Regarding Missouri state Sen. Nick Schroer鈥檚 op-ed 鈥Lighter federal cannabis restrictions is a conservative idea鈥 (June 19), supporting the rescheduling of marijuana by the federal government: I was surprised to see him repeat claims with no basis in reality.
He cites the fact that many people already use marijuana for medical purposes as a main reason the Trump Administration should move the drug from Schedule I to Schedule III, along with the fact that some states have made its medicinal use legal.
But that鈥檚 not how it works. Schedule I drugs are those with 鈥渨ith no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.鈥 And a 鈥渃urrently accepted medical use鈥 isn鈥檛 based on if state legislatures say it鈥檚 medicine.
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Take the condition most commonly 鈥渢reated鈥 with marijuana, chronic pain.
A 2017 study suggested it might help, but many more studies have failed to endorse that finding. The drug is also closely linked to mental illness and higher risk for dementia (to pick just couple of examples). Even the Biden Administration noted that it鈥檚 not a 鈥渟afe and effective treatment for any disease or condition.鈥
Marijuana also has a "high potential for abuse.鈥 Just look at how CUD (cannabis use disorder) is rising among kids. Rescheduling it will send the message that all of this is A-OK.
The Biden White House was wrong to make a 180-degree turn and recommend rescheduling; it would be wrong to do it now.
Bridget Klotz
Clayton
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