A Republican congressman said that, while he personally opposes marijuana legalization under federal law, it would make sense to reschedule the drug to allow for research that could guide lawmakers in developing a potential “regulatory frame work” for cannabis products.
Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-IN, spoke on marijuana policy during a broader conversation about tobacco public health issues at an American Enterprise Institute event this month.
When asked about the idea to take a “harm-reduction” approach to marijuana, by establishing regulations similar to tobacco products, the congressman pointed out a major difference: cannabis is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This has impeded the research into its possible health effects.
Bucshon began by criticizing the movement for legalization, saying that it was “driven by money” and that he is concerned about cannabis’ impact on cognitive development.
He added that he would like to first improve tobacco regulations, but that there is a need for “something at the national level in relation to THC Products.”
Bucshon, who has opposed cannabis reforms in Congress with a loud voice, stated:
He said, “I mean, the tobacco problem has been known for decades, so maybe we should address it first.” Some people say that THC should be moved to Schedule II, or Schedule I-A, so we can research it and gather more information.
Many experts, including federal health officials at the highest levels, have complained of barriers to research marijuana due to federal prohibition. However, advocates will likely disagree with the congressman about the complete lack of research on the plant’s effects.
NORML, in a report released this month, discovered that over the last 10 years, researchers have published nearly 32,000 scientific articles on marijuana, including over 4,000 just in 2023.
There is a growing bipartisan consensus on the need to remove these research barriers. This could include rescheduling. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has instructed the Drug Enforcement Administration to move cannabis to Schedule III after a scientific review which was initiated by President Joe Biden last year.
HHS also had to report on the therapeutic potential and research barriers of cannabis to several congressional committees by the end of this month, but it does not appear that the agency has met the deadline. The reporting requirement was in a larger marijuana research bill, which Biden signed into law .
In a recent announcement, the National Institutes of Health said that it acknowledges that scientists have “encountered obstacles that have hampered [their] research” on marijuana under federal prohibition. These include “complex” regulations from the federal government and insufficient supplies of cannabis.
The agency has now decided to establish a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in order to address some of these challenges.
Credit Union CEO Calls On Congress To Pass Marijuana Banking Bill (Op-Ed)
Photo by Brian Shamblen.
The first time Marijuana Moment published the post GOP congressman floats marijuana rescheduling to lift research barriers and inform national ‘Regulatory Framework”.
