GCS Statement on U.S. Cannabis Rescheduling: A Scientific Crossroads with Global Impact

As a cannabinoid science organisation built by researchers, Global Cannabinoid Solutions (GCS) welcomes any policy shift that recognises the therapeutic potential of cannabis — but such reform must be grounded in scientific integrity, not shaped by political expedience.

📈 Political Pressure Mounts in the US

Pressure is mounting on the Trump administration from both sides of the aisle to take a definitive stance on cannabis policy, especially as two pivotal US Supreme Court cases near the docket — potentially forcing the administration’s hand.

Earlier this month, in his first public comment on the ongoing rescheduling process, President Trump stated his administration would soon decide whether cannabis should be reclassified as a Schedule III substance. Such a move could significantly benefit the industry by unlocking tax deductions, improving access to banking, and softening regulatory barriers. Unsurprisingly, investor confidence surged, with cannabis stocks holding firm after initial spikes.

However, excitement has been met with escalating tensions from opposing advocacy groups.

🥊 Reform Advocates vs Prohibition Hardliners

On one side, the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) launched a campaign urging the White House to go further than rescheduling — calling for descheduling altogether, the removal of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Their petition calls for:

• Full descheduling

• Expungement of past cannabis convictions

• Reinvestment into disproportionately affected communities

• An end to the criminalisation of law-abiding cannabis users

DPA rightly argues that "anything less than descheduling falls short."

On the other side, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a coalition of law enforcement, narcotics officers, and religious groups are pushing for continued Schedule I classification. Their argument? Rescheduling would:

• Enable a "$2 billion tax break" for dispensaries and “illicit actors”

• Undermine workplace drug testing

• Send “the wrong message” to youth

They also disputed findings from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which concluded cannabis has medical value — the basis for rescheduling to Schedule III.

⚖️ Two Cannabis Cases Approaching the US Supreme Court

This debate gains urgency as two cannabis-related cases move toward possible Supreme Court review:

1. US vs. Hemani
   Challenges whether cannabis users — even legal ones — can be federally barred from owning firearms.
   A lower court ruled in favour of the cannabis user, but the DOJ is appealing.

2. Canna Provisions vs. Bondi
   Brought by cannabis operators and backed by Verano Holdings, this case seeks to overturn the federal government’s ability to regulate cannabis grown and sold entirely within one state.
   If heard and upheld, it could redefine the limits of federal jurisdiction — potentially invalidating portions of the CSA.

The Supreme Court's next term begins on October 6th, and while it’s yet to confirm if it will hear either case, the outcomes could reshape cannabis law nationwide and expose the fractures and contradictions in the Trump administration’s approach.

Full article: Business of Cannabis

🌍 Global Ripple Effects: The World Is Watching

The United States remains a trendsetter in international drug policy. Should federal cannabis scheduling be reformed, it could catalyse a global shift — unlocking trade, standardising transport, and transforming research landscapes not only in the US but across Europe, Asia, and the Commonwealth. The tide could finally turn toward evidence-led reform, opening new doors in medicine, agriculture, sustainability, and public health.

But without care, it could equally set the stage for greater exploitation, misinformation, and deepening inequalities.

🧠 Major Barriers to Progress: Banking, Trade, Transport & Research

Right now, cannabis remains financially and scientifically shackled:

• Banking remains a minefield, pushing businesses into dangerous financial practices and excluding legitimate operators.

• Interstate and international transport is paralysed, severely limiting scientific material access, supply chain consistency, and export potential.

• Trade regulations stifle innovation, complicating product development and distribution even for research-backed formulations.

• Research funding is almost non-existent, forcing cannabis scientists to navigate insurmountable regulatory hurdles just to study a plant with thousands of years of documented human use.

💊 Medical Breakthroughs Await — But We’re Choking Our Future

The potential for medical breakthroughs is immense, yet legal constrictions are choking progress at its source. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) — a major discovery born of cannabis research — is still absent from most medical training globally. This is comparable to discovering insulin without understanding the pancreas.

With more than 32,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications to date — and thousands more emerging each year — the medical potential of cannabis is not a mystery. It is among the most researched controlled substances, yet its federal scheduling continues to suppress innovation, limit access, and criminalise scientific inquiry.

