Republican bill would get people off opioids and cananbis and psychedelics, wait what?

The proposed Republican policy reform aims to allow multiple researchers to research List 1 drugs such as marijuana and psilocybin without going through the DEA’s lengthy individual approval process.

Republicans are expected to propose a number of accompanying bills to the House of Representatives and the Senate. These bills could open the doors to a unique anti-opioid plan and introduce the concept of in-depth research for cannabis, psychedelics and other banned substances in Class 1 of the list.

GOP members in Congress proposed a new bill called Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl. This bill would initiate a more thorough investigation of List 1 substances. The Republicans who tabled these collateral bills are Senator Bill Cassidy, Bob Latta, and Rep. Morgan Griffith. Both drafted the proposed bills according to a plan announced by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

An anti-opioid stance

Rep. Griffith said the research provisions in the bills were an important way to correct the mistakes made in previous bills. In the past, List I substances have been banned entirely without thorough research to see if the substances could be modified to create better medicinal substances. For example, since cannabis was added to the list, researchers have found it difficult to study the medicinal potential and other effects of the compounds in the drug.

Aside from marijuana, other drugs like fentanyl and its analogues could have therapeutic potential. However, this is best found out through careful research. As long as more facts are known about these drugs, they will remain banned. These bans would protect communities from harmful imports of the drug.

The HALT fentanyl law

Fentanyl is one of the deadliest and most addictive opioids currently floating around in the United States. Fentanyl can be blamed for at least 60% of all overdose cases in recent years, according to a statement released by MP Griffith.

In the statement, Griffith stated that opioid-like fentanyl is fueling the flames of the opioid crisis that ransack communities and families across the country. The main goal of this bill is to reduce the illicit sale and use of fentanyl. This bill aims to permanently place fentanyl in the Appendix 1 category of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The proposal would also include the registration procedure for the investigation of List I substances with the criteria for investigation of List II substances, which are much easier to investigate. Griffith added that the bill recognizes the ills associated with using fentanyl and aims to ban the drug without stopping research into the effects and dangers of the drug and other drugs in its class.

More research for List 1 substances

Category 1 of the schedule is the CSA, the strictest federal drug category. Drugs under this label are prohibited for use, sale, manufacture, or possession. They cannot be researched either, unless the competent authorities have given permission. The similar actions by Cassidy and Griffith would streamline the experimental procedures for drugs like LSD, mescaline, MDMA, cannabis, and all other drugs with an Appendix 1 label.

Since this information was published, some reform proponents have raised concerns about the proposed inclusion of fentanyl-derived substances in Category 1. Regardless of this, the other provisions in the draft laws received praise, as the existing laws relating to research into List 1 controlled substances are more of a limitation on the research required.

With the new bills, the exact research requirements for Schedule II drugs are adopted for Schedule I drugs. As things stand at present, every scientist who is involved in the investigation of substances on List I must obtain approval from the DEA. If these accompanying laws are passed, multiple researchers can investigate a substance with a single and straightforward registration.

Other proposed changes

The draft laws also provide for a change in the obligation to register individually for all research institutes in which these substances are examined. Instead, a single registration would serve multiple research sites.

Another necessary provision is that some research sites would also be exempt from additional inspections and allow researchers to manufacture small quantities of drugs without separate registration. However, the cultivation of marijuana would be prohibited.

Certain researchers could continue their studies after getting approval from the Department of Justice instead of preventing DEA officials from accepting their research proposals.

Endorsed by DEA and NIDA

A few weeks ago, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announced that they support these recommendations. The DEA has also proposed increasing the cultivation and production of psilocybin, marijuana, and other psychedelics for experimental purposes. This proposal is in line with the Agency’s development of a new approved list of therapeutic drugs for the country.

Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, said in an online publication that the DEA’s recent proposals are encouraging. She added that the existing protocols prevent her from personally investigating the potential risks and benefits of cannabis. With further studies aimed at demonstrating the medicinal potential of psychedelics, many would be willing to experiment with psilocybin and other related substances.

The Biden administration also ensures that everything runs smoothly. In November, President Biden approved an infrastructure bill that would allow scientists to study cannabis plants sold in state pharmacies. In the past, only government-grown cannabis plants were analyzed.

Final note

Existing research indicates that many of these drugs have therapeutic value for certain medical conditions; However, the government is still not convinced to decriminalize these substances. With these new bills aimed at boosting research on these drugs, the government will soon have enough incentive to remove these drugs, especially cannabis, from List I to encourage more establishments to use cannabis in the manufacture of several drugs and To introduce consumables.

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