Is Drug Classification Too Political and Not Scientific Enough?

Juan Manual Santos, the former president of Columbia, shared with the Guardian a perhaps controversial stance that drug classification is politics, and not a science. In the United States, marijuana is illegal under federal law and is classified as a Schedule I substance.

Concerning the classification of  cannabis as a dangerous drug, he shared with the publication:

“It was a political decision. According to the studies we’ve seen over past years, substances like cannabis are less harmful than alcohol. I come from Colombia, probably the country that has paid the highest price for the war on drugs.”

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, based in Switzerland, includes members who are former heads of state and Santos. The organization appears to be pushing for a revamp of drug policy. According to Ruth Dreifuss, the commission’s chair,

“The international system to classify drugs is at the core of the drug control regime and unfortunately the core is rotten.”

All information is for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing should be interpreted as legal or wellness advice.