The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced in Supply Chain Conference 2023 in Houston, Texas that he will soon unveil new rules regarding industrial cannabis.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Chief of Drug and Chemical Evaluation, Terrance Boos, spoke on the topic of Emerging Trends at the conference May 4. Boos confirmed that the DEA has received “multiple petitions” regarding synthetic cannabinoids, and that they are currently reworking their rules to reflect recommendations from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Boos’ PowerPoint presentation covered a wide range of topics, from adjustments to drug scheduling, counterfeit pill operations, and online drug trafficking. One section was devoted to the “Decade of Harm Response,” which dealt with the evolution of designer drugs such as spice/bath salts, synthetic opioids, designer benzodiazepines, and synthetic cannabinoids “CBD to delta-8 THC.”
Boos noted, “The proposed rule treats synthetic CBD with <0.1% delta-9-THC as AIA.” [agriculture improvement act] Excluded Substances,” which could refer to plans to de-schedule synthetic CBD.
The show also covered a brief history of delta-8 THC, including where it comes from, how it’s made, Countries banned or regulated In addition to the data expressing the rise of Delta-8 products in 2021 and 2022. Boos explained that finding Delta-8 THC appears naturally in hemp in very limited quantities, while most Delta-8 THC products are made through a chemical process Which covers the CBD in delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. The act of taking that substance in any synthetic step now brings it back under [controlled substances act]Boss said.
Boos confirmed that the new rules, which have not been publicly disclosed, could change the classification of hemp-derived cannabinoids.
According to a brief analysis by Vicente LLP, new rules may be on the way soon. “It is important that companies remain engaged with current federal agency scheduling activity related to marijuana and hemp that will impact the legality of cannabis products.” Vicente LLP Books on its website. “The Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration are currently preparing to make scheduling reforms for both marijuana and hemp, and key congressional legislation such as the Farm Act of 2023 may also change the legal classification of some hemp products.”
“We expect the DEA to review the HHS recommendation, develop its own analysis, and publish a proposed rule for tracking FDA recommendations in the Federal Register.” Vicente LLP Books on its website. “At this point, there will be a public comment period and opportunity for interested parties to request recorded hearings. Our best guess is that the proposed rule will appear in the Federal Register this fall.”
in February, the DEA published a letter stating that Delta-9-TCO and Delta-8-TCO are not cannabis and are instead controlled substances. “Delta-9-THCO and delta-8-THCO do not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and can only be obtained synthetically, and therefore do not fall under the definition of cannabis.” Boos wrote in the letter.
Last October, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a webinar titled “Understanding of the FDA’s approach to cannabis science, policy, and regulation. During the discussion, FDA Chief Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock explained that the FDA is administering the “scientific and medical evaluation” of cannabis using information provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). is the flexibility we might have here,” Woodcock said. “This is a very high priority that the HHS Secretary is concerned with. We are working very closely with our partners at NIDA and also with the Assistant Secretary for [HHS]. “
However, Woodcock emphasized that the DEA “has the final say” in decisions regarding scheduling of substances. She added that this limitation makes it “very, very difficult” to study cannabis based on the protocols that currently exist.
