The Drug Enforcement Agency lists cannabis as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Opponents of the current scheduling of cannabis claim that this makes much-needed research too difficult and unfairly restricts medical access to patients. Proponents, however, assert that the current scientific understanding of cannabis justifies its placement under Schedule I and that rescheduling would have negative consequences on public health and safety. 

Should cannabis be rescheduled? John Hudak of Brookings and Dr. David Murray of the Hudson Institute discuss the pros and cons of rescheduling cannabis in this episode of POLICYbrief.

* * * * * 

As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker.

 

Learn more about John Hudak: https://www.brookings.edu/experts/john-hudak/
Follow John on Twitter: @JohnJHudak
https://twitter.com/JohnJHudak

Learn more about Dr. David Murray: https://www.hudson.org/experts/1004-david-w-murray
Follow David on Twitter: @DavidMurrayd11
https://twitter.com/DavidMurrayd11

* * * * * 

 

Related Links & Differing Views:

DEA: “Drug Scheduling”
https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling

Brookings: “How to Reschedule Marijuana, and Why it’s Unlikely Anytime Soon” (2015)
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2015/02/13/how-to-reschedule-marijuana-and-why-its-unlikely-anytime-soon/

Hudson Institute: “Countering the Threat of Legalized Marijuana: A Blueprint for Federal, Community, and Private Action”
https://www.hudson.org/research/13392-countering-the-threat-of-legalized-marijuana-a-blueprint-for-federal-community-and-private-action

Brookings: “Brookings Debuts Its First Documentary-Short on Medical Marijuana in DC”
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2018/05/31/brookings-debuts-its-first-documentary-short-on-medical-marijuana-in-dc/

VOX: “The Federal Drug Scheduling System, Explained”
https://www.vox.com/2014/9/25/6842187/drug-schedule-list-marijuana

National Institute on Drug Abuse: “Marijuana”
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

FDA: “FDA Approves First Drug Comprised of an Active Ingredient Derived From Marijuana to Treat Rare, Severe Forms of Epilepsy”
https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm611046.htm