May 4 (UPI) -- The reclassification of cannabis as a Schedule III substance is meant to remove barriers for researchers but its effects could go further.
The final rule from the Office of the Attorney General places all drug products that contain marijuana and are federally approved in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The move shifts cannabis from Schedule I, alongside substances like heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, with the likes of codeine and ketamine.
Daniele Piomelli, distinguished processor of anatomy and neurology at the University of California, Irvine, told UPI it is an acknowledgement of cannabis' medical uses. Piomelli uses cannabis in animal studies.
Schedule I substances are considered dangerous, with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
"Because Schedule I compounds are considered to be highly dangerous, they have to be kept in a locked safe, in a locked building and very accurate records must be kept for the use, even if you only use a few micrograms or a few milligrams in a study," Piomelli said. "All these are costs. Although with Schedule III you will still need to have approval, the hurdles would be substantially reduced."
