RECLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS TO SCHEDULE II OF THE CSA

WHEREAS, 24 states, comprising almost one-third of the U.S. population, have passed or have under consideration laws that either regulate or decriminalize the use of cannabis for medical or other purposes; and

WHEREAS, under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has classified cannabis as a Schedule I substance, deeming it of no currently accepted medical use in treatment with a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision, instead of a Schedule II substance,  a drug with a currently accepted medical use in treatment or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and

WHEREAS, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians support investigation and clinical research of cannabis for medicinal use and urged the federal government to reassess the Schedule I classification; and

WHEREAS, scientific evidence of the effectiveness of cannabis as a treatment for certain terminal or debilitating conditions is widely available, including four reviews of modern human clinical studies with cannabis and cannabinoids in the United States and elsewhere recently published in peer-reviewed publications; and

WHEREAS, in the past year, there have been numerous federal raids of locally sanctioned medical cannabis dispensaries, operating in accordance with state statutes, creating confusion about the legal status of these businesses; and

WHEREAS, the conflict between state statutes and federal regulation frustrates our citizens, costs cities significant time and resources to address,  and  prevents the establishment of a regulated and safe system to supply patients who may need medical cannabis; and

WHEREAS, in December of 2011, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee  petitioned  DEA  to initiate a  rulemaking for the reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II of the CSA,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the Gregoire-Chafee petition and urges the DEA to initiate rulemaking proceedings for the reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) so qualifying patients who follow state law may obtain the medication they need through the traditional and safe method of physician prescribing and pharmacy dispensing.