FDA Review Finds Marijuana Eligible For Less Strict Classification
Federal Review Finds Marijuana Eligible for Less Strict Classification Under Drug Laws.
A federal review of cannabis research has determined that marijuana is eligible for less strict classification under federal drug laws, according to documents released last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the review, researchers with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined that credible evidence shows that marijuana has legitimate medical uses and fits the criteria for rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.
In 2022, President Joseph Biden directed his administration to review the federal prohibition of cannabis. In August, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine called on the DEA to change the classification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Under the 1970 legislation, the Schedule I classification indicates that a drug has no accepted medical value and a high propensity for abuse. Other drugs currently listed under Schedule I include heroin and LSD.
On Friday, HHS released a 252-page review that explains the rationale for rescheduling marijuana under Schedule III of the CSA, a classification intended for “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” such as Tylenol with codeine or ketamine. In the review, FDA researchers wrote that “there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana in at least one of the indications for which there is widespread current experience in the United States.”
The FDA findings “reflect HHS’ evaluation of the scientific and medical evidence and its scheduling recommendation” to the Department of Justice, the health agency wrote in a statement on Friday, according to a report from CNN.
FDA Finds Pot Meets Criteria For Rescheduling
The FDA review determined that marijuana meets three criteria that support reclassification under Schedule III, noting that cannabis has a lower potential for abuse than other drugs in Schedule I and II, a medical use currently accepted in the United States and a low or moderate risk of physical dependence among people who use the drug. The National Institute on Drug Abuse agreed with the rescheduling recommendation.