From cancer care to pain management and neurodegenerative disease, cannabinoid-based medicines are not theoretical — they are supported by decades of data. Yet they remain under-researched, over-criminalised, and politically misunderstood.

🧬 The Endocannabinoid System: The Scientific Foundation of the Cannabis Sector

At the heart of every medical, regulatory, and commercial discussion about cannabis lies one often-overlooked fact: the cannabis plant interacts with a central physiological system intrinsic to all humans — the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Discovered in the early 1990s through research into the pharmacology of Δ⁹‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ECS is a widely distributed signalling network responsible for maintaining homeostasis across nearly every biological system, including:

• Immune regulation

• Pain modulation

• Mood and emotional processing

• Sleep and circadian rhythms

• Appetite and energy balance

• Neuroprotection and inflammation control

The ECS comprises three primary components:

1. Endocannabinoids – naturally occurring lipid-based neurotransmitters (e.g., anandamide and 2-AG) that bind to cannabinoid receptors.

2. Cannabinoid receptors – primarily CB1 (central nervous system) and CB2 (immune and peripheral systems), which regulate downstream effects.

3. Metabolic enzymes – such as FAAH and MAGL, which break down endocannabinoids after use.

What's remarkable is that phytocannabinoids — the molecules produced by the cannabis plant — mimic these endocannabinoids. For example:

• THC mimics anandamide, binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors with high affinity.

• CBD, while not binding directly, modulates ECS tone by inhibiting FAAH, altering receptor expression, and enhancing endocannabinoid signalling.

This biomimicry explains why cannabis has such a wide-ranging impact on the human body and why it offers promise in conditions ranging from epilepsy and multiple sclerosis to anxiety disorders, PTSD, and chronic inflammatory diseases.

🔍 A Missed Opportunity in US Cannabis Policy

Despite the ECS being a clinically relevant biological system, it remains absent from most medical curricula, underfunded in research, and largely ignored by federal regulators.

To schedule cannabis as having "no accepted medical use" is to disregard not just patient outcomes, but the existence of an entire physiological system supported by tens of thousands of peer-reviewed publications.

As such, any meaningful reform — whether through rescheduling, descheduling, or regulatory overhaul — must begin by acknowledging the ECS as the scientific foundation upon which the cannabis sector rests.

US Veterans: A Community Left Behind

We must not ignore the veteran communities who have turned to cannabis out of necessity, often after being failed by conventional healthcare systems. Many now face legal persecution, job insecurity, or loss of benefits for seeking relief through plant medicine.

Any rescheduling must address this injustice, offering compassion, research-backed therapies, and legitimate access.

⚠️ Organised Crime, Money Laundering & Worker Exploitation

Let us be clear: Rogue operators are exploiting the cannabis sector for crime and capital. Money laundering, unregulated product sales, and ties to illegal labour practices threaten the safety of consumers and the credibility of legitimate medical efforts.

Science must lead the conversation — not greed.

If reforms fail to tighten regulation, enforce transparency, and prioritise public health, the industry risks opening the door wider to abuse, not closing it.

🌱 A Science-Led Future Is Possible

At GCS, we support a science-focused approach — one that ensures:

• Transparency

• Public education

• Clear distinction between medical and recreational uses

• Innovation based on evidence, not anecdotes

If executed with integrity, federal rescheduling in the US could ignite a new era of medicine. If done poorly, it could unleash a wave of misinformation, unsafe products, and predatory practices that put lives at risk.

📚 Education Is the Foundation

Education must be central to any reform effort. Public Service Announcements (PSAs), professional training, and patient education can protect health and ensure cannabis is used appropriately and safely.

That’s why GCS offers free cannabis science training, backed by decades of research, to empower people with fact-based knowledge.

Join our Green Shield safety community here:
👉 Green Shield

Access our Crash Course & free tools:
👉 Cannabis Crash Course

Explore professional training for individuals and businesses:
👉 Cannabis Science Training Hub

🔬 Final Thought

At GCS, our message is simple: Let science lead. Let data speak. Let’s build a cannabis ecosystem that is safe, ethical, and visionary.

Whether you're a policymaker, patient, entrepreneur, or educator, you're invited to join the GCS global network of cannabis scientists and professionals. Let’s shape the future responsibly — based on evidence, not ideology.

🧭 See what’s possible. See what the science says.