marijuana rescheduling Governmental figures have spent decades debating the laws and regulations regarding cannabis. The current political climate has reinvigorated a proposal to downgrade the drug class of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III controlled substance. 1 It remains unclear, however, whether this proposal is solely political grandstanding, or if the change would have serious implications for medical practices and patients.
We spoke to Dr Mikhail Kogan, associate professor of medicine and medical director at the George Washington University (GWU) Center for Integrative Medicine, 2 as well as Griffen J Thorne, a partner at Lewis Brisbois and chair of the Lewis Brisbois Cannabis, Hemp, and Regulated Substances Practice, 3 to help discern the possible effects of the reclassification of marijuana. The Reclassification of Marijuana
Thorne believes reclassification will not affect the average person. Politicians claim no individual should be in jail for the use of marijuana; however, if political figures really wanted to ensure that was the reality, they would need to consider de-scheduling the substance and allowing the states or at least 1 federal agency to regulate it, as is the case with tobacco and alcohol, he explained.
Reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance means that any individual found in possession of the substance could still face penalties or jail time from federal law enforcement or law enforcement in states that have not yet regulated marijuana. “The idea that no one will be arrested is inaccurate,” Thorne further clarified.
Rescheduling marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule III is unlikely to remedy any societal or legal ramifications of marijuana use. Nonetheless, this change could help advance research on this medicinal substance.
Although the reclassification of marijuana may not impact the average person in certain respects, Thorne believes it will likely reduce tax burdens for state-licensed cannabis businesses and enable more research opportunities, which may have downstream effects on clinical practices and social stigmas. The Potential Impact of Rescheduling on Drug Research
According to Dr Kogan, the reclassification of marijuana will open new doors for research.
“Reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to a lower schedule would significantly ease the […]
What Does the Reclassification of Marijuana Mean for Physicians?
