The American Nurses Association applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommendation that move cannabis to Schedule III. They call the action a “positive step towards developing an evidence-based strategy for marijuana and related cannabinoids in disease and symptom treatment.”
In a Thursday press release, the American Nurses Association (ANA), a group of nurses in the United States, said that the American Nurses Association recognized this as achieving the potential for cannabis in health care. This is the first time HHS publicly acknowledges marijuana’s medicinal use.
Since at least 2021, the professional association has been pushing for a reclassification of marijuana. It has also supported “providing a safe access to therapeutic cannabis and related cannabinoids.” In September last year, recognized cannabis as an official specialty nursing practice area.
The new press release states that “ANA continues its’ position urging policymakers review and reclassify cannabis’ status to support the clinical research on marijuana’s potential benefits to patients and providers.” It also notes that “it supports the urgency of the clinical research in order to inform patients, providers and the public on the efficacy and safety of marijuana and cannabinoids.”
The ANA describes itself as the “sole review body for specialty nursing scope and standards of practice.”
The group’s president stated that the recognition of cannabis as a medical practice last year was done to “highlight the essential role and contribution of cannabis nurses in the health care system, and to promote enhanced integration of marijuana therapies for health consumers across various health care settings.”
The group also acknowledged a separate organization, the American Cannabis Nurses Association, which promotes research, education, and policy reform in relation to medical marijuana. The ANA credited the group with “pioneering cannabis nursing” and for “contributing towards the broader landscape in nursing practice and patient-care.”
Rachel Parmelee said that the ACNA president was “deeply gratified” by the groundbreaking recognition of cannabis nursing nursing as a specialty recognized by the ANA.
Currently, HHS’s recommendation to reschedule is being reviewed by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA has the final word on this matter.
The Congressional Research Service outlined the limitations of the proposed change earlier this week. It stressed that the state cannabis markets will continue to be in violation of federal law while criminal penalties for marijuana-related activities at the federal level would remain.
CRS published a similar analysis in September that focused on the “broad implications” of rescheduling for federal policy, including taxes, housing and immigration, as well as military eligibility, gun ownership, and other areas. Based on previous precedent, researchers also concluded that DEA is likely to follow the HHS recommendation.
HHS finally released the full recommendation and scientific findings that it shared with DEA the previous week. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated his agency has “communicated their “position” regarding marijuana rescheduling to DEA , and has continued to provide additional information to help with the final decision.
The DEA has steadfastly insisted that it is the “final authority” on the matter, and it can make whatever scheduling decisions it wants.
The statement was made in response to a letter sent by 31 bipartisan legislators, led Earl Blumenauer (DOR), who had urged the agency to take into account the “merits of legalization” as it conducted its review.
DEA has been under pressure from both sides in the recent debate on marijuana policy. Prohibitionists have urged the agency to maintain cannabis as Schedule I, while advocates are pushing for a Schedule III or descheduling decision.
Before the HHS documents were released, a coalition consisting of 12 Democratic state Attorneys General urged DEA to proceed with federal marijuana rescheduling. They called the policy change a “public safety imperative.”
In a second letter sent last month, 29 former U.S. Attorneys urged the Biden administration not to include cannabis in Schedule 1.
The governors of six U.S. States–Colorado Illinois, New York New Jersey Maryland and Louisiana sent a letter to Biden last month asking the administration to reschedule cannabis by the end the year.
Six former DEA directors and five former White House Drug Czars have sent a letter to the Attorney General and current DEA Administrator expressing their opposition to the recommendation of the federal health agency to reschedule cannabis . The letter also included a questionable statement about the relationship between criminal penalties and drug schedules, which could have exaggerated the impact of incremental reform.
The DEA and Office of National Drug Control Policy directors under both major parties’ presidents are among the signatories.
In October, advocates and lawmakers who support marijuana reform marked one year anniversary of Biden’s mass marijuana pardon. They also called on him to do even more.
Two GOP Senators, including the Republican lead sponsor of an marijuana banking bill which was approved by a key committee back in September also filed legislation at the end of last year to prohibit federal agencies from rescheduling Cannabis without tacit consent from Congress.
A coalition of Republican lawmakers has urged DEA, meanwhile to “reject”, the top federal agency’s recommendation that marijuana be rescheduled and instead kept in the most restricted category under the CSA.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
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