Marijuana and the FDA: A not-so-merry-go-around

By Dr Nicola Davies

In response to a sharp increase in the number of patients now looking for treatment outside of FDA-approved circles, the US Food and Drug Administration has been keen to remind the public that it has a reasonable motive behind this stance, writes DR Nicola Davies in her monthly exclusive FDA Blog for The Pharma Letter.

The agency publicly states on its website that it “understands that caregivers and patients are looking for treatment options for unmet medical needs.” However, the FDA holds firm in its resolve to keep cannabis and marijuana-derived medical treatments at bay. As of now, the most recent petition to upgrade cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug classification has been denied. On a scale of one to five, a higher number represents more potential for medical treatment and a lack of potential for abuse.

Why the reminder?