Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
March 31, 2020 10:25 am ETEstimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
The World Health Organization has been hard at work on the business of reclassifying cannabis for some time. Although little immediate progress has been made, there is still cause for optimism thanks to the fact that this subject has been raised, and continues to take place, on a global stage. In January of 2019, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence released a new set of cannabis recommendations. Their findings concluded that the current classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance was a barrier to discovery when it came to learning how cannabis might serve people medicinally. The committee suggested that action be taken to remove that barrier.
Now, over a year later, cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, and the research the committee had hoped to see has not been embraced. However, the good news is that the United Nations and the WHO continue to advocate for cannabis. The conversation is far from over.
Understanding Drug Scheduling
In order to make sense of cannabis’s current classification, it’s necessary to understand the way drugs are classified. The scheduling system in the US is as follows:
Schedule I Substances are defined as those with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. It is easy to see why cannabis doesn’t quite fit in with this group. The ECDD pointed out that cannabis doesn’t carry the same harmful properties as do the other Schedule I drugs. They also recognized the potential of cannabis as a medical substance, pointing out that just because its medicinal properties hadn’t been fully defined, that didn’t mean they ought to be ignored.
Schedule II Substances are also considered as prone to being abused. These are highly dangerous substances, but they are also considered to have some medical value. Schedule II substances include cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone.
Schedule III Substances carry a moderate risk of dependence, with less potential for abuse than Schedules I and II. Examples include codeine, ketamine, and testosterone.
Schedule IV Substances carry a low potential for abuse or dependence. Examples include Xanax, Valium, and Ambien.
Schedule V Substances carry the lowest potential for abuse and are not considered dangerous. These substances are things like cough medicines that have a low amount of narcotics in them.
The WHO Delays Action
For the second time since the ECDD made its recommendations, the WHO is delaying voting on reclassifying cannabis.
See If You Qualify For Medical Marijuana -Select Your State!
It’s not for lack of understanding of the recommendation, though. The encouraging fact is that the WHO does seem to respect and understand that cannabis has been misclassified. And because drug classifications directly inform both the research that can be done into their uses and the penalties assessed against those who commit crimes involving each substance, they understand that it’s important to rectify the error.
At the present time, the WHO has been studying and discussing the potential ramifications of reclassifying cannabis, reflecting on the impact it will have on various nations socially, economically, and legally.
There is also a concern relating to whether the way drugs are classified is out of date entirely and ought to be revised as a whole.
Various nations have responded differently to the WHO’s measured approach. Algeria responded positively, stating that urgency was not called for in the matter of cannabis reclassification and that the WHO was wise to take its time. Slovenia, meanwhile, had the opposite reaction, insisting that cannabis needed to be reclassified and made available in an expeditious manner.
Though the delays may be frustrating, we can take heart knowing that the WHO is giving its attention to this very important issue.
Kat Helgeson comes from a ten year career in social media marketing and content creation. She takes pride in her ability to communicate the culture and values of an organization via the written word. Kat is also the author of numerous books for young adults. Her titles have received the Junior Library Guild Award, the Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year Distinction, and been featured on the Illinois Reads selection list. Her work has been translated into Dutch and German.
Cannabis tinctures are relatively new on the scene compared to the long, thousands-year-old history of the cannabis plant itself. It was first recognized for its medicinal use in European medicine in 1839, and by 1851, medicinal cannabis tinctures had made their way into a drug almanac known as the United States Pharmacopeia. Despite prohibition throughout…
Mental health is crucial to our well-being. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than one in five U.S. adults is currently living with a mental health condition. The effort to destigmatize the conversations around mental health is recognized from Mental Health Awareness Month in May to World Suicide Prevention Day in…
Cannabis access has expanded significantly in recent decades. Many states with medical programs have recently adopted recreational legislation allowing anyone 21 years and older to access the plant. This expanded access may leave you wondering if you should bother getting a medical card when you can just purchase cannabis from a recreational store. Medical and…
As cannabis use and accessibility grow nationwide, many universities have established pathways to study the business and science of the plant. Students can research cannabis and its many compounds, pharmacology, cultivation, business, marketing, public policy, and so much more. Beyond cannabis-specific schools like Oaksterdam University and THC University, aspiring cannabis professionals have many options to…
When Piper Lindeen’s son Zach began showing medical issues at just three years old, no one suspected a rare, severe form of epilepsy. Doctors initially didn’t recognize his symptoms as seizures. Eventually, they diagnosed Zach with epilepsy—but by then, his condition had worsened from a few seizures a week to several each day. As it…
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.