The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants to double the amount of marijuana that can be legally manufactured for research purposes in 2023 — and it is also seeking to increase the quota for the production of psychedelic drugs such as psilocyn, LSD and mescaline.
In a notice due to be published in the Federal Register next week, the DEA proposed planting about 6.7 million grams (or 14.770 pounds) of cannabis. Final Agency The marijuana ration for 2022 was 3.2 million gramsAnd the And it was two million grams for the year 2021.
Growing this cannabis could be easier since then Finally, the DEA allowed additional manufacturers in the beginning of the year. These certified cultivators are now able to apply for it Contract to be federal marijuana suppliers For study purposes under the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The DEA has also been constantly increasing production targets for the drug in recent years as more states and localities have enacted reform and interest in their therapeutic potential has blossomed.
The suggested serving of psilocybin is the same in 2023 as it was this year, at 8000 grams. But it is looking to double manufacture the other key ingredient in the so-called magic mushroom, psilocyn, from 4,000 to 8,000 grams.
“There has been a significant increase in the use of controlled, controlled hallucinogens for research and clinical trials,” the agency said. “The DEA has received and subsequently approved new registration applications for Schedule I researchers and new applications for registration from manufacturers to develop, synthesize, extract, and prepare dose forms containing hallucinogens for Schedule I clinical trials.”
For LSD, the agency’s quota for 2023 is 1,200 grams, nearly three times this year’s production level of 500 grams. Furthermore, it wants 6000 grams of 5-MeO-DMT, versus 2550 in 2022.
The DEA also suggests significantly increasing the amount of mescaline produced, from 100 to 1,200 grams.
This drug, which occurs naturally in peyote and other cacti, is sometimes excluded from decriminalization proposals due to concern about over-harvesting of supplies threatening the indigenous communities who ritually use it. But it can also be produced industrially.
These proposed 2023 quotas reflect the amounts the DEA believes are necessary to meet the estimated medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs of the United States, including any increase in demand for certain controlled substances used to treat patients with COVID-19; legal export requirements; Creating and maintaining a reserve stock.
In addition, the agency raised the share of “all other THC” – from 2,000 to 15,000 grams – which may reflect the growing interest and marketing of cannabis intoxicants other than delta-9 THC, such as delta-8 and delta-10.
While those lesser known cannabinoids are not currently classified as a controlled substance when derived from legal cannabis, the agency said it “supports structured research using Schedule I controlled substances, as evidenced by the proposed 2023 increases compared to the total production quotas for these substances.” articles in 2022.”
Meanwhile, the DEA maintained the same quotas for 2023 for other drugs of interest, such as psilocybin (8000 grams), MDMA (8,200 grams), DMT (3,00 grams), MDA (200 grams), and marijuana extract (1 million grams). one (grams).
As noted by the DEA in the Federal Register deposit The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “expects medical need levels for Schedule II opioids in the United States to decrease in calendar year 2023 by an average of 5.3 percent from levels in calendar year 2022.”
These declines are expected to occur across a variety of Schedule II opioids including fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. The DEA has considered the possibility of diverting Schedule II opioids, as required by 21 CFR 1303.11(b) ( 5), as well as a potential increase in demand for certain opioids identified as essential to treat ventilated patients with COVID-19, in accordance with 21 CFR 1303.11(b)(7), in the proposed 2023 gross production quotas.”
| level | 2021 final | 2022 final | |
| Marijuana | 2,000,000 | 3,200,000 | 6675000 |
| marijuana extract | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| All other THC | 1,000 | 2000 | 15000 |
| psilocybin | 6000 | 8000 | 8000 |
| psilocin | 3500 | 4000 | 8000 |
| MDMA | 3200 | 8200 | 8200 |
| LSD | 40 | 500 | 1200 |
| mescaline | 25 | 100 | 1200 |
| DMT | 3200 | 3000 | 3000 |
| 5-MeO-DMT | 35 | 2,550 | 6000 |
| MDA | 55 | 200 | 200 |
Once the new DEA notice is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, interested parties will have 30 days to provide comments on the proposal.
The agency has promoted production quotas for Schedule I drugs as evidence to support rigorous research into the substances, but has faced criticism from advocates and scientists over actions seen as contrarian to promoting studies.
After the setback, the DEA recently backed down on Proposed ban on drug vehicles Scientists say it has research value.
This was another win for the scientific community, just a month after the DEA He gave up separate plans to put five tryptamines on the first schedule.
The agency has repeatedly found itself in court on drug scheduling and administrative policy issues. for example, The DEA is being sued actively For refusing to allow a doctor in Seattle access to psilocybin to treat terminally ill patients under the federal “right to try” law.
To this end, lawmakers from both parties moved to Additional clarification from Congress By introducing accompanying bills in the House and Senate in July to reaffirm that the scope of the Right to Try policy should include Schedule I drugs.
The bills were submitted about six months later Members of Congress from both parties sent a letterLed by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), he is asking the DEA to allow terminally ill patients to use psilocybin as an investigational treatment without fear of federal prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is now conducting a scientific review of marijuana next President Joe Biden has issued a directive on the schedule Last week that accompanied an amnesty announcement for people who have committed federal cannabis possession offenses.
The US Department of Justice and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have Committed to prompt review.
