Should DEA Remove Cannabis from Schedule I? [POLICYbrief]

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.

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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

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

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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)

How to reschedule marijuana, and why it’s 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”

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

19 Comments

  1. Purple Thunder on July 22, 2019 at 6:36 pm

    It’s pathetic that people think prescription drugs are safer than cannabis. So sad.



  2. Steven Moore on July 22, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    Q : ALCOHOL HAS MASSIVE MEDICAL BENEFITS BUT IS SUPER DEADLY AND A DEVIL CAN RIDE IT.
    DON’T SEEK SPIRITUAL THINGS FROM THINGS SEEN MY FRIENDS BUT CALL UPON THE NAME OF JESUS. YOUR HEART IS SAFE WITH JESUS AND WISDOM IS YOURS FOR THE ASKING; BE WISE. AMEN?



  3. 03DM M240 on July 22, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    5:33 This guy is a throwback from the ‘70s. Worse, he talks about controlling illicit cannabis coming over the border if the federal government de-scheduled it. Now think about that, why in the world would the cartels or smugglers in general smuggle a LEGAL SUBSTANCE? His logic is patently backwards in this case. Nowhere in his talking points is the idea of constitutionality or not. He is all about respecting the regulations and international treaties from the 60s with the UN but the U.S. Constitution? Nope. He is a regulator of the highest order.



  4. Propaganda Slayer on July 22, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    Cannibus has the lowest rate of addiction among every other illicit drug there is, including alchohol.

    Cannibus has proven time and again to competently suppress epileptic seizures, and is considered to be the only drug to successfully treat PTSD.

    The fact that the federal government has even considered to classify cannibus as a schedule 1 is highly suspicious, and creates many questions on the intentions behind such an irrational act.



  5. Buck Spoon on July 22, 2019 at 6:46 pm

    Legislation will have to get approval from the Cartels and the mafia that they are getting kickbacks from!



  6. Steven Moore on July 22, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Q : GOD DID NOT CREATE PILLS. BE WISE TO KNOW WHO DID MY FRIENDS.
    ***CBD IS NOT PSYCHO-ACTIVE*** ; created by THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR = VERY GOOD
    Documented servants of corruption = BIG_PH [F] ARMA ? ARE WE PIGS TO THEIR EYES ?



  7. K P on July 22, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Cannabis is not a drug.



  8. HE HȺTE ME on July 22, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    prohibition, as shown throughout history, creates black market profit motives for criminals, gangs, mafias, cartels etc. these groups use the sale of such prohibited goods to fund other criminal operations. prohibition not only makes criminals out of otherwise law abiding people, but also gives the government an excuse to further infringe on liberty due to the rise in newly emerging/manufactured "criminal activity" as a result. it not only promotes black market sales and funds criminal enterprise, but also puts otherwise law abiding people in danger by giving them no alternative besides dealing with potentially violent gangs and others of the like. since the beginning of the war on drugs the population in american prisons has sky rocketed. private for profit prisons arose as a result and currently the US has the highest prison population in the world. the war on drugs (especially cannabis) is not a war on drugs, it’s a war on people. it’s a war on the ability of an individual to make choices for him/herself about what goes into their own body. prohibition and similar legislation provides government a higher claim over the lives of individuals than the individuals should have themselves. simply put, it’s just more evidence that the american dream is not reality, and the current reality of government in the united states is far from the reality intended by the founders of this so-called free country.



  9. Biden Sniffed my Doodle on July 22, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    Highly addictive? That poor man is from the days of reefer madness propaganda.



  10. Space on July 22, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    It should remain a schedule 1 drug.



  11. Based Marduk on July 22, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    I guess alcoholic beverages should be Schedule 1.



  12. John Davis on July 22, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    The government not only knows of medical benefits for cannibus, they have not one but two patents on medical marijuana substances- one of which is marinol….. This guy is completely ignorant of modern knowledge regarding cannibus and it pissed me off that there are still people that uneducated on the subject making arguments against it!!



  13. Lynn Wilson on July 22, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    It pisses me off to think about how many lives have been ruined because of the abolition of marijuana. Not only that but the countless people who could have benefitted from its use.



  14. Mark Wick on July 22, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    Whether cannibus is addictive or not (its not) really has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a free adult individual and am capable of deciding for myself what I consume in my own body! I dont need approval for decisions I make. Oh and as far as "how we would control cannibus coming in to the country from canada or mexico" … I imagine that way we control it now!!



  15. Tom S on July 22, 2019 at 7:08 pm

    The old gray is under informed and totally biased. If he was crippled with pain from arthritis or any of the numerous conditions that qualify patients in MMJ states he would quickly adopt a drastically different point of view



  16. Chris Argust on July 22, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    Im a yard driver and smoke all day. Im there best driver on the yard, they couldent fire me if they wanted to. Zero accidents zero issues with safety in the 8 years I’ve been driveing. I’ve smoked every day a 8th the whole 8 years.



  17. Cosmic Surfer on July 22, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    Where did that old fogey reefer madness guy come from. He must be getting paid by big Pharma and Alcohol companies.



  18. K P on July 22, 2019 at 7:23 pm

    There are only two kinds of people that oppose the legalization of cannabis the ones that are ignorant on the subject and the ones that make money off of it being illegal.



  19. Michael Keating on July 22, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    As with many things these days, federal prohibition of marijuana is grossly unconstitutional. It is an impingement on states rights and a violation of individual liberty. Honest people must concede that growing and using cannabis in one’s own home is NOT interstate commerce by any reasonable definition.