As the Trump administration implements changes to federal cannabis regulations to ease research restrictions, Katharine Neill Harris, the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is available to explain what these changes mean for businesses, researchers and patients.
“This is a major step toward acknowledging that for decades the federal government has treated marijuana as more dangerous than the evidence supports,” Harris said. “But rescheduling does not legalize marijuana federally and does not erase prior criminal penalties or provide relief for people with marijuana convictions.”
Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, moving marijuana from Schedule I, which includes substances deemed to have no accepted medical use, to Schedule III, which encompasses drugs with accepted medical uses and lower potential for abuse, has significant financial and research implications.
One immediate effect, according to Harris, is financial. The change allows state-legal marijuana businesses to take standard business tax deductions that were previously denied under federal law.
“This is critical for small operators, but it will also benefit the biggest and most dominant players as well,” Harris said.
Harris also highlighted the impact on science and public health.
“Rescheduling removes a significant barrier to marijuana research,” she said. “Rigorous research is urgently needed as use rises and consumers lack clear, evidence-based guidance, especially around high-potency products and risks for vulnerable populations.”
Additionally, the executive order directs federal health agencies to improve access to cannabidiol and inform standards of care. Harris said the real-world impact will depend on how these directives are implemented, but described the initiative as an important first step toward much-needed federal leadership in developing evidence-based approaches to using cannabis as medicine.
Harris is available to discuss the implications for federal law, marijuana research, medical use, public health guidance, and the regulated cannabis industry.
To schedule an interview with Harris, contact Marcy de Luna, senior national media relations specialist, at marcy.deluna@rice.edu.