:::::::USA Set to Reschedule Cannabis::::::: HHS Releases Recommendation Documents:::::::

[pipeline]

The delay in federal oversight and regulation is harming the few states who choose to follow federal law and wait before adopting legislation to prevent unintended consequences of acting too soon. There are risks states are taking in adopting these cannabis regulation policies in spite of the federal controlled substances act.

The federal government gives support to the state such as road money grants which they depend on. There are also corporations who want to do business in a state which operates in compliance with federal laws. So its good for business and the state's economy to conform to federal law.

The love of money is the root of all evil.

Freedom and liberty to make personal choices based on informed consent is a lost cause in the United States of America. Look at what happened with the supposed CoVid 19 outbreak. There were highly restrictive laws and freedom was a lost cause.

Observe all the places that implemented executive orders during Covid 19 which destroyed freedom, harmed the economy, and even forced some business to close. All these locations have adopted state cannabis regulations in spite of federal criminal law. Interesting they would want to allow people to make their own choice about cannabis.

Are the states trying to win back the people who were so upset with the destructive Covid 19 policies by allowing cannabis early before federal law changes?

 

[armedoldhippy]

How long are they willing to wait

until they leave office, and don't need to suck up to morons for votes...

 

[pipeline]

Legislation without representation. Enough to make you say "enough".

. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop...ansparency-in-marijuana-rescheduling-process/

 

[pipeline]

Strong Majority Of Marijuana Rescheduling Public Comments Support Even Broader Reform Than Biden’s Plan, Two Analyses Show

Two separate analyses of tens of thousands of public comments filed about the federal government’s plan to move marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) indicate that the bulk of submissions on the proposal came in support of cannabis reform. In fact, most commenters said...

www.marijuanamoment.net

 

[armedoldhippy]

57 % of commenters favor DESCHEDULING weed completely. 35% are in favor of rescheduling as proposed. so, only 8% of comments are morons raging about it being a "gateway" drug that needs at LEAST another quarter century of THEM "studying" it in hopes of finding something bad to announce ? "NEWS ALERT! smoking marijuana makes you calm and happy, and we want you to be on edge and angry just because!" is my math right ?

 

[pipeline]

Humans have evolved to utilize cannabis. The prohibition of cannabis is quite significant.

Here is link to the book Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany by Robert Clarke

Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany on JSTOR

Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany is a comprehensive,interdisciplinary exploration of the natural origins and earlyevolution of this famous plant, highlightin...

www.jstor.org

Description
Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of the natural origins and early evolution of this famous plant, highlighting its historic role in the development of human societies. Cannabis has long been prized for the strong and durable fiber in its stalks, its edible and oil-rich seeds, and the psychoactive and medicinal compounds produced by its female flowers. The culturally valuable and often irreplaceable goods derived from cannabis deeply influenced the commercial, medical, ritual, and religious practices of cultures throughout the ages, and human desire for these commodities directed the evolution of the plant toward its contemporary varieties. As interest in cannabis grows and public debate over its many uses rises, this book will help us understand why humanity continues to rely on this plant and adapts it to suit our needs.

 

[pipeline]

How does nicotine and cigarette use compare with cannabis for mental health and other issues? Why the double standard.

Is this a power grab by the government, to manipulate the regulation of cannabis in different regions for political power and gain?

Healthy people talk, and are active and are more engaged in the political process as a citizen. Cannabis helps make you healthy physically and mentally.

Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking

See the data and statistical information on health effects of cigarette smoking.

www.cdc.gov

 

[pipeline]

Smoking linked to mental illness - Harvard Health

Smoking may increase your chances of developing schizophrenia or depression, says a study published Nov. 6, 2019, in Psychological Medicine....

www.health.harvard.edu

Staying Healthy--LINK to study--

Smoking linked to mental illness​

February 1, 2020

Research we're watching​

Need another reason to quit smoking? Smoking may increase your chances of developing schizophrenia or depression, says a study published Nov. 6, 2019, in Psychological Medicine. It's long been known that people with mental illness are more likely to smoke than those without mental illness. But no one ever looked at what came first — the smoking or the mental illness. Researchers decided to find out using a database containing data from more than 462,000 people, of whom 8% were current smokers and 22% former smokers. The team found that people who smoked not only had a higher risk of developing depression and schizophrenia, but that people with either conditions were also more likely to smoke (although the association was not as strong for schizophrenia). The bottom line: Smoking may be bad not only for your lungs, but also your mind.

 

[pipeline]

Federal Safety Board Says Marijuana Rescheduling Could ‘Imperil’ Truck Driver Drug Testing, Despite Transportation Secretary’s Assurances

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is warning that marijuana rescheduling could create a “blind spot” with respect to drug testing of federally regulated workers in safety-sensitive positions—despite assurances last month from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the...

www.marijuanamoment.net

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is warning that marijuana rescheduling could create a “blind spot” with respect to drug testing of federally regulated workers in safety-sensitive positions—despite assurances last month from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the cannabis rescheduling proposal “would not alter” the federal drug testing requirements.
NTSB said in a press release on Tuesday that the Biden administration’s proposed move of cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) “could imperil federally required drug testing for airline pilots, truck drivers, and many others in safety-sensitive positions.”
“Moving marijuana to Schedule III without taking steps to ensure that marijuana testing remains within the scope of pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing would create a safety ‘blind spot,'” the board said.

“The NTSB is concerned that the proposed rule to move marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA would, upon becoming effective, immediately prohibit continued testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees for marijuana use” under relevant regulations, the comment submitted to the federal docket said, “because the HHS-certified laboratories used for such testing are not authorized to test for Schedule III controlled substances.”
“This would mean that airline pilots, airline maintenance workers, bus and truck drivers, locomotive engineers, subway train operators, ship captains, pipeline operators, personnel transporting hazardous materials, and other safety-sensitive transportation employees would be prevented from being tested for marijuana use,” NTSB claims.

 

[pipeline]

Should the American people trust the federal agencies and legislature when they have neglected to re-evaluate cannabis and reform the laws for so many years? Doesn't make any sense to trust them on this issue.

Seems suspicious they want to do more research before further regulation even though numerous states and nations around the world have adopted adult-use cannabis laws.

Are they really interested in keeping us safe, as they have subjected us to a hard-line "War on Drugs" prohibition which has caused loss of life, loss of property, and stolen children out of families due to cannabis charges?

Why aren't there open hearings on this issue in the federal congress or some state legislatures? Its startling how the scene is so quiet? Petitioning your representatives to hold hearings has little effect.

What did the commenters to the DEA rescheduling have to say? Would be great to have that in a debate format, but thats all behind closed doors with unelected officials. They are making decisions for choices that should be left up to individuals taking into consideration advice from their doctors and other research.

 

[pipeline]

3 points for thought:

1. The authorities seeking to prolong this issue by requiring research only creates more division among the American people. They should look at the evidence and make a decision soon for a regulatory structure to allow federal law to be in line with the most lenient states. Otherwise this prolongs the division among the people the conflict in laws continues to be a dangerous situation.

2. Current federal law or even under a Schedule III creates criminals out of ordinary law abiding people. Individuals and businesses in legal states are still able to possibly be targeted for criminal activity and it creates uncertainty for investments in the industry.

3. The conflict between Federal law and State law could further heat up an already charged political climate, and could be part of triggering an uprising. May even be a controlled opposition/ false flag uprising where they have actors out there to look like patriots and start trouble. Freedom from government oppression is a righteous cause, and they may be pushing some people's buttons.

We use truth as our weapon and get active speaking out to win the battle.

 

[pipeline]

Are the federal technocrats (authorities) aiming to exaggerate the mental health issues in society by continuing this hoax of cannabis prohibition?

