A recent poll by NuggMD.com, the largest telehealth platform for cannabis, has shed light on the potential consequences of rescheduling cannabis at the federal level. The survey found that 32% of cannabis consumers nationwide would revert to the black market if cannabis were rescheduled in a way that did not preserve state-legal marketplaces. This comes as federal health regulators have recommended moving cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, a change that could restrict access to pharmacies and require prescriptions.
The poll, the first to explore how regular cannabis users would react to such a regulatory shift, reveals a strong preference for the current state-controlled markets. Sixty-nine percent of respondents favor state-controlled cannabis markets, and 77% prefer botanical products sold at traditional dispensaries over FDA-approved products at pharmacies. Over 80% trust state testing controls to ensure the safety and accuracy of cannabis products.
Deb Tharp, head of legal and policy research for NuggMD, expressed concerns about the implications of rescheduling without safeguards for state markets. Tharp warns of potential legal and regulatory challenges from pharmaceutical companies, which could undermine state equity efforts and consumer access to whole-herb cannabis products. The findings underscore the need for clear guidance from regulators and possible legislative action to protect state-legal cannabis markets.
The survey, conducted from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18, 2023, involved 795 respondents from a pool of 19,335 cannabis consumers, with a margin of error of 3.5% at a 95% confidence level. The full poll results are available on NuggMD's website, offering valuable insights into consumer preferences and the potential impact of federal cannabis policy changes.
