Following the recommendations by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) that whole-plant cannabis and its resin should be reclassified, the U.S. FDA has issued a notice asking interested parties to submit their views on this matter so that the position that the U.S. takes when the matter comes up for a vote at the UN is informed by the views collected.
While this is the third time that the federal government is asking stakeholders for input on marijuana rescheduling, it is the first time that they are doing so from the time WHO released its recommendations.
The World Health Organization observed that the evidence that was presented before its expert committee didn’t show that marijuana deserved to be in the same category as the other substances in Schedule IV of the treaty setting up guidelines on how various substances should be controlled internationally.
The UN body also made it clear that CBD, one of components of cannabis, should not be subjected to any international controls.
Additionally, the World Health Organization admitted that cannabis and its derivatives had demonstrated therapeutic benefits for a number of conditions, such as pain and multiple sclerosis.
The FDA explained that interested people would have up to March 14 to submit their views for consideration. This deadline was set based on an earlier timeline for the planned meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. That meeting is expected to be held anywhere between March 14 and March 22 this year.
That original timeline was set because the WHO was expected to release its recommendations in December last year. However, that didn’t happen for unknown reasons.
The FDA therefore expects to extend the period within which members of the public and other stakeholders in the U.S. can submit their comments if the UN communicates that the Narcotics Committee will sit at a later time. The alternative dates for that meeting are in December this year or March next year.
The views collected by the FDA will be analyzed and the findings forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS will then formulate a recommendation of the position that the U.S. State Department should take when the matter of reclassification comes up for a vote at the UN.
This call for public comments provides a golden chance for stakeholders to play a role in shaping how the federal government will vote on the matter at the UN. Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) and Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) call upon everyone with an interest in the cannabis industry to share their views with the FDA so that the U.S. can vote in a way that reflects the wishes of the people back home.
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