Just another hoax to manipulate society. Don't buy into their game, keep doing what you do. They do what they do. God will sort it out.

 

[pipeline]

Do the Federal technocrats understand people can drive an hour to get cannabis? Some products are even mail order with the hemp derived industry.

There are races, sporting events, conventions, people travel as well. Society is very connected these days, not to mention internationally. Its heavy-handed, harsh, and absurd to target everyone with arrest, travelers or citizens. Talk about bad hospitality.

Its not going to be eradicated, so why not regulate? Just is already too late, so many generations have gone by, so many decades. Almost been 100 years guys!

Illinois Governor Says Marijuana Market Is Boosted By ‘Cannabis Tourists’ From Other States

Illinois’s governor says that while he’s “incredibly proud” of the state’s progress in repairing the harms of marijuana prohibition, he’s “not satisfied” yet and pledged to continue to promote equity in the legal cannabis industry. He also took a jab at surrounding states that have yet to enact...

www.marijuanamoment.net

 

[Caveman4.20]

Do the Federal technocrats understand people can drive an hour to get cannabis, some products are even mail order with the hemp derived industry.

There are races, sporting events, conventions, people travel as well. Society is very connected these days, not to mention internationally. Its heavy-handed, harsh, and absurd to target everyone with arrest, travelers or citizens. Talk about bad hospitality.

Its not going to be eradicated, so why not regulate? Just is already too late, so many generations have gone by, so many decades. Almost been 100 years guys!

Illinois Governor Says Marijuana Market Is Boosted By ‘Cannabis Tourists’ From Other States

Illinois’s governor says that while he’s “incredibly proud” of the state’s progress in repairing the harms of marijuana prohibition, he’s “not satisfied” yet and pledged to continue to promote equity in the legal cannabis industry. He also took a jab at surrounding states that have yet to enact...

www.marijuanamoment.net

Looks like i have more reading to do…

 

[pipeline]

Its was 1937 with the "Marihuana Tax Act"

They didn't create any tax stamps, effectively making it illegal.

People were growing hemp at the time and had no idea hemp was marihuana.

Medical cannabis is technically botanically, hemp since its the same plant Cannabis sativa. Terminology and language has been completely manipulated as a psychological propaganda tool. Hemp is hemp, medical cannabis is hemp with THC. The scientific community has been targeted to be supressed in creating proper nomenclature for the plant.

People in the culture have made new words, but they don't necessarily hold descriptive value scientifically.

Certain words have secondary meanings. "Marijuana" or "pot" holds cultural meanings other than cannabis sativa with THC.

 

[pipeline]

GOP Senator Backs Policy That ‘Treats Marijuana Just Like Tobacco,’ Calling On Feds To ‘Allow This Market To Occur’

A Republican senator says he supports creating a “comprehensive regulatory framework that treats marijuana just like tobacco,” arguing that “the federal government needs to figure out a safe way to allow this market to occur.” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) shared his perspective on cannabis policy...

www.marijuanamoment.net

 

[Lebanizer]

Its was 1937 with the "Marihuana Tax Act". They didn't create any tax stamps, effectively making it illegal.

People were growing hemp at the time and had no idea hemp was marihuana.

Medical cannabis is technically botanically, hemp since its the same plant Cannabis sativa. Terminology and language has been completely manipulated as a psychological propaganda tool. Hemp is hemp, medical cannabis is hemp with THC. The scientific community has been targeted to be supressed in creating proper nomenclature for the plant.
[...]

Certain words have secondary meanings. "Marijuana" or "pot" holds cultural meanings other than cannabis sativa with THC.

I agree whole heartedly with you ! Should people be reminded that the very word cannabis is just the Latin word for hemp ? Should people be reminded that those two words are actual cognates and stem from a common proto indo-european root ?

