Proposed Marijuana Rescheduling Doesn't Follow the Science | Opinion
- Newsweek · Sep 12, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has urged the DEA to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a move that is seen as politically motivated.
The recommendation comes after a rushed analysis from the FDA and contradicts previous evaluations that found overwhelming evidence for marijuana to remain in Schedule I.
Today's marijuana is highly potent and can lead to psychosis, anxiety, paranoia, and addiction.
Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III would benefit the industry financially but could have negative consequences, including increased promotion to children. DEA has the opportunity to prioritize public health over profits.
Now is not the time to change our national health mantra from "follow the science" to "follow the polls." But that appears to be the motivation behind the August 29 announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that it submitted a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging the agency to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, one of the lowest schedules available, from the strictest category, Schedule I, where the drug has sat for more than 50 years.
This proposed change, like the drug up for discussion, doesn't smell right. It comes just after intense pressure from pro-marijuana politicians in Congress and soon before a national presidential election. The precise timing of the announcement (HHS released it at 4:20pm) will make potheads around the country nod in approval, but DEA should reject this recommendation.
The recommendation…
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Now is not the time to change our national health mantra from "follow the science" to "follow the polls." But that appears to be the motivation behind the August 29 announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that it submitted a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging the agency to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, one of the lowest schedules available, from the strictest category, Schedule I, where the drug has sat for more than 50 years.
This proposed change, like the drug up for discussion, doesn't smell right. It comes just after intense pressure from pro-marijuana politicians in Congress and soon before a national presidential election. The precise timing of the announcement (HHS released it at 4:20pm) will make potheads around the country nod in approval, but DEA should reject this recommendation.
The recommendation…
