FDA

FDA Reviewing the Classification of Marijuana as a Schedule 1 Substance

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently conducting research to determine if marijuana should continue to be classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the US, or if its classification should be downgraded, a step toward decriminalizing the drug at the federal level.

The agency is conducting the research at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) request, according to a statement from Douglas Throckmorton, Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs at the FDA, at a congressional hearing. The study could lead to the removal of marijuana from the Schedule 1 category of the Controlled Substances Act.

Marijuana’s potential use for a range of medical conditions has gained significant interest over the last few decades. Recently, several states have passed laws that remove state restrictions on health care professionals using marijuana as a medical treatment for a variety of conditions.

Currently, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized use of marijuana for medical purposes. Additionally, several other states are considering similar legislation, regarding the use of medical marijuana. Although nearly half of the US states have legalized some form of marijuana, the drug is still classified as a Schedule 1 substance. Drugs that are classified as Schedule 1 drugs have the most restrictions and are considered substances with no medical benefit that are highly addictive.

The reclassification of marijuana could have a significant impact on the cannabis industry, and could help reconcile some of the differences between federal laws and less restrictive state laws.

The agency will make a recommendation after conducting an eight-factor analysis that evaluates marijuana’s abuse potential, its pharmacological effect and risk to public health, among other factors, according to Throckmorton. The FDA must first consult with the National Institute on Drug Abuse and send its recommendation through the Department of Health and Human Services before going to the DEA.

Last updated: 6/24/14; 2:40pm EST

 

genetic variants

Study Finds Marijuana Use and Schizophrenia May not Have Causal Relationship, but Common Genes

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People who are genetically predisposed to developing schizophrenia are more likely to smoke marijuana, according to researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

Previous studies have linked schizophrenia and cannabis, however results from the new study suggest the association may be due to common genes and might not be a causal relationship where use of cannabis leads to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

The results of the study were published in Molecular Psychiatry. The study is a collaboration between King’s and Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, partly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC).

“Studies have consistently shown a link between cannabis use and schizophrenia. We wanted to explore whether this is because of a direct cause and effect, or whether there may be shared genes which predispose individuals to both cannabis use and schizophrenia,” said Mr. Robert Power, lead author from the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s.

Researchers found that schizophrenia may play a role in an individual’s likelihood of smoking marijuana, by showing that the genetic variants predicting schizophrenia can also be used to predict a person’s tendency to smoke marijuana, regardless of their mental health history. The new study included 2,082 healthy individuals, of whom 1,011 had used cannabis. Researchers measured the individual’s genetic risk profile, the number of genes related to schizophrenia each individual carried. The researchers found that those who were genetically pre-disposed to schizophrenia were more likely to use cannabis, and use it in larger quantities than those who do not possess schizophrenia risk genes.

“We know that cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia. Our study certainly does not rule this out, but it suggests that there is likely to be an association in the other direction as well – that a pre-disposition to schizophrenia also increases your likelihood of cannabis use,” Power said. “Our study highlights the complex interactions between genes and environments when we talk about cannabis as a risk factor for schizophrenia. Certain environmental risks, such as cannabis use, may be more likely given an individual’s innate behavior and personality, itself influenced by their genetic make-up. This is an important finding to consider when calculating the economic and health impact of cannabis.”

Schizophrenia is a common and severe psychiatric disorder, which affects roughly one in 100 people. Typically, the disorder begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. Most common symptoms of schizophrenia include disruptions in thinking, language and perception and often includes psychotic experiences such as hearing voices or delusions.

Source: Power, R. et al. ‘Genetic predisposition to schizophrenia associated with increased use of cannabis’ published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Last updated: 6/24/14; 12:10pm EST

 

 

 

Medical Marijuana in NY

New York Approves Medical Marijuana Bill

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New York lawmakers ended their six-month session last week, striking a deal with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that would authorize qualifying patients to obtain medical marijuana.

Gov. Cuomo and Legislative leaders announced an agreement on a bill that will establish a medical marijuana program for New York State. The vote will make New York the 23rd state, along with the District of Columbia, to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The legislation includes provisions to make sure that medical marijuana is reserved only for patients with serious conditions, and prohibits the drug to be smoked.

“This legislation strikes the right balance,” said Governor Cuomo. “Medical marijuana has the capacity to do a lot of good for a lot of people who are in pain and suffering, and are in desperate need of a treatment that will provide some relief. At the same time, medical marijuana is a difficult issue because there are risks to public health and safety that have to be averted. I believe this bill is the right balance, and I commend the members of the Legislature who worked so hard on this measure.”

The legislation establishes a certification and registry process for doctors to administer medical marijuana. The legislation approves the use of medical marijuana for ten conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication on intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, Huntington’s Disease, or ad added by the commissioner by the Department of Health (DOH).

“Today marks an historic victory for thousands of New Yorkers who will no longer have to suffer needlessly during their courageous medical battles. Under this bill, New Yorkers will now have the same access to life-changing treatment options that others around the country have had. Today we celebrate this victory with the countless patients, families, advocates, health care professionals and physicians who have all fought passionately for the same and reliable use of medical marijuana as part of a comprehensive course of treatment for disease and illness,” said Senator Diane Savino, who co-sponsored the bill.

The medical marijuana program is expected to start in the next 18 months. Gov. Cuomo is expected to sign the medical marijuana bill into law this week.

Last updated: 6/24/14; 11:00am EST