Officials from multiple federal health agencies participated in a conference this week, organized by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), to discuss the state of marijuana science and policy considerations. The focus was on the potential of cannabinoids and terpenes to treat pain.

Reclassification in Focus

The event comes at a crucial time as the administration considers reclassifying cannabis under federal law. Craig Hopp, NCCIH’s deputy director of extramural research, referred to the Justice Department’s proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as the “obvious elephant in the room.”

Ongoing Challenges for Researchers

Despite the optimism, Hopp emphasized that “nothing has actually happened” yet, and the regulatory environment remains unchanged. He highlighted that it might take at least a year for any changes to take effect, and it’s uncertain if the Schedule III designation will allow researchers to access cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries.

Hope for Accelerated Research

David Shurtleff, NCCIH’s deputy director, expressed hope that rescheduling would facilitate faster and more efficient research. Jennifer Hobin from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) echoed these sentiments, pointing out the current federal restrictions limiting access to marijuana from state markets.

DEA’s Absence Noted

A DEA official was scheduled to discuss cannabis policy but canceled last minute. The DEA did, however, communicate its goal to support researchers through the registration process for studying Schedule I drugs.

Increasing Federal Support

Angela Arensdorf of NCCIH noted the year-over-year increase in federally funded marijuana research. The NIH has also established a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, with significant funding allocated for future studies.

Broader Implications

The conference underscored the collaborative efforts across federal agencies to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabis, particularly minor cannabinoids. Despite regulatory hurdles, research on marijuana has surged, with over 32,000 studies published in the past decade.