In a move towards reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, the Biden administration aims to lift some restrictions on studying the drug. However, scientists caution that while this change will ease certain limitations, it will not eliminate potential risks or provide a comprehensive understanding of those risks.

Currently categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance, marijuana is deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The new proposal by the Biden administration seeks to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III controlled substance, acknowledging its medical benefits.

Under the existing Schedule I classification, researchers face numerous regulations that hinder their ability to study cannabis despite its increasing availability at the state level. Neuroscientist Staci Gruber notes that stringent requirements for storage, security, and reporting set by the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Institutional Review Board, and local authorities add substantial burdens to researchers. Additionally, scientists must register with the DEA and acquire state and federal licenses to conduct research on the drug.

Gruber emphasizes that the reclassification to Schedule III represents a significant paradigm shift, potentially altering perspectives and attitudes towards studying substances in this category. The change is especially welcomed by young researchers, who will no longer require a Schedule I license to delve into cannabis research.

The reclassification also holds promise for increased research on the benefits and risks of cannabis for medical treatments. Dr. Andrew Monte, associate director of Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety and an emergency physician and toxicologist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, believes this shift will lead to improved research quality as more scholars can contribute to the field.

However, Gruber highlights that the reclassification does not substantially expand the number of available sources for researchers. For decades, scientists were limited to using cannabis from a single facility at the University of Mississippi. While the DEA has recently added a few more companies to the approved sources list for medical and scientific research, the availability of these sources remains limited. Gruber hopes that more sources will be added over time to facilitate a broader range of research.

Despite these changes, Gruber emphasizes the unmet need for researchers to study the actual products that patients and recreational consumers are using, as current limitations make it impossible to do so. The lack of information about the composition of cannabis products on the market poses concerns, especially as studies indicate that today's products have higher levels of THC, the main intoxicant in marijuana, compared to previous decades. Higher THC levels are associated with increased health risks.

Dr. Monte cautions that the reclassification itself does not diminish the health risks associated with cannabis. He and his colleagues have been studying the adverse effects of marijuana consumption in Colorado, including symptoms such as intoxication, cyclic vomiting, and psychiatric issues like psychosis. However, research on these impacts has been lacking for decades, and the reclassification will not address this gap in risk surveillance.

Overall, while the Biden administration's proposal to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance is a significant step towards facilitating research, scientists emphasize that this change alone is not enough to fully understand and mitigate the potential risks associated with cannabis use.