Federal Reclassification of Marijuana Could Have Major Impact on Medical Uses
Federal authorities have announced that they are reviewing the possibility of loosening the classification of marijuana, and if this happens, it could have a far-reaching impact on how the substance is used in medical settings, experts said. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is listed alongside heroin and LSD as among the most dangerous drugs and has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The Drug Enforcement Agency announced last week that it is reviewing the possibility of reclassifying it as a Schedule II drug, which would put it in the same category as Ritalin, Adderal and oxycodone. Medical experts are welcoming the review, saying it could ease restrictions for researchers, so that they can better understand which compounds in marijuana could be used to help patients.
The American Medical Association told ABC News that the group supports the review to help facilitate scientific research and the development of cannabinoid-based medicines. The Drug Enforcement Administration should work with other federal regulatory agencies to develop a special schedule for marijuana to facilitate study of its potential medical utility in prescription drug products, AMA officials told ABC News in a statement.
Current standards for approval of prescription drug products require rigorous scientific study. While studies related to a limited number of medical conditions have shown promise for new cannabinoid-based prescription products, the scope of rigorous research needs to be expanded to a broader range of medical conditions for such products, the AMA added.
Dr. Kevin Hill, assistant professor of psychiatry at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, published a review of medical marijuana in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015. In that review, he emphasized there are significant barriers for researchers who want to study marijuana for its medicinal potential.
(Source: abcnews)
Federal Reclassification of Marijuana Could Have Major Impact on Medical Uses
Reviewed by Bradley Fernandez
on
3:45:00 PM
Rating:
Reviewed by Bradley Fernandez
on
3:45:00 PM
Rating:
