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Reefer Madness 2.0: Science vs. Policy — When the Healers Speak and the Enforcers Stall

 

Tenn Canna Publishing

Reefer Madness 2.0: Science vs. Policy — When the Healers Speak and the Enforcers Stall





How HHS and FDA medical evaluations clash with DEA inaction — a modern battle of words in federal cannabis policy.

Read the series from the beginning: Reefer Madness 2.0: The War of Words Begins

HHS / FDA Scientific Findings

On August 29, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) submitted a scientific evaluation recommending that cannabis be rescheduled to Schedule III. The report stated:

“HHS … found that marijuana has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II; that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use; and that the abuse of marijuana may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.”
— HHS Scientific Evaluation Letter to DEA, 2023

This was a clear, evidence-based recommendation supporting medical use. Modern research and decades of state legalization programs confirm these findings.

DEA / Enforcement Reality

Despite the HHS recommendations, the DEA continues to maintain that cannabis has “no currently accepted medical use,” creating a direct conflict between science and policy:

“Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis)… Schedule I drugs … are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
— DEA Drug Scheduling, 2025

Recent reporting highlights the ongoing stall:

“The Drug Enforcement Administration said … the marijuana rescheduling process remains stalled … despite the head of agency’s prior commitment to senators that he would prioritize the issue if confirmed for the role.”
— Marijuana Moment, 2025
“Marijuana has been ‘legalized’ and/or ‘decriminalized’ at the state level … as of January 2024 …”
— DEA 2025 National Drug Review

War of Words: Highlighting Contradictions

  • HHS: “Currently accepted medical use.”
    DEA: “No accepted medical use.”
  • HHS: “Abuse potential is lower than Schedule I/II drugs.”
    DEA: “High potential for abuse.”
  • HHS: “Rescheduling recommended.”
    DEA: “Process remains stalled.”

By letting their own words collide, the contradictions are clear — the science is settled, yet the gatekeepers remain in stasis.

Actionable Angle for Readers

  • Track official HHS/FDA reports vs. DEA statements.
  • Compare federal contradictions with real-world state legalization outcomes.
  • Document and share clear “War of Words” examples to expose the gap between evidence and enforcement.

Next in the Series

Attorney General / Executive Branch: Who has the final say on scheduling, the political leverage points, and how their statements reveal obstacles to reform.

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© Tenn Canna Publishing — Reefer Madness 2.0 Series | Author: Tenn Canna Publishing

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