Trump Administration Wants Public Feedback Regarding International Cannabis Rescheduling
Back in March the United States Food and Drug Administration initially requested input from the public regarding international cannabis policy. The public input was meant to help the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services be prepared when working with the United Nations (U.N.).
At the time it was speculated that the U.N.’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs may be voting on cannabis recommendations, and thus the United States needed to be prepared to present its position. However, a vote never materialized.
The Food and Drug Administration is now re-opening a public comment period for the same matter. People will have a 30-day window in which to provide their comment(s), as first reported by Kyle Jaeger at Marijuana Moment:
The new notice about the move to take more public input is set to be published on Thursday. After that point, people will be able to submit comments electronically or through mail for a period of 30 days.
Rescheduling cannabis under the international treaties technically wouldn’t free up member countries to legalize it without being in strict compliance, but it would reflect an evolving understanding of the plant within one of the world’s most influential intergovernmental organizations. And even the UN’s current restrictive status for cannabis hasn’t stopped Canada and Uruguay from moving forward to end prohibition.
It will be very interesting to see what the Trump administration’s position ultimately ends up being. President Trump has made multiple statements in favor of federal reform over the years, both prior to becoming president and while in office, however, comprehensive reform has yet to occur.
Cannabis reform at the international level is way overdue. Canada and Uruguay have both legalized cannabis for adult-use and other countries such as Luxembourg are likely to follow in the not-to-distant-future. The international community needs to embrace the cannabis industry, not prohibit it.
International cannabis policy and industry will be at the top of the agenda at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia September 15-16. Whether you are a seasoned industry veteran or someone just starting to look into the endless opportunities that exist in the cannabis space, make sure to buy your tickets today and join us in Vancouver!
About the International Cannabis Business Conference
International Cannabis Business Conference events are the premier cannabis events for entrepreneurs across the globe. With events in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany the International Cannabis Business Conference is where the world meets cannabis. Find out more at InternationalCBC.com and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.