The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended reclassifying marijuana, recognizing its medical benefits and lower harm compared to other drugs. This shift in federal perspective is detailed in a 252-page review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The review, initiated by President Joe Biden’s 2022 executive order, marks a departure from the long-standing classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, indicating high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
The FDA’s analysis, based on eight scientific criteria, examined marijuana’s abuse potential, current scientific knowledge, and likelihood of dependence. The review specifically looked at marijuana’s efficacy in treating seven medical conditions, including pain, PTSD, and epilepsy, finding mixed results but substantial evidence supporting its use for pain, particularly neuropathic pain.
This reevaluation contradicts the Schedule I classification, which suggests no medical utility for marijuana. The FDA found marijuana’s risk of abuse and public health impact to be lower than other drugs like heroin and cocaine. Cannabis use disorder was observed in 10-20% of regular users, a lower rate compared to substances like tobacco and opiates. Physical dependence symptoms, affecting 40-50% of regular users, were deemed mild.
The review also compared marijuana’s adverse consequences with other substances, concluding it ranks lower in serious outcomes like death, compared to alcohol, heroin, and cocaine.
The final decision on marijuana’s reclassification rests with the Drug Enforcement Administration, with a decision expected in the coming months. The documents, released following a lawsuit by cannabis lawyers Matt Zorn and Shane Pennington, were published on their blog On Drugs.
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