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You won’t believe how relaxing marijuana laws could actually make the drug more dangerous







The Future of Marijuana Safety: Exploring the Implications of Federal Reclassification

The Future of Marijuana Safety: Exploring the Implications of Federal Reclassification

Understanding the Federal Regulations on Marijuana Safety

Recent announcements regarding the potential reclassification of marijuana by federal regulators have sparked discussions among experts. The proposed shift from Schedule I to Schedule III could have significant implications for both medical and recreational use of the drug.

The Impact on Research and Medical Treatment

While the reclassification may not indicate that marijuana is completely safe, it is expected to facilitate more in-depth scientific studies on its safety and medical efficacy. This change could provide valuable insights into how marijuana functions as a medical treatment.

Legal Ramifications and Patient Care

The reclassification could alter the federal government’s stance on medical marijuana, potentially allowing patients in states with legal medical use to possess it without facing federal charges. This shift could enhance patient care and access to alternative treatments.

Expert Perspectives on Marijuana Reclassification

Leading experts in the field have shared their insights on the proposed reclassification of marijuana and its possible implications. Dr. Deepak Cyril D’Souza, director of the Yale Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Science, emphasized the importance of understanding the nuanced changes in drug scheduling.

Medical Professionals’ Response

Medical professionals, such as Dr. Andrew Esch, have welcomed the reclassification as a step towards providing comprehensive information to patients. The potential benefits of using marijuana for managing various symptoms have been recognized by healthcare providers.

Patient Education and Perception

Improving patient education and perception of marijuana is crucial in enhancing acceptance and access to the drug for medical purposes. The reclassification may alleviate concerns among patients and enable informed decision-making regarding treatment options.

Exploring the Known Risks and Benefits of Marijuana Use

Despite the potential therapeutic applications of marijuana, it is essential to recognize the associated risks and challenges. Understanding the complexities of marijuana use can help individuals make informed choices regarding its consumption.

Risks of Marijuana Use

  • Physical and Psychological Dependence
  • Impact on Mental Health
  • Driving Impairment
  • Health Issues
  • Developmental Concerns

Balancing Benefits and Risks

As with any medication or substance, weighing the benefits and risks of marijuana use is crucial for ensuring patient safety and well-being. Medical professionals play a vital role in guiding patients towards responsible and informed usage.


Summary

In conclusion, the potential reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III by federal regulators signifies a significant shift in how the drug is perceived and utilized. While this change may not imply absolute safety, it opens up new avenues for research and medical treatment using marijuana. Experts emphasize the importance of understanding the legal, medical, and societal implications of this reclassification to foster informed decision-making and patient care.

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May 1, 2024 – You should not draw important conclusions about the marijuana safety Amid recent announcement that federal regulators may reclassify the drug, experts warn

But the move is expected to make it easier for scientists to study questions about safety and how well marijuana works as a medical treatment. A legal expert said it could change the way the federal government views the use medical marijuana with a prescription in a state where medical use is legal under state law. Right now, that’s still considered illegal under federal law.

“If you are a patient in a state with a medical marijuana law and your doctor prescribes medical marijuana and you possess it, you will no longer be guilty of a federal crime,” said Robert Mikos, JD, LaRoche family. professor of law at Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to change the way marijuana is classified, from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. Schedule I also includes drugs like heroin, and the proposed change would leave marijuana in a lower-risk group that includes drugs like Suboxone, which is used to treat heroin addiction.

“I don’t think the intention in moving it from Schedule I to III was to send a message to the public that it is safe to use. “I hope people are not misunderstanding or overinterpreting what the time change entails,” the psychiatrist said. Deepak Cyril D’Souza, MD, director of the Yale Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Science in New Haven, CT.

The Justice Department confirmed the proposed change on Wednesday.

“Today, the Attorney General circulated a proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III,” Xóchitl Hinojosa, the department’s public affairs director, said in a statement. “Once published by the Federal Register, it will begin a formal rulemaking process as prescribed by Congress in the Controlled Substances Act.”