 

[pipeline]

Marijuana Prohibition Hinders Ability To ‘Fully Understand’ Its Effects, Top Federal Health Agency Says In New Report

Federal laws prohibiting marijuana “hinder our ability to fully understand” the therapeutic potential of cannabis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in a new report. Scientific researchers, for example, should be able to access and study marijuana from state-legal...

www.marijuanamoment.net

This push research in my opinion is part of a new government mission. Everything in the name of science and nothing in the name of freedom and community and culture. These are the main pillars of need for change. They are going the completely scientific route?

Seems kind of weird, since America is based on freedom. If the people use it, they must adopt more lenient policies. Science can be flawed, or biased, and must be re-evaluated which takes time. Science is not the goal of America and the world, we base our laws in helping out communities and manage any issues. Should be that way anyway....

Politics​

Marijuana Prohibition Hinders Ability To ‘Fully Understand’ Its Effects, Top Federal Health Agency Says In New Report​

Published

on
August 2, 2024
By
Kyle Jaeger


Federal laws prohibiting marijuana “hinder our ability to fully understand” the therapeutic potential of cannabis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in a new report. Scientific researchers, for example, should be able to access and study marijuana from state-legal dispensaries but are not able to under current policies.
In a report submitted to Congress, as required under the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act that President Joe Biden signed in December 2022, HHS detailed barriers to cannabis research, the health benefits and risks of marijuana use and more.
The 15-page document, which was due this past December but only sent to lawmakers in June—six months past the deadline—also address the “confusion” that’s resulted from the federal legalization of hemp and its derivatives with “perceived loopholes” that have allowed intoxicating cannabinoids to proliferate in markets across the country.

“Beyond the nuances of the control status of various cannabis products, there are numerous barriers that can deter scientists from pursuing research with Schedule I drugs,” HHS said. “Even experienced researchers have reported that requirements for obtaining a new Schedule I registration, adding new substances to an existing registration, and getting approval for research protocol changes are time-consuming.”
One key research barrier connected to the Schedule I status of cannabis under federal law is the fact that “researchers cannot legally obtain or analyze products sold through state marijuana dispensaries.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must approve all sources of cannabis for study purposes, and the agency has not given that approval to any state-licensed retailers.
“As such, researchers must rely on study participants’ self-reported use and/or photos of dispensary products, with testing and labeling requirements that are not consistent across jurisdictions,” the report says. “Due to this variability—and because researchers cannot test these products—it is challenging to determine exactly what is in the products consumers are using and what characteristics of them are responsible for any reported therapeutic or adverse effects.”

While DEA has moved to approve additional federally authorized suppliers of research-grade marijuana, it’s unclear how many new growers are being utilized or if their products reflect what people are buying in state-legal shops, so going forward, “it will be important to ensure that research-grade products reflect those that consumers are using.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and sponsor of the marijuana research bill that led to the new report, said the HHS analysis “validates what we have known for years: reclassifying cannabis is paramount to effectively researching it.”
“I welcome these long overdue but anticipated findings as a signal that the federal government may soon be a constructive partner in the path forward,” he said. “The Biden-Harris Administration must now move quickly to complete the scheduling review and Congress redouble its efforts to allow for the research of dispensary grade cannabis. We are inching closer each day toward the inevitable legalization of cannabis.”

The new document notes that it comes after a 252-page review it completed as part of the ongoing marijuana rescheduling review and as such “includes some data that post-date that HHS recommendation and addresses some substances that are not within the definition of marijuana under the CSA and thus contains information broader than the scope of the scheduling recommendation.”
The report also discusses “credible evidence” that marijuana could be used as an effective treatment option for chronic pain, while adding that there’s “less support for its effectiveness in other conditions.”

