Marshall Fisher DEAFNA President, Dan Salter Past President, Greg Cherundolo President-Elect, and member, John Coleman collaborated in drafting the letter below in opposition to Rescheduling Marijuana from Schedule I Classification. The letter was sent to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Attn: Honorable Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General
Drug Enforcement Administration
Attn: Honorable Anne Milgram
Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, Chairman
Honorable Chuck Grassley, Co-Chair
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
The Hill Newspaper
Attn: Tara Suter, Reporter
………………….
As President of the DEAFNA (Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents), I am writing to urge the current Administration not to knowingly fail this country’s youth by rescheduling marijuana from the current and justified Schedule I classification.
Recent communication from the Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) in support of rescheduling marijuana is unfounded and in direct contradiction with its own SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) evidence-based literature, NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) reports, and grantee marijuana attestation requirements.
Numerous independent studies exist which quantify the steep rise in incidence of addiction, psychosis and mental illness directly resulting from increased marijuana use, especially among adolescents. The nexus between chronic use and mental illness is proven to increase homelessness affecting children and veterans the most. Related increases have been well-documented in marijuana-impaired driving incidents, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. The negative impact of marijuana is undeniable and, in many cases, permanent. Even HHS’s own NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) continues to publish studies warning about the significant harmful effects of teen marijuana use including permanent IQ reduction and schizophrenia. Administration support of marijuana rescheduling sends a clear message to our country’s youth that risky behavior is condoned, and mental wellness is disregarded.
Lastly, there has been no scientific evidence brought forward to support a new ruling for marijuana based on the eight factors determinative of control or removal from schedules contained in 21 U.S. Code § 811(c) or 21 U.S. Code § 812(b)(1).
DEAFNA is comprised of retired and active DEA agents, who unquestionably understand this issue from every perspective. In fact, DEA agents are the only federal employees whose sole mission since 1973 has been to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States.
We are adamantly opposed to any intentional move that we predict will have such a drastically negative and permanent impact on public safety and health. I am attaching a position paper* authored by two of our members that addresses our concerns in greater detail.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Sincerely,
Marshall Fisher
President
Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents (DEAFNA)
* The position paper mentioned in the last paragraph can be viewed HERE.