A Harvard addiction expert and a former government attorney are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to reject a proposal aimed at easing federal cannabis restrictions. This plan is seen as critical for the cannabis industry, which hopes to expand its operations and access to financial resources.
In a study released Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, Bertha Madras, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and Paul Larkin, a former DOJ lawyer now with the Heritage Foundation, argue that the Biden administration’s rationale for reclassifying cannabis is flawed. They assert that the administration has minimized health risks associated with cannabis, including cannabis-use disorder and its potential links to psychosis.
The Biden administration previously argued that cannabis should be rescheduled due to its widespread medicinal use in state programs for conditions like chronic pain and its lower abuse potential compared to opioids. However, Madras and Larkin criticized this comparison, suggesting it trivializes the dangers of cannabis. They likened it to claiming that getting hit by a truck is safer than getting hit by a train.
Their paper highlights significant risks that federal health officials may have overlooked, such as rising youth consumption of cannabis, increasing rates of cannabis-use disorder, and the dangers of cannabis-impaired driving. They also emphasize growing evidence that high-potency cannabis is linked to psychotic disorders.
Rescheduling cannabis would not legalize it at the federal level but could ease restrictions, reduce tax burdens, and enable cannabis businesses to access banking services and claim tax deductions. Analysts believe this could encourage investment and spur further legalization efforts across states.
The push to reschedule cannabis began in 2022 when President Biden instructed federal agencies to reconsider its classification as a Schedule I drug, which includes substances like LSD and heroin. Following this, the DOJ suggested moving cannabis to Schedule III, prompting a formal review by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). However, progress has stalled under the current administration, leaving the cannabis sector uncertain about the outcome.
The DEA postponed hearings on the matter earlier this year due to legal challenges, and no new timeline has been provided. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced concerns about the health risks associated with high-potency cannabis and has called for more research into its effects. In February, he indicated the necessity for policies addressing these risks.
Additionally, the House Appropriations Committee has called for an investigation into the cannabis rescheduling process. A report published last July directed the HHS Inspector General to examine whether the Biden administration’s review adhered to appropriate standards and urged the FDA to investigate the mental health risks of high-potency cannabis among adolescents.
As the debate continues, the cannabis industry remains in a state of uncertainty, awaiting definitive action on its federal classification and regulatory future.
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