The former White House drug tsar gives advice to Mexico on the legalization of marijuana

Three federal agencies – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – are now accepting public comment on cannabis-related topics, such as hemp pesticides and Legal classification of marijuana in the world.

In a notice published in the Federal Register last month, the FDA indicated that it wished to obtain information on possible changes in the status of marijuana under international treaties.

EPA asked for comments on pesticide applications for use on hemp a few months after the federal government legalized the crop.

Meanwhile, people have the opportunity to share their point of view on a proposal from the DEA, released last week, that advocates growing more than three million grams of cannabis for research purposes year-round next. This quota of 3.2 million grams would be 30% higher than this year. At the same time, the DEA announced that its quota of prescription painkillers such as fentanyl and oxycodone would be reduced by more than 50% next year.

The comment period began last week and 25 people have already spoken. The contributions received so far focus on reducing the opioid production proposed by the DEA, with many patients suffering from chronic pain claiming that it will be negatively impacted. People can send their comments on cannabis and other drug quotas until October 15th.

The FDA had originally requested information on the global cannabis treaty status in March, but it was closed due to the expected vote of the UN vote on a proposal to remove marijuana from the most strictly regulated category.

Last month, the FDA announced that it would reopen the comment period until September 30, anticipating that the UN will decide on possible changes in the coming months. So far, about 3,000 comments have been received, including those posted since August 29th. The vast majority spoke in favor of legalization, many sharing personal anecdotes about the therapeutic benefits of the plant.

"Please raise the ban and ban marijuana. Marijuana is not ruining the lives of countless Americans … US drug laws do this on their own through mass incarceration, "Zach Fowler wrote.

"I am 30 years old and I suffer from a progressive neurological disorder that leaves me in constant and debilitating pain, as well as many other symptoms. Without cannabis, I could not function enough to take care of my children, "said Amanda Wood-Devore. "Cannabis calms my pain, alleviates the anxiety and helps to keep nausea and vomiting constant."

Rol said that "current marijuana laws are more destructive than protective."

"We have seen many reports that cannabis can be used for medical purposes and many find that its effects improve the ease of life," he said. "While I understand the concern of people less familiar with cannabis about its legalization, it's just not okay to incarcerate people for generally harmless substance possession."

"I agree with the [World Health Organization] that cannabis should be removed from the Schedule 1 classification, "wrote Michael Ochipa, referring to a recommendation issued by the WHO in February, urging that marijuana be reprogrammed and that the CBD be moved.

"Most research to date indicates that cannabis has a very positive risk / return profile," he wrote. "The side effects are less important and the medicinal benefits are higher than many of the over-the-counter medications. It can also be grown easily at home, which makes it more economical. "

Although the amount of stock the FDA puts into the personal stories of people who have benefited from marijuana to shape the Trump administration's position on schedule changes, the number of comments and the consistency of the help to legalization remain important. Although the focus has been on the medical potential of cannabis, several others have emphasized the consequences of prohibition, especially for communities of color.

If the United Nations decided to adopt the WHO recommendations, it would not mean that member countries would be free to legalize marijuana without violating the treaties technically. However, even under its current strict status, Canada and Uruguay have adopted legalization models, with Mexico having to do the same next month.

At EPA, the public did not show as much interest in submitting comments on pesticide applications for hemp. The agency announced last month that it is accepting contributions for 10 existing applications. She hoped that "this transparent and public process would provide farmers and researchers with hemp clarity of regulation before the next growing season."

The EPA stated that it did not need to consider public comments, but did so "because of the potentially significant public interest in these early applications and for full transparency on these applications. ".

The legalization of hemp can be of great interest to the public, particularly among stakeholders eagerly awaiting federal regulations to unleash the potential of culture, but this does not yet appear on the Federal Notice page. Register concerning pesticides. Only five people commented on the proposal.

One person noted that the 10 pesticides in the study contain almost the same ingredients and said, "This really limits the ability of growers to manage pests and diseases."

"I strongly recommend expanding the list of compounds available to growers to increase their ability to suppress pests and diseases," commented the anonymous commentator. "There are many more biopesticides on the market that are safe for humans and that specifically target agricultural pests."

Another person who said he and his partner were transitioning from a cannabis crop in California to a hemp crop in North Carolina had said they support the pesticide project.

"We used the products under discussion with great efficiency, especially the biological controls," said the person. "As hemp can be very susceptible to mold, fungi and pests, it is imperative to have these tools to ensure a healthy and abundant product."

Finally, there was a comment that opposed the use of pesticides on hemp because, they wrote, "IT TRY TO TRANSFORM IT IN POISON".

Public comments from EPA end September 23rd. The agency did not say when decisions would be made on applications, but it announced plans to give hemp growers permission to use the tools before the 2020 planting season.

The fact that three separate federal agencies now accept comments on separate cannabis issues is another sign that the public has more than ever the opportunity to influence the government's position on marijuana policy.

The DEA wants 3.2 million grams of legally grown marijuana in 2020

Photo courtesy of Nicholas C. Morton.