The federal government define Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and have no currently accepted medical use, while Schedule III carries a “moderate to low physical and psychological dependence potential.” Some other Schedule III drugs include steroids, testosterone, and certain combinations of limited codeine with Tylenol. There are two more levels (Annexes IV and V) with even lower risks of abuse or dependence.

“There is some data to suggest that cannabis may have therapeutic applications,” D’Souza said, using the scientific term for marijuana. “In that sense, I think the reclassification makes sense.”

Andrew Esch, MD, a palliative care specialist in Tampa, FL, has already received a few calls from patients asking what the proposed change might mean for them. Esch, who specializes in treating patients with serious illnesses, meets the state of Florida’s requirements to certify patients to purchase medical marijuana at a dispensary. He praised the reclassification announcement.

“I think it’s very important and I think it’s a big step in the right direction to give us information that will help our patients,” said Esch, who also serves as a senior educational advisor for the Center for Advances in Palliative Care at the Icahn School of Medicine. at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Although he never uses marijuana as a first-line treatment, Esch said it is an important option because of its potential to treat nausea, appetite and sleep problems, as well as pain and anxiety, all of which are common among people with serious illnesses. . But sometimes, his patients aren’t willing to consider marijuana use.

“Patients are smart and know how to use the Internet. “If I suggest medical marijuana, they look it up and see that it’s classified the same as heroin, and they get very, very scared,” she said. “This reclassification, when they see it included with things like Tylenol with codeine, it’s a lot less scary for them.”

When prescribing marijuana, Esch manages it the same way he manages an opioid prescription.

“I believe marijuana can be safe if used in the right patients and monitored closely,” he said. “There’s just a lot more data on opioids than there is on marijuana, and I think both have their dangers and their benefits.”

In states where marijuana remains illegal under state law, there won’t be much change.

“You still wouldn’t be committing a federal crime, but you could be violating state law,” Mikos said. “That’s a much more important consideration because if you look at who goes after people who possess small amounts of drugs, the state takes care of that.” 99% of those cases.

The known risks of marijuana

Currently, 38 states and Washington, DC allow the use of medical marijuana and 24 states allow recreational use. Nearly 1 in 5 people use marijuana in the US in a complex legal landscape where it remains illegal at the federal level.

“There is very little science to support what is happening in reality,” D’Souza said. “The argument that has been made is that there is no good science because of draconian regulations. “So if these regulations are relaxed and marijuana is reclassified from Schedule I to III, that could allow researchers to answer some of these fundamental questions.”

Conducting research studies involving a Schedule I drug carries high levels of risks, responsibilities, and detailed inspections with the DEA.

D’Souza has studied marijuana for three decades and says regulatory complexities deter many researchers. His latest project will examine marijuana as a treatment for nerve pain.

The lack of research, coupled with increasing access to the drug as states legalize it for recreational or medical use, means people often look outside the scientific community for information.

“People are interested in what Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson have to say about cannabis,” D’Souza said. “It is difficult for us, in the scientific community, to compete against him. “I think we’ve done a very bad job of educating people.”

He noted that marijuana today is up to 20 times more potent than the marijuana commonly used between the 1960s and 1980s, and marijuana addiction rates have increased from about 10% of users to up to 30%. .

Known risks of marijuana use include:

  • Addiction
  • Serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
  • Accidents due to driving under the influence of alcohol
  • Heart and lung problems.
  • Impacts on brain development, particularly during fetal development and during adolescence.

“As a physician, psychiatrist, and someone who has studied cannabis for 30 years, I would say that I continue to have concerns about the impact of cannabis on human health, similar to my concerns about the impact of alcohol and tobacco on human health. health. And as you know, those are among the top 10 causes of the global burden of disease,” D’Souza said. “The turning point was the marketing of those products.”

Staff writer Kelli Whitlock Burton contributed to this report.

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