Unlike more modest measures previously championed by some of Mace’s GOP colleagues, this legislation—an updated draft version of which was obtained by Marijuana Moment over the weekend—represents an attempt to bridge a partisan divide.
The reason for that response largely comes down to the fact that there’s skepticism that Democratic-led legalization bills will be able to pass without GOP buy-in.
Under the new Mace legalization bill as drafted, marijuana would be removed from the Controlled Substances Act, with retroactive effects for people previously punished.
The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau —renamed as the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Tax and Trade Bureau—would be the chief regulator for marijuana with respect to interstate commerce and international trade.
The Food and Drug Administration would be limited in its regulatory authority, with the intent being that it would have no more control over cannabis than it does for alcohol except when it comes to medical cannabis.
A national age limit of 21 would be set for legal recreational marijuana products, which would be enforced by withholding funds from any state that seeks to lower that age.
Military veterans could not be discriminated against in hiring for federal positions due to cannabis consumption, and doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs would be allowed to issue medical marijuana recommendations.
Yet, despite that support, President Joe Biden continues to oppose adult-use legalization.
Robert Califf, who previously served a short stint as the FDA head under the Obama administration, hasn’t been especially vocal about marijuana issues.
“We understand that people have identified a number of possible uses of marijuana and marijuana-derived products.
“What this means is that no one has demonstrated to FDA that any such product is safe or effective for the treatment of any disease or condition.
The approval of these substances “supports the point I made earlier that our decisions on the approval of any medicine relies on the science to determine the safety and effectiveness of new medicines.
Overall, the remarks suggest that, if confirmed, it doesn’t seem that Califf wouldn’t be hostile toward attempts to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabis.
For example, industry stakeholders are eagerly awaiting action by the FDA to allow CBD to be marketed as a food item or dietary supplement.
With respect to broader marijuana policy, FDA would play a critical role in any moves to reschedule or deschedule cannabis.
It’s a potentially massive expansion of eligibility for patients after years of piecemeal additions to the list of qualifying conditions.
He notes the Department of Pharmacy will still manage a database of prescriptions through the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System, or OARRS, but most oversight will fall under the purview of a new Division of Marijuana Control housed in the Commerce Department.
Huffman and Yuko both draw a distinction between medical and recreational cannabis, insisting that their measure and the other ideas are completely different conversations.
The ballot measure would allow home grown marijuana as well, capping the amount at six plants per person and no more than 12 per residence.
The agency took that feedback into consideration and assessed scientific demands before landing on the final quotas, which are even higher than the figures from two months ago.
For 2021, the agency now says in a notice set to be published in the Federal Register on Monday that it wants 6,000 grams of psilocybin manufactured by the end of the year, which is quadruple the figure it last put forward.
The agency also wants to see 2 million grams of marijuana produced this year, or about 4,400 pounds.
All told, the final quotas represent welcome news for researchers and advocates.
A federal appeals court recently dismissed a petition to require the DEA to reevaluate cannabis’s scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.