The United States federal government has plans to reschedule cannabis, a move that could significantly impact various sectors, including healthcare, research, and the economy. Drug schedules began in the United States with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970, which classified drugs into five schedules based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and safety. The Department of Justice (DOJ) proposes moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA, aligning with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) view that marijuana has accepted medical use and its assessments of marijuana’s abuse potential and dependence risk. The CSA mandates that such changes undergo formal rulemaking, including an opportunity for a public hearing. With an election coming soon, President Joe Biden has announced that his administration is officially moving to reschedule marijuana under federal law, applauding the “monumental” action following an extensive administrative review he directed.
Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III signifies that while the drug may cause physical dependence, it more commonly leads to psychological dependence. Substances in this category are often used for pain medication, anesthesia, or appetite suppression. Examples of Schedule III substances include benzphetamine, ketamine, phendimetrazine, and anabolic steroids. Currently, Schedule I drugs are substances that have a high potential for abuse, have no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Several drugs that fall under Schedule I include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy). Federally, cannabis is on this list despite 38 states and Washington, D.C., having legalized its use for medical purposes. These laws allow patients with qualifying conditions to obtain and use cannabis under medical supervision. Furthermore, 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for recreational use, permitting adults to purchase and consume cannabis without the need for a medical prescription.
The medical and healthcare industry is not the only sector integrating cannabis. The beverage and liquor industries have also begun manufacturing, distributing, and retailing hemp products. Cannabis, precisely its industrial variety known as hemp, has been used for various industrial purposes for thousands of years. Its primary uses include:
- Textiles and clothing: Hemp fibers are long, strong, and durable, making them ideal for textile production.
- Paper: Hemp has been used to produce paper for centuries, offering a more sustainable alternative to wood pulp.
- Construction Materials: Hempcrete, fiberboard, and insulation materials are products derived from hemp used in construction.
- Bioplastics: Hemp can be used to produce biodegradable plastics.
- Biofuel: Hemp seeds and stalks can be processed to produce biofuels.
- Food and nutrition: Hemp seeds are highly nutritious and can be consumed in various forms.
- Health and beauty products: Hemp oil and extracts are used in many products for their moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Animal feed and bedding: Hemp is also used as feed and bedding because of its absorbent and antibacterial properties.
Hemp is considered an environmentally friendly crop. It requires fewer pesticides and herbicides than other industrial crops, proliferates, and can improve soil health through phytoremediation.
The impact of cannabis rescheduling will likely increase the availability of cannabis as barriers to entering the market are reduced. At the state level, agencies like the Cannabis Control Commission will continue to regulate businesses within the industry. However, illegal cultivation and distribution operations may face less risk. This move by the federal government is a step toward acknowledging the medical benefits of cannabis and its potential within various industries, promising a future where its benefits can be more thoroughly researched and utilized.
By rescheduling cannabis, healthcare and our economy stand to improve significantly. Above all, it will facilitate further research into the benefits of cannabis and its diverse applications within industries.
