Fake News Hinders Marijuana Rescheduling

The current narrative on marijuana and its classification is misguided and dangerously misleading. State-regulated marijuana, with its rigorous standards for testing, age verification, packaging, and labeling, is not the villain here. In fact, the notion that marijuana is "addictive" is a fallacy. Yes, some research suggests that 3 in 10 marijuana users develop an addiction, but this is no different than the rate of caffeine addiction among coffee drinkers. 

Yet, we are not criminalizing coffee shops or imprisoning coffee drinkers, are we?

The real issue is not the addictive nature of marijuana, but the perceived harm associated with its regular use. Opioid addiction is a real public health concern, claiming about 100,000 lives last year and causing a nationwide public health emergency. So why are we focusing on marijuana – a substance that has never caused a death, according to the DEA – instead of drugs that are actually causing harm?

There is a stark difference between a "use disorder" and "addiction,” and the critics of marijuana often blur this distinction to make their misguided arguments. Evidence suggests that marijuana has less abuse potential than drugs in Schedule I or II. 

Furthermore, the existing schedule of substances like MDMA and psilocybin, which have shown promising results in initial clinical trials for treating PTSD and severe forms of depression, is hindering access to these potentially lifesaving therapies. Isn't it ironic that we're limiting access to substances that could potentially alleviate chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD in veterans, yet we continue to stigmatize and criminalize marijuana?

We should be gravely concerned, not about moving marijuana to Schedule III, but about the misguided policies and narratives that are obstructing access to potentially lifesaving treatments and causing more harm than good. It's time to recalibrate our approach and focus on truth, evidence, and real solutions.