Changes in Federal Approaches to Cannabis: Process and Impact

In 1971, marijuana was designated as a Schedule I drug, meaning that it “has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision”. After decades-long efforts, President Biden announced in October 2022 that he instructed “the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.” In January 2023, the FDA stated that a new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed that balances individuals’ desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks. Although these actions suggest that the federal government is shifting its approach to cannabis, the mechanics of the scheduling review and the implications of such shift are not well understood.

Please join the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center for a two-part event to discuss the process and implications of marijuana scheduling review. A panel of experts will discuss the role of other federal agencies in the scheduling review process and the legal implications of marijuana’s status as a controlled substance and the potential impact of rescheduling marijuana or descheduling it entirely. The panel will consider impacts on criminalization, research, medical access, and the medical and adult use cannabis industries currently regulated by states.

12:00 – 12:30 – Presentation

12:30 – 2:00 – Panel discussion