabis has been classified alongside heroin and LSD, substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” the former lawmaker wrote in the op-ed. This classification hinders research and has blocked patients’ access, such as millions of veterans. It also burdens legitimate businesses with excessive regulations.
Trump’s views are limited to just one post on social media, though in the past he expressed his support for medicinal cannabis. Trump also supported the marijuana industry’s banking access, and Florida ballot measures for adult-use.
However, the administrative process continues to be delayed. Due to complications pertaining certain witnesses, a judge from the Drug Enforcement Administration has postponed the hearings. There were also questions as to whether DEA’s leadership supported the proposal despite its role as “proponent”.
Adding to the uncertainty around the fate of the rescheduling proposal, Trump’s nominee to lead DEA, Terrance Cole, has previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth.
As for video games, meanwhile, a recent New York Times report says culture within the National Hockey League (NHL) is changing—with players increasingly opting for marijuana and video games over alcohol and partying.
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Image from Schedule I on YouTube
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