October 4, 2019 02:37 pm ETEstimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
Cannabis is currently listed as a Schedule 1 substance according to the Controlled Substances Act aka the CSA. The CSA is defined as “the statute establishing federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances is regulated.” Rescheduling cannabis to a schedule 3 holds many benefits. Schedule 1 substances are considered to be of no medical value, and research surrounding them is highly hindered. Along with cannabis, other substances that are classified as a schedule 1 substance include but are not limited to the following.
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Heroin
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
Mescaline (Peyote)
Psilocybin
Currently, there are bills in Congress that aim to change the status of cannabis per the CSA. While some of these bills are more comprehensive than others, they all aim to reschedule cannabis at the federal level from a schedule 1 to a schedule 3 status.
The most recent bill was introduced on Friday, Sept. 13th and is known as the Marijuana 1-to-3 Act. This bill was introduced just a day after a similar piece of legislation known as the Expanding Cannabis Research and Information Act. Let’s take a closer look at these bills and what they would do if passed.
Marijuana 1-to-3 Act
The Marijuana 1-to-3 Act was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube, a Republican Representative from Florida. This 2-page bill calls for the following;
“The Attorney General of the United States shall, by order not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, transfer marijuana…from schedule I of such Act to schedule III of such Act.”
The purpose of this bill is to open up avenues for the medical benefits of cannabis to be more thoroughly researched. Representative Steube stated the following regarding why he introduced this bill.
“It is clear that there are medical benefits to marijuana, and I think it’s time we remove the bureaucratic red tape that prevents us from thoroughly studying this substance.”
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
We couldn’t agree more, and it seems as if other politicians feel the same. On Thursday, Representatives Donna Shalala and Matt Gaetz, both of Florida as well introduced the “Expanding Cannabis Research and Information Act.”
Expanding Cannabis Research and Information Act
In addition to rescheduling cannabis and its derivatives from a schedule 1 to a schedule 3 classification, the Expanding Cannabis Research and Information Act would also require various federal agencies to produce and implement a research agenda within one year of the legislation passing. They would also be required to classify universities as “Centers of Excellence in Cannabis Research.”
According to the bill’s text, these universities would be responsible for conducting “interdisciplinary research related to cannabis and other biomedical, behavioral, and social issues related to cannabis.”
As you can see, the passing of either of these pieces of legislation would bring about a significant change in how cannabis could be researched as well as its legality at the federal level. The Expanding Cannabis Research and Information Act is very similar to a bill introduced in the Senate in July by Senator Dick Durbin.
This piece of legislation also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to implement a public database. One that contains public medical records and survey results. This database would be utilized by the government to learn more about how people are using cannabis and the results they are seeing.
Research conducted under either of these pieces of legislation would not only allow NIH research “Centers of Excellence” the ability to research cannabis but also to grow their supply of cannabis for research purposes. At this time, there is only one approved entity that is licensed to grow cannabis for research, and it has been a thorn in the side of many researchers over the past few decades as you can learn more about here.
History in the Making
Any of these legislations, if passed, would be a historical moment in the cannabis movement. This is because it would be the first time in several decades that cannabis would no longer be considered per the government to be as harmful as heroin and mescaline. Additionally, it would finally open the gates for substantial research to be performed. Something that countless politicians, medical professionals, and patients have been advocating for since prohibition began.
Ashley Priest is a patient, mother, entrepreneur, and activist that fights to end prohibition globally for a better future for all. Ashley has a passion for sharing education pertaining to the goddess plant known as cannabis. She believes that a single seed can tip the scales and that together through education we can end the stigma that is preventing cannabis from flowering to its full potential globally.
If you’re reading this, you are either a recreational cannabis veteran who has seen a handful of cannabis smokers passing out from puffing a joint and can’t seem to figure out why. Or, you are a newbie who wants to give recreational or medical cannabis a shot, and the burning question on your mind is,…
Edibles are arguably one of the best means of recreational cannabis consumption—you get to eat a treat AND experience a long-lasting high. But it’s easy to end up dealing with some unwanted side effects due to the variability in the onset of these THC-packed goodies, which come in the form of brownies, cookies, gummies, chocolate,…
So you love smoking cannabis, but you’re tired of the same ole rolling papers. Perhaps you feel like you’ve graduated from dumping out the tobacco and shoving weed into an empty cigarette. Maybe you’ve recently learned about the potential dangers and risks associated with tobacco blunt wraps and want a healthier option. Let’s explore some…
When you decide that you are going to dabble in cannabis cultivation, you have many different decisions to make. You’ll have to decide whether you’re growing indoors or outdoors, as well as in soil, or the route of hydroponics. You’ll also have to pick what type of planters to use, what grow medium to use,…
Professional wrestling legend Terry Gene Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, recently mentioned how CBD has helped him deal with addiction. In an interview with Muscle & Health magazine, he revealed that he has swapped opioids and alcohol for CBD. Worthy of note is that the therapeutic value of CBD is being studied for substance…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
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.