Now is our chance to let our voice be heard! Help us fight for the international descheduling of cannabis NOW. See the link below and go on record with the FDA.
The United States Food and Drug Administration is asking the public to comment on whether cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabis extracts should be reclassified or rescheduled in the context of international drug treaties. The FDA’s request comes after the United Nation’s World Health Organization announced plans to do a high-stakes review of the international perspective on cannabis.
The FDA currently classifies cannabis as a controlled substance or a Schedule I drug. This means it currently considers cannabis as having a high potential for abuse with no therapeutic value. As such, cannabis is strictly prohibited.
Now, the WHO is asking UN member-nations to submit feedback or weigh in on cannabis to help with its review. The U.S., being a UN member – and a very influential one at that – will be forwarding the public comments it gathered to WHO.
WHO’s preliminary announcement with regard to cannabis
It can be recalled that in December, the WHO declared CBD as a safe, non-addictive, and therapeutic. See our article on WHO’s preliminary announcement here.
In its preliminary announcement, the WHO said that in response to the increasing interest in cannabis for medical uses, it has gathered robust scientific evidence on the matter and that its Expert Committee on Drug Dependence has done an initial review of CBD. Additionally, the health agency officially recommended that CBD be not scheduled as a controlled drug.
Initially, the WHO-ECDD had postponed a more comprehensive review of CBD preparations until May 2018. The committee will then be conducting a full review of cannabis, and cannabis resin, tinctures, and extracts.
However, the WHO has further delayed its final decision on the matter of CBD until June, which is also when it will be reviewing cannabis and cannabis-related substances.
We value your voice!
Meanwhile, the public comments collected by the FDA are due on April 23. Between now and that date, the FDA is asking “interested persons” – which includes YOU – to weigh in on marijuana’s international Schedule 1 status under international agreements.
NORML is helping the FDA collect these public comments. This means that you have the chance to let your voice be heard. Help us deliver the message that cannabis does not deserve a Schedule 1 classification and also doesn’t fit in a controlled substances agreement.
You can go on record with the FDA by filling out a comment form to recommend the international descheduling of cannabis NOW. To do that, simply click on this link.
You will find in the action alert a pre-drafted comment and you are encouraged to amend the comment and specify any other important aspects you wish to include in it.
You can also draw additional information from NORML’s Factsheets, as well as in its About Marijuana pages, in order to expand your position for the comments.
NORML will deliver these collected comments by hand to the FDA offices on April 23.