The organization has ordered a scientific and medical evaluation and scheduling recommendation for the drug from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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The decision keeps pot in the same category as heroin and cocaine – although officials will allow more entities to grow the drug for research.
Now the federally-approved, 12-acre marijuana farm at the University of MS, which grows the plant for NIDA’s Drug Supply Program, remains the only one of its kind in the USA, resulting in a major backlog and delays for research groups applying for samples of the substance.
“The DEA’s decision flies in the face of choices made freely by voters in OR and many other states about the legality of marijuana. This pathway allows the FDA the important ability to determine whether a product meets the FDA criteria for safety and effectiveness for approval”, DEA said in its announcement of the decision. “Keeping marijuana in Schedule I shows that the DEA continues to ignore research, and places politics above science”, Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement.
“The DEA’s refusal to remove marijuana from Schedule I is, quite frankly, mind-boggling”, Marijuana Policy Project spokesperson Mason Tvert said. The DEA’s move disappointed marijuana advocates, who feel the decision was based on political motives rather than on scientific data.
Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, a drug addiction specialist, more studies need to be conducted on the long-term effects of marijuana use.
Bernie Sanders is not too stoked about the news the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) won’t be rescheduling marijuana.
The agency denied a petition to reclassify the drug as less unsafe, meaning for now, the DEA still doesn’t believe it has any medical value.
But the agency did agree to expand the number of manufactures registered to supply marijuana for research purposes. Some states have individually said marijuana can be used for medical purposes, however.
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However, the government did say it will open up more avenues for marijuana research.
