The Heritage Foundation released the following statement from John, Barbara & Victoria Rumpel Senior Legal Research Fellow Paul Larkin, responding to President Donald J. Trump’s executive order relisting cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana, from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act:
“President Trump’s decision to relist cannabis and make it more widely accessible is misguided for several reasons.
“First, cannabis sold today is far more powerful than the version smoked at Woodstock. Then, the THC content was 3-6%. Now, some concentrated products approach a 100% THC content. That difference is like comparing ‘near beer’ to grain alcohol.
“Second, there is growing evidence that links marijuana with adverse physical problems, such as oral, head, and neck cancers, cardiovascular disorders, pulmonary disease, earlier onset of psychosis, Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, and other serious issues. Heavy cannabis users and people who begin its use as minors and continue into adulthood are particularly susceptible.
“Third, moving cannabis to Schedule III ensures the likelihood of more use, which we know leads to worse outcomes socially and physically for people on this drug. For example, states that have allowed more relaxed cannabis use have experienced higher accident rates, injuries, and fatalities from drivers under the influence.
“The real beneficiaries of today’s rescheduling decision are not Americans or patients suffering from pain, but the Chinese transnational criminal organizations, which control 75% of the illegal marijuana industry. This means America’s enemy, the Chinese Communist Party, benefits as well.
“An unsafe drug like cannabis cannot be placed in any category but Schedule I. It’s up to policymakers to classify this harmful drug correctly.”
For 87 years, the nation has trusted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide what substances are “drugs” and what drugs are “safe,” “effective,” and “uniformly made.” Schedule I is for drugs that have no proven medical use. The FDA has not found and could not find that the cannabis plant is safe. Cannabis belongs in Schedule I.
