Don't reschedule marijuana — it's not a safe substance

President Trump is reportedly considering rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, which would significantly liberalize the rules that currently regulated it. Former U.S. Attorney and Congressman Bob Barr recently argued in The Hill that Trump should go ahead and do it.

But although his proposal is framed as a pragmatic reform, it overlooks critical scientific evidence and public health risks. A more thorough examination reveals that rescheduling marijuana would be a dangerous misstep — one that prioritizes corporate interests over the well-being of society.

The most authoritative federal review of cannabis research comes from the 2017 National Academies of Sciences Report, which identified only three medical conditions with substantial evidence supporting cannabis efficacy: chronic pain in adults, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and spasticity symptoms in multiple sclerosis.

Notably, conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder were classified as having only “limited evidence,” meaning cannabis cannot be conclusively deemed an effective treatment. This directly contradicts claims that marijuana is a proven remedy for PTSD. In fact, the 2021 Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines explicitly reject cannabis for PTSD due to insufficient evidence and potential harm.

Another critical issue is the dramatic rise in THC potency in marijuana due to bioengineering, a trend well-documented by the University of Mississippi’s long-term research under DEA authorization. Historically, cannabis contained just 2 percent to 4 percent THC. Today’s strains routinely exceed 15 percent and even 30 percent, with concentrates reaching 90 percent or higher.

Modern, high-THC cannabis is pharmacologically distinct from traditional forms and is linked to alarming public health consequences. Research shows that 30 percent of daily users develop Cannabis Use Disorder. Studies in Lancet Psychiatry (2019) and JAMA Pediatrics (2022) associate high-THC cannabis with increased psychosis, schizophrenia risk, and cognitive impairment in adolescents. This includes IQ decline and memory deficits.

To ignore these risks would be to mislead the public into believing cannabis is safer than it truly is. Worse, rescheduling to Schedule III — placing marijuana alongside drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids — would falsely legitimize today's high-THC products as “medicine,” despite their well-documented dangers.

Beyond public health concerns, rescheduling marijuana raises questions about hidden financial motives. Moving cannabis to Schedule III would provide a massive windfall for the industry by eliminating IRS tax code Section 280E, which currently prevents marijuana businesses from deducting ordinary expenses, which costs them billions annually. Without this restriction, corporations could save hundreds of millions in taxes, expand aggressive marketing and lobbying efforts, and flood the market with even stronger THC products.

Given these incentives, any push for rescheduling should be scrutinized for its potential to prioritize profits over safety.

Rather than blanket rescheduling, a more responsible approach would be to maintain high-THC cannabis in Schedule I — due to its abuse potential and mental health risks — while permitting FDA and DEA exceptions for research on low-THC (below 4 percent) cannabis, the plant’s natural form. If future studies confirm medical benefits for low-THC cannabis, it could then be reclassified to Schedule II with strict controls to prevent misuse.

This targeted solution balances medical access with public safety, avoiding the uncontrolled proliferation of high-potency THC products. Importantly, maintaining the natural THC threshold as a research benchmark ensures that policy remains grounded in science rather than industry influence. Ultimately, an objective assessment of marijuana must rely on reliable science, consider all risks, and reject corporate-driven loopholes.

High-THC cannabis undeniably meets all three criteria for Schedule I classification. It has a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use for smoked or vaped forms, and a lack of established safety under medical supervision. Rescheduling would serve as a gift to the marijuana industry at the expense of public health, accelerating the spread of a potent and addictive drug. Instead of rushing to relax federal safeguards, policymakers should prioritize rigorous low-THC research without compromising existing protections.

The Schedule I classification must remain — not due to outdated ideology, but because drug policy should be dictated by science, not corporate lobbying. Keeping marijuana in its current category is a necessary step to protect public health and ensure that any future reforms are based on evidence rather than financial incentives.

Angel Gomez is a ​researcher specializing in the societal impact of drug policy. He has a background in psychoanalytical anthropology and general sciences.