Biden’s FDA Pick Recognizes Cannabis’ Potential: Will It Bring Government Closer To Legalization?

By Nina Zdinjak

The Food and Drug Administration could hire a new commissioner who has firsthand experience of the medicinal benefits of cannabis.

On Friday, President Joe Biden announced his plans to appoint Dr. Appoint Robert Califf, a cardiologist and clinical trials specialist, as the new FDA commissioner. Califf, who briefly served as FDA chief during the Obama administration, was prescribed a cannabinoid drug by his doctor, Marijuana Stocks reported.

Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images

While Califf did not share his stance on marijuana during his tenure with the FDA, he recognized the plant’s healing potential at a cannabis-focused research summit in 2016.

“We know that people have identified a number of possible uses for marijuana and marijuana-derived products. For example, AIDS waste, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, treating spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, cancer, and chemotherapy-induced nausea, ”Califf said. “And I had the opportunity in my cardiology practice to prescribe some of it to people with extreme heart failure who have cachectic syndrome.”

Califf also noted that while the FDA needs to prove that botanical cannabis is “safe and effective for every indication,” it does not mean that there are no practical uses for it and that new studies are likely to help provide more data on the subject to deliver. “No one [research] has demonstrated to the FDA that such a product is safe or effective for treating any disease or condition. To change that, we need marijuana studies to rigorously assess the safety and effectiveness of marijuana for medical use. “

More research needed

Further studies and an application for approval are needed to ensure that the drug meets legal approval standards, Califf said.

“This is what we really want and we actively promote it and want to work with people to make it happen,” he added. “To do this, we know that we need to facilitate the work of companies interested in bringing safe, effective and high-quality products to the market appropriately, including scientifically based research into these medical applications.”

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At the summit, Califf stressed that the FDA has already approved synthetic cannabis products like Marinol.

Given everything Califf has said on the matter, it would be fair to assume that when he becomes commissioner he will urge the FDA to conduct further investigations related to marijuana. And given the influence of the FDA, it could end up playing an important role in a possible marijuana postponement.

Given that the DEA only increased production levels for psychedelics and unscheduled cocaine drugs just last week, many cannabis advocates are hoping that marijuana could be next in line.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.