Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medicine behind life's mysteries, big and small. You can listen to the episode here.
(CNN) — Cannabis, or marijuana, has come a long way to regain legality in the United States, but it may soon pass a major milestone in rescheduling. This is the technical term for reclassifying it as a less dangerous drug, which would result in some restrictions on the drug being relaxed at the federal level.
Cannabis was widely used as a medicine in the 1800s and early 1900s. But Congress effectively criminalized it in 1937 by passing the Marijuana Tax Act. However, since 1996, marijuana has been available to adults for medical or recreational purposes in most states.
But at the federal level, it's a different story. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, along with drugs such as heroin and LSD. By definition, Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and currently have no accepted medical use. The U.S. Department of Justice is considering moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a less restrictive Schedule III drug.
Rescheduling cannabis is a complex process. President Joe Biden has formally requested a 2022 transition, which involves multiple agencies, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The latter agency found “credible scientific support” for the use of cannabis in treating certain conditions, including chronic pain.
The potential for cannabis to be used safely and effectively in medical settings is not a new concept to Dr. Stacey Gruber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston. She has dedicated her career to understanding cannabis' effects on the brain.
“At this point, there's a great deal of evidence to suggest that certain cannabinoids work relatively effectively for some people with certain types of pain,” Gruber recently told CNN's Chief of Staff. He spoke to medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the Chasing Life podcast. “In our observational study, we did see that individuals reduced their own opioid use after starting cannabinoid administration.”
You can listen to all episodes of the podcast here.
So what does the cannabis deferral mean for the average American? Gruber shares five things you need to know about the potential reclassification of cannabis.
As the next step in the process, the DEA has scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 2. Experts and stakeholders will be allowed to speak about the proposed changes.
Even with the rescheduling, cannabis would still be regulated.
“One letter makes a huge difference. Rescheduling is not unscheduling,” Gruber wrote in an email. “The schedule changes will have significant tax implications for industry and change the administrative burden for researchers, but will not change much for consumers and patients.”
She said marijuana, as a Schedule III substance, would still not be available for purchase over the counter or in general retail outlets.
Be honest about what you want and choose products that align with those goals.
“Know before you go. Make sure you know what you want to achieve with cannabis/cannabinoids and be honest with yourself before purchasing anything,” says Director of Cognitive Clinical Neuroimaging Core and Marijuana says Mr. Gruber. Research for the Neuroscience Discovery Program. Both at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
For example, she asked, do you want to use cannabis for medical reasons, recreationally, or both?
Carefully choosing the right product with your goals in mind will influence the experience you get, whether it's clinical benefits or side effects.
Make sure you know exactly what's in the products you buy.
“Buyer beware,” Gruber said. “Don't just rely on the product label; know what you're looking for in a product and request a certificate of analysis (COA) for the product you're interested in to see exactly what's in the product. Please. How much?”
She said independent laboratory analysis is best.
Consider your age. That's important, Gruber said.
“Cannabis poses a higher potential risk for children/adolescents and emerging adults when exposed to large amounts of THC and more potent products, especially as they are in the midst of critical brain development,” she said. Ta.
On the other hand, older adults with slower metabolisms may also be more sensitive to cannabinoid products, she noted. “However, many adults experience unique benefits from cannabinoids,” she noted.
Regardless of age, cannabis use is associated with potential health risks.
Consider your personal and medical history.
“We are not all created equal,” Gruber says. “Each person may react differently to cannabis and cannabinoid products.”
She says individual responses depend on many factors, including the compounds in the product, how the product is used, past experience with cannabinoids, the consumer's age, metabolism, use of other substances, genetics, and family history of certain conditions. said that it is based on the following factors.
Another important factor is the use of conventional drugs. “Drug-drug interactions are a potential concern as a cannabinoid. CBD in particular can interact with liver enzymes when used orally and can increase or decrease serum levels of other drugs,” she says. said.
As a final point, Gruber says, “Remember: Using cannabis for medical purposes doesn't mean you have to get high or feel altered. Watch the THC content; Start small and take it slow.''
We hope these five tips help you understand what rescheduling your cannabis means. Listen to the entire episode here. And next week, join us on the podcast Chasing Life for a fascinating discussion about the brain between two neurosurgeons, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Theodore Schwartz of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
