The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday moved to make marijuana use a less serious federal crime, taking a step to remove the drug from a category that includes heroin in a shift that could shake up cannabis policy nationwide.

The Justice Department’s recent recommendation to ease restrictions on marijuana represents a monumental shift in federal policy, reflecting evolving perceptions of the drug’s safety and medicinal properties.

The Department of Justice proposed making cannabis a Schedule 3 drug, acknowledging after decades of illicit use that it has medical value and a lower risk for abuse. It’s currently Schedule 1, along with heroin.