The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

← The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Returneergisteren · 25 min

Dangers of Rescheduling Marijuana: Expert Witnesses Warn DEA About Psychosis, Pediatric Harm, and Failed Science

Dangers of Rescheduling Marijuana: Expert Witnesses Warn DEA About Psychosis, Pediatric Harm, and Failed Scienceeergisteren25 min

In this urgent episode, three nationally recognized physicians — Dr. Philip Drum, Dr. Ken Finn, and Dr. Karen Randall — testify before the DEA to oppose the proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Their expert witness statements reveal the medical, scientific, and public‑health dangers that rescheduling would create.

Dr. Philip Drum, a national expert on the Controlled Substances Act, explains why marijuana has never met the FDA’s requirement for “accepted medical use.” He cites more than 9,500 federally funded studies and $4.2 billion in taxpayer‑funded research — none of which resulted in a single FDA‑approved indication. He also exposes the false claim that cannabis “cannot be researched,” showing that marijuana is one of the most heavily studied substances in U.S. history.

Dr. Ken Finn, a pain physician with 30 years of experience, describes how marijuana consistently fails to treat pain, despite widespread belief. He reveals that the DEA’s own internal study — the one being used to justify rescheduling — is secretive, flawed, and cannot be reproduced. He also highlights the extremely low percentage of physicians who recommend cannabis in states where it is legal, comparing the pattern to the opioid pill‑mill era.

Dr. Karen Randall, an emergency physician and pediatric specialist, delivers some of the most alarming warnings. She describes the explosion of pediatric cannabis exposure, the rise of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, and the growing number of children experiencing cannabis‑induced psychosis — including cases as young as seven years old. She shares a devastating case of a 13‑year‑old girl trading sex for marijuana, illustrating the real‑world consequences of liberalized drug policy and the false messaging that cannabis is “safe” or “healthy.”

Together, these expert witnesses argue that rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III will:

Mislead the public into believing cannabis is safeIncrease youth access and exposureExpand diversionReduce regulatory oversightIgnore decades of medical evidenceCreate long‑term harm to developing brains

This is Part 1 of their testimony before the DEA. Part 2 will be released shortly.

⭐ Expanded Guest Bios Dr. Philip DrumExpert Witness – Controlled Substances Act & Drug Scheduling Dr. Philip Drum is a national expert on the Controlled Substances Act, drug scheduling, and FDA medical‑use standards. In his testimony to the DEA, Dr. Drum explained how Schedule I substances are defined, why marijuana h