“It is also worth noting that the U.S. jurisdictions that have legalized the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes have often done so with inadequate scientific research to support all allowable uses,” HHS said.
The agency additionally identified a number of concerns with cannabis use as it concerns driving ability, emergency room visits, substance misuse and brain development.
HHS also addressed the “confusion” resulting from a “loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill that federally legalized hemp and opened up a largely unregulated market of consumable cannabinoid products. Lawmakers on the House side have moved to effectively ban most of those products under the latest iteration of the agricultural legislation, as well as a separate appropriations measure.
While hemp and its constituents are considered federally legal if they contain no more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, many synthetic cannabinoids derived from the crop are available in commercial markets around the country, despite the fact that DEA has determined that synthetically processed compounds do not meet the definition of hemp and are therefore Schedule I drugs.

“Thus, indistinguishable compounds may be controlled differently depending on whether they are non-synthetic hemp/CBD-derived or derived from other sources,” HHS said. “These inconsistencies remain a source of confusion for scientists and could have a chilling effect on research by deterring scientists from conducting research on these compounds.”
“Additional guidance from the DEA, including on how researchers can determine the source of cannabis materials (i.e., whether they are hemp-derived and thus non-controlled) would be useful,” it said.

With respect to marijuana research barriers, HHS included recommendations for Congress, including passing the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT) Act, which would streamline research into Schedule I drugs like marijuana and psychedelics. Advocates have also criticized the legislation, however, as it would ramp up federal criminalization of fentanyl analogues.
The agency also noted that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is providing funding to support researchers who can develop a medical marijuana registry to track everything from how patients are obtaining and consuming cannabis to their health outcomes.
“Still, none of the efforts described above address the critical need for researcher access to the full range of state-authorized dispensary products; thus, there remains a substantial gap in understanding the impact of cannabis products on health,” the report says. “Innovative solutions to bridge this gap are needed.”

“Licensing cannabis growers that are already providing products to state dispensaries as approved manufacturers of research-grade cannabis is one possible path through which researchers could access some of the same products sold in state-legal markets,” it said. “Exploring partnerships through which the federal government could legally acquire and make available to registered researchers cannabis products from state-authorized dispensaries could also bridge this gap.”
The report concludes by reiterating that while “there are medical benefits associated with the use of FDA-approved cannabinoid medications and there is credible scientific support suggesting that cannabis has additional therapeutic potential, there are also risks and many unknowns.”

“It is imperative that we learn as much as we can about the wide variety of available products and their constituents, including cannabinoids other than delta-9 THC and CBD,” it says.
“By expanding the number of cannabis manufacturers and enacting legislation to make it easier to conduct cannabis research, federal policymakers have taken important steps toward advancing this work. Nevertheless, continued regulatory hurdles, including lack of access to the products the public is using, hinder our ability to fully understand cannabis’ potential as a therapeutic agent and its risks when used for medicinal and nonmedicinal purposes, and must be addressed.”
The HHS report was belatedly submitted to congressional committees months after the agency proposed moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) following a directive from Biden. The department determined that the reclassification is appropriate in light of evidence that cannabis possesses some medical value with a relatively lower abuse potential than would warrant a Schedule I designation.

The Justice Department has since formally proposed rescheduling, and a public comment period on the rule change closed last week, with more than 40,000 submissions weighing in on the modest reform.
Read the full HHS marijuana report below:

 

[pipeline]

The truth comes out.

The Federal government does want to take away your gun rights if you use cannabis.

Supreme Court’s Domestic Violence Ruling Underscores Why Marijuana Users Shouldn’t Own Guns, DOJ Tells Federal Court

In a new court filing this week, lawyers for the Justice Department argued that the federal government’s ban on marijuana users owning guns—what it described as “temporary disarmament of unlawful drug users”—is supported by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the government’s...

www.marijuanamoment.net

 

[pipeline]

Teen Marijuana Use Is Lower Now Than Before States Started Legalizing It For Adults, Federal Report Shows

Past-year marijuana use held roughly steady nationally between 2022 and 2023, according to a new federal report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Cannabis consumption among minors, meanwhile—defined as people 12 to 20 years of age—has fallen...

www.marijuanamoment.net