In a historical shift, the United States is on the brink of relaxing restrictions on marijuana, but it’s not as straightforward as it seems.
In recent years, the cannabis industry has undergone a profound transformation, moving from the shadows of prohibition into the light of mainstream acceptance. This shift has been propelled by changing attitudes, scientific discoveries, and evolving regulatory frameworks.
At the federal level, marijuana remains illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. However, at the state level, the landscape is less straightforward. Presently, 39 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and 23 states plus the District of Columbia have also legalized recreational use. Confused? You should be!
Here’s what you should know.
The DEA’s Proposal: A Shift in Cannabis Policy
Against the backdrop of changing attitudes towards cannabis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced a proposal to reclassify marijuana, recognizing its medical uses and reduced potential for abuse. This historic shift in policy could have wide-ranging implications for the cannabis industry, paving the way for further research and exploration of the plant's therapeutic properties.
Potential Benefits and Risks
The Biden administration will take a historic step toward easing federal restrictions on cannabis, with plans to announce an interim rule soon reclassifying the drug for the first time since the Controlled Substances Act was enacted more than 50 years ago, four sources with knowledge of the decision said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is expected to approve an opinion by the Department of Health and Human Services that marijuana should be reclassified from the strictest Schedule I to the less stringent Schedule III. It would be the first time that the U.S. government has acknowledged its potential medical benefits and begun studying them in earnest.
Policy experts and advocates say rescheduling is not a solution, but it could be a sign the federal government is catching up with public opinion and consensus in the medical field that there are therapeutic benefits to marijuana, along with some risks.
In a leaked HHS document, officials wrote to the DEA to support lowering its classification to Schedule III. Its risk for addiction was lower than other drugs and it had medical benefits, unlike Schedule I and II drugs, HHS researchers said.
Still, scientists said, users develop moderate to low physical dependence on it, and there is some risk of psychological dependence. However, they noted, the withdrawal symptoms are “relatively mild” compared with alcohol, and continued to relay that marijuana is more comparable to tobacco. But unlike tobacco, there are no known deaths from a marijuana overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA. However, marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss for people who begin using it at a young age, the institute said. It’s a gray area that has drawn pushback from both sides of the aisle, most recently with the rise of Delta-8, a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol product that uses chemicals.
Please note: Delta-8 should not be confused with Delta-9. Delta-9 marijuana products are produced from cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and are strictly regulated and subject to stringent testing standards. Conversely, delta-8 products are created using unregulated, chemically synthesized cannabinoids that are, often, entirely untested. Read more on Delta-8 dangers here.
The cannabis plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries if not millennia. It appears to help with treating health conditions. Still, evidence is mixed and more research into its health benefits is needed, researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said back in August.
While the FDA hasn’t approved the cannabis plant for any medical use, federal regulators have approved several drugs containing cannabinoids, or substances such as THC or CBD found in the cannabis plant, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Studies have shown that cannabis contains a wealth of potentially therapeutic compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These compounds interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions, such as mood, appetite, and pain sensation.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Cannabis
As attitudes towards cannabis continue to evolve and regulatory barriers are gradually dismantled, the future of the industry looks brighter than ever.
While the proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III is a significant step forward, it falls short of full legalization for recreational use. Instead, it acknowledges the plant's medicinal benefits and reduced potential for abuse.
For advocates of cannabis reform, this move represents progress, albeit incremental. It signals a growing recognition of marijuana's therapeutic potential and paves the way for further research and exploration.
Final Thoughts
The DEA's proposal to reclassify marijuana marks a significant milestone in the evolution of cannabis regulation in the United States. By acknowledging the plant's medicinal benefits and reducing barriers to research, this move has the potential to unlock new avenues of exploration into cannabis's therapeutic properties.
As attitudes towards cannabis continue to shift and public support for legalization grows, we stand on the brink of a new era in which the full potential of this remarkable plant can be realized. The path ahead may be complex, but with each step forward, we move closer to a future where cannabis is recognized and embraced for its myriad benefits, improving lives and reshaping our understanding of medicine along the way.
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