The American Nurses Association, which represents the interests of over five million registered nurses nationwide, has submitted public comments to the Drug Enforcement Administration supporting the reclassification of botanical cannabis.

In its comments, the Association reaffirms its longstanding recognition of the use of cannabis in medical practice and calls rescheduling a “critical first step” in amending federal marijuana policies.

“ANA strongly supports the currently accepted medical use of cannabis to alleviate disease-related symptoms and side effects,” it writes. “In these comments ANA agrees with the analysis that cannabis has numerous therapeutic qualities and should be moved to Schedule III. Further, ANA urges the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration to act expeditiously to have cannabis decontrolled under the CSA [the Controlled Substances Act.]”

Since 2003, the ANA has been on record in support of “the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis under appropriate prescriber supervision.”

The ANA’s comments conclude: “Current evidence shows that alcohol consistently has a higher abuse rate than cannabis. HHS’ review to reschedule cannabis shows it has less risk to public safety than alcohol, and even with the limited amount of therapeutic research allowed at this time, the review confirmed at least three medical benefits. … The current legal scheme for cannabis at the federal level and the differences across states has left providers and patients in many of these states in a constant place of fear when trying to utilize medical benefits. By removing cannabis from the CSA schedule, the agencies can focus on minimum public safety standards to advance public health and therapeutic access. ANA urges the agencies to follow the evidence as more research is finally allowed and funded, and to work with Congress to remove cannabis from CSA scheduling.”

“Nurses have long known through their own first hand experience working with patients that cannabis holds legitimate therapeutic value,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “That is why, historically, nurses and nursing groups have been among some of the strongest and most outspoken advocates for changes in marijuana policy.”

The Association’s statements counter claims raised by opposition groups that there exists a lack of support among professional health and medical associations in support of patients’ access to medical cannabis. Most recently, a letter authored by 25 Republican members of Congress to US Attorney General Merrick Garland called upon the Administration to “maintain marijuana as a Schedule I drug,” in part, because “no major medical association has supported the use or legalization of ‘medical’ marijuana.” In reality, a super-majority of practicing physicians “believe that cannabis has medical value,” and over a quarter of physicians nationwide have recommended medical cannabis to their patients — a fact NORML highlighted in its own public comments to the DEA.

The DEA is accepting public comments through July 22, 2024. Those wishing to provide comments may do so using NORML’s comment submission guide.

To date, more than 31,000 people have provided public comments.

Read the full comments of the ANA here.

Read NORML’s comments to the DEA here.

Article from NORML