Posted on May 10, 2024 View all news
The nation’s foremost drug policy experts agree, rescheduling marijuana would be a dangerous move at a time of serious addiction and mental health crises… there is no legal argument for rescheduling that can stand up to scrutiny. It’s ridiculous to think that rescheduling will be anything but a gift to an industry that’s known to prey on young people, low-income communities, and communities of color.
~ Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton
The US Department of Justice recently recommended that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III controlled substance. This would put cannabis in the same category as other lower-risk prescription drugs, such as Tylenol with codeine or ketamine.
Sadly, this recommendation seems motivated by politics rather than science. It is an election year, and the White House could court younger voters by supporting rescheduling.
Every Brain Matters strongly opposes this potential rescheduling of marijuana. It is our position that because marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug with little to no actual medical use, Schedule I is the proper classification.
The science and the data support our stance.
Why Should Marijuana Stay a Schedule I Drug?
Drug scheduling is based primarily on three criteria – how addictive the substance is, its potential for abuse, and the fewer legitimate medical applications, the higher its schedule will be.
Per the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I drugs have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
Marijuana definitely fits that definition.
Potential for Abuse and Addiction
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that up to 30% of users develop Cannabis Use Disorder.
- The newest research shows that marijuana is EXTREMELY addictive. According to a significant meta-analysis of nearly 4,000 medical texts, 47% of regular cannabis users experience symptoms of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome (CWS) when they stop using.
- Most seriously, marijuana affects the brain, priming it for other addictions. The younger the user is, the worse the damage is. People who start using cannabis before turning 18 are 7 times more likely to develop a Substance Use Disorder.
- 54% of people in outpatient treatment programs experience CWS, along with 87% of psychiatric unit patients.
Lack of Legitimate Medical Value
No current scientific evidence that marijuana is in any way beneficial for treatment of any psychiatric disorder.
~ The American Medical Association
As previously reported, the role of cannabis as a safe and effective medicine is not supported by science. In fact, for virtually every condition that marijuana supposedly treats, it actually makes things worse instead:
- No better than placebos for pain relief
- Interferes with other proven cancer treatments
- It makes Crohn’s Disease patients even sicker
- Worsens PTSD symptoms and outcomes
- Deepens clinical depression
- Heightens Anxiety
- Complicates recovery from SUD
- Induces tremors and seizures
- Hinders antiviral treatment for HIV and AIDS
- Magnifies cognitive impairment in MS patients
Furthermore, it is misleading to call cannabis “medical” when it is not prescribed like other drugs – there is no standard dosage, formulation, frequency, or delivery system.
It fails to meet every benchmark required for recognition as a legitimate FDA-approved medication to treat even a single condition, let alone the dozens of conditions purported by Big Marijuana.
Even in cases where there might be limited evidence of potential benefits, the results are still obtainable using non-psychoactive derivatives. There is no need to get high.
An Intellectually Dishonest Argument
One major criticism of this recommendation is that the rules were changed so that marijuana would not be held to the long-established five-factor standards as other drugs. For example, under the new two-factor standards:
- Studies supporting acceptable medical uses for cannabis do not have to be controlled.
This is sloppy science. There should always be a control group for comparison.
- The existence of medical cannabis programs at the state level is used as evidence that marijuana has approved uses.
This is the kind of circular logic frequently used to support confirmation biases.
- The recommendation used cherry-picked comparisons. For example, because marijuana has a lower abuse potential than heroin, the argument was made that it shouldn’t be in the same Schedule I category.
However, the comparative analysis was flawed because it did not compare marijuana to all other Schedule I drugs. This would have firmly established that marijuana does not belong in a lower-risk category.
- The recommendation determined that cannabis is an acceptable treatment for anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and pain but is allowing individual states to set other medical conditions.
What is the point of Federal-level findings if states can add whatever qualifying conditions they choose?
- But even more worrisome, the three studies used to make the recommendation did not support the claim that marijuana is medicine.
The first, conducted by the University of Florida, found that the results were “inconclusive or mixed.”
The second, conducted by the National Academies of Sciences & Medicine, showed results that were not statistically significant.
The third, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, found that the positive effect was small and that any benefits were limited because of the negative side effects.
The fact that the rules were changed is distressing because it suggests that the outcome was predetermined.
What Happens Now and What Can We Do?
It is important to understand that nothing is finalized yet. The proposal still needs to clear several hurdles – the White House Office of Management and Budget, DEA public comment, and review by an administrative judge.
If President Joe Biden adds his support and marijuana is reclassified as Schedule III, even then, it will not automatically be legalized everywhere.
That process gives those of us who oppose industrialized marijuana and the reckless expansion of the drug crisis an opportunity to make our voices heard. We still have time to appeal to policymakers and, if necessary, mount legal challenges.
The ultimate decision on rescheduling marijuana falls to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This isn’t a voting issue that will be on a ballot.
However, the DEA will ask for public comments during the review process. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard. Contact the DEA directly and also reach out to your elected officials.
You can also help spread awareness by sharing this article with everyone you know. To stay informed, join our movement and subscribe to our channel.
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