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Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Rahul Gupta told a House Committee Monday that the Biden administration supports cannabis reforms, such as decriminalization, and also sees therapeutic benefits from marijuana, Marijuana Moment reported.
Appearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Gupta said that the administration believes in incremental reforms, such as descheduling marijuana as a Schedule I substance. He also conceded that existing federal marijuana laws are failing.
In response to a question from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Gupta stated, “There is evidence to suggest that, in cases of certain chronic pain, cannabis can be efficacious.”
Khanna was making a point that marijuana is banned under federal law even though medical evidence supports its therapeutic benefit and it is safer than opioid medications, which are Schedule II substances and face fewer restrictions.
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A recent UN report found that cannabis legalization in North America appears to have accelerated daily cannabis use and negative health impacts.
