Cannabis could soon be classified as a less dangerous drug. 5 things you need to know

Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries, big and small. You can listen to episodes Here.

(CNN) – Cannabis, or marijuana, has come a long way toward regaining legitimacy in the United States and may soon reach an important milestone: a rescheduling. That's the technical term for reclassifying it as a less dangerous drug, which would loosen some federal restrictions.

Cannabis was widely used as medicine in the 18th and early 20th centuries. But Congress effectively criminalized it in 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. However, since 1996, marijuana has been accessible for medical or adult recreational use in most states.

However, things look different at the federal level. Currently, cannabis is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act, alongside drugs such as heroin and LSD. By definition, Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and currently have no accepted medical use. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently considering changing marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a less restricted Schedule III drug.

Cannabis rescheduling is a complicated process. President Joe Biden has formally requested the postponement in 2022 and multiple agencies are involved, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The latter agency found “credible scientific support” for the use of cannabis in the treatment of certain medical conditions, including chronic pain.

The fact that cannabis can potentially be used safely and effectively in a medical context is important to Dr. Staci Gruber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston who has dedicated her career to understanding the effects of cannabis on the brain, is not a new concept.

““There's a lot of evidence at this point that certain cannabinoids work relatively effectively for some people with certain types of pain,” Gruber recently told CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Dr. on his podcast “Chasing Life.” Sanjay Gupta. “We certainly saw in our observational studies that individuals independently reduced their opioid consumption after beginning a course of cannabinoids.”

You can listen to the full episode of the podcast Here.

So what would reimagining cannabis mean for the average American? Gruber reveals five things you need to know about the potential reclassification of cannabis.

As a next step in the process, the DEA has scheduled a public hearing for December 2nd; Experts and stakeholders can discuss the proposed change.

If there were a new regulation, cannabis would still be largely regulated.

“A letter makes all the difference: rescheduling is not rescheduling,” Gruber wrote in an email. “While the debt restructuring will have significant tax implications for industry and change administrative burdens for researchers, not much is likely to change for consumers and patients.”

She said cannabis, as a Schedule III substance, still cannot be purchased over the counter or, for example, in a general retail store.

Be honest about your desires and then choose a product that meets those goals.

“Know before you go: Make sure you know what you want to achieve with cannabis/cannabinoids before you buy anything and be honest with yourself,” said Gruber, who is also director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core and Marijuana is research for the Neuroscientific Discovery Program, both at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

For example, she asked: Would you want to use cannabis for medical reasons, recreationally, or a mix of both?

Choosing the right product carefully and purposefully will impact your experience – whether it's a clinical benefit or a side effect.

Make sure you know exactly what is in the product you are purchasing.

“Buyer beware,” Gruber said. “Know what you are looking for in a product and don't just rely on the product label – request certificates of analysis (COAs) for the products you are interested in to confirm exactly what is in and in the product “What amount is included.”

She said independent laboratory analysis is best.

Consider your age — it's important, Gruber said.

“Cannabis poses a higher potential risk for children/adolescents and emerging adults, particularly when exposed to larger amounts of THC and higher potency products, as they are in the midst of critical brain development,” she said.

On the other hand, she pointed out, older adults with slower metabolisms may also be sensitive to cannabinoid products. “But many adults experience unique benefits from cannabinoids,” she noted.

Regardless of age, cannabis use is associated with potential health risks.

Consider your personal and medical history.

“We are not all created equal,” Gruber said. “Everyone is likely to react differently to cannabis and cannabinoid products.”

She said individual reactions are based on a number of factors, including which compounds are in the product, how the product is used, previous experience with cannabinoids, age of the consumer, metabolism, use of other substances, genetics and family history of certain medical conditions.

Another important factor is the use of conventional medications. “Drug interactions are a potential concern because cannabinoids; “CBD in particular can interact with liver enzymes when taken orally and increase or decrease serum levels of other medications,” she said.

Gruber concluded: “Remember – using cannabis for medical purposes does not mean you have to get high or feel altered – pay attention to THC levels and make sure you start low and go slow.”

We hope these five tips help you understand what rescheduling cannabis would mean. Listen to the full episode Here. And join us next week on the Chasing Life podcast for a fascinating discussion about the brain between two neurosurgeons, Dr. CNN's Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Theodore Schwartz of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City