Donald Trump is preparing to sign a new executive order concerning cannabis following the revelation of a new side effect associated with its use.
The legal status of cannabis in the United States is inconsistent, with varying regulations across different states. In some places like California, cannabis can be legally purchased and used for recreational or medical purposes, while in Texas, it remains illegal.
In certain states, cannabis can be prescribed for chronic pain relief and other health conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Despite these state laws, cannabis is still considered illegal under federal law, classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, alongside substances like MDMA, heroin, and LSD.
There are distinct regulations for medical and recreational use of cannabis, and it could be illegal to possess even a small amount if it’s not in a permitted area.
Amidst these circumstances, Trump is anticipated to sign an executive order, as reported by ABC, potentially as soon as today (December 17).
The proposed order is intended to reclassify marijuana to a Schedule III drug, which would ease federal restrictions.
According to drugs.com, a Schedule I drug is defined by having ‘a high potential for abuse’, ‘lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision’, and no accepted medical treatment.
DEA regulations state that Schedule III drugs have a ‘moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence’ and a lower potential for abuse.
On Monday (December 15), Trump mentioned that he was contemplating signing the order because it could result in ‘tremendous amounts of research’ being conducted.
“Because a lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify. So we are looking at that very strongly,” Trump stated, according to ABC.
This discussion follows the identification by scientists of side effects for regular and long-term cannabis users.
Known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a woman has shared her experiences with the condition and its impact on her life.
Sydni Collins, 23, recounted to The New Post that she began using cannabis at the age of 16 and became a frequent user.
Over time, she developed CHS, which resulted in severe nausea and vomiting.
“There were some days when it lasted until noon and I would not go to school because of how bad it was,” Sydni explained to the outlet.
“I would be puking all morning. I would let out yells or cries because nothing would come out. I was just dry heaving.”
The symptoms are distressing, including the phenomenon known as ‘scromiting’, which involves simultaneous screaming and vomiting.
The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases has recently included CHS on their website due to the increase in cases, yet many healthcare professionals remain unfamiliar with the condition.
Emergency medicine specialist, Dr. Chris Buresh, noted: “Some people say they’ve used cannabis without a problem for decades. Or they smoke pot because they think it treats their nausea.”
“It seems like there’s a threshold when people can become vulnerable to this condition, and that threshold is different for everyone. Even using in small amounts can make these people start throwing up.”
Earlier this year, at a press conference, the President initially announced his considerations regarding the reclassification of cannabis.
“We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over the next – I would say, over the next few weeks, and that determination hopefully will be the right one,” he stated, acknowledging the complexity of the issue.
“It’s a very complicated subject,” he added, emphasizing that while there are promising aspects related to medical use, there are also significant concerns associated with other uses.