Researchers are anxious to learn more about cannabis’s genetic and chemical makeup, its medical benefits and the public health risks associated with increased use of the drug. But a maze of often contradictory federal and state regulations limits how researchers can put the plant under a microscope.
The scientists’ biggest challenge is this: Cannabis is not only illegal under federal law, it’s also classified as a “Schedule I substance,” meaning that the U.S. government equates it with heroin and other hard drugs that federal officials say have a high potential for abuse and no “currently accepted” medical uses. That means that unless scientists apply and receive a hard-to-get license from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to do cannabis research, they are severely restricted.
“The federal system seems set up to have cannabis researchers fail,” said Jahan Marcu, co-founder of the New York-based International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health. “But consumers want a product that’s safe, labeled correctly and, maybe someday, even covered by insurance.”
Interest in cannabis research has soared as the number of users steadily increases, mainly as a result of states loosening their cannabis laws. At universities that receive federal funding, anything that involves handling cannabis requires a license from the DEA. The application is extremely difficult to complete, and it often takes several years for the government to approve it. As a result, most scientists teaching or researching cannabis today are forced to rely on textbooks, online resources and expert-led webinars.
Read more at mercurynews.com
