Research On Schedule I Drugs

Where We Stand

NAMI believes that public policies should be guided by credible, evidence-based research. NAMI supports public policies and laws that facilitate research into the benefits and risks that Schedule I drugs have for people with mental health conditions.

Why We Care

Current federal law places various substances in one of five schedules based on their medical use, potential for misuse, safety, and risk for dependence. Schedule I drugs, substances or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, peyote and psilocybin (“magic mushrooms” or psychedelics).

Federal law prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensation and possession of Schedule I substances except for federal government-approved research studies. As a result, U.S. researchers face regulatory hurdles to studying any Schedule I drugs. This situation has limited the development of robust scientific research, particularly as it relates to potential benefits or risks for people with mental health conditions.

There is a significant need to understand the impact these drugs have on people with an existing mental health condition or those at risk of developing a mental health condition. While research on the effects of these drugs is limited, SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health consistently shows that people with mental illness are more likely to use illicit drugs than people without a mental illness. Some people with a mental health condition use these substances as a form of self-medication to positively impact some of their symptoms.

While still evolving, research on the effects of Schedule I drugs is currently insufficient, particularly as it relates to people with mental illness. For example, several studies have documented a correlation between marijuana and the onset of schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions. Heavy use of marijuana and related products during teen and young adult years can particularly increase the risk of triggering the onset of schizophrenia and psychosis.  Yet, preliminary studies suggest that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in marijuana, may have potential positive effects for some mental health symptoms. Similarly, studies have shown that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin relieved major depressive disorder symptoms in adults; yet, other studies have shown psilocybin can cause distressing hallucinations or feelings of panic and anxiety in some individuals, especially at high doses.

As more states legalize the use of marijuana and other Schedule I drug products, it is essential that credible, evidence-based research is available to fully understand the risks and potential benefits these products have on people with mental health conditions.

How We Talk About It

• People with mental health conditions report using some drugs at higher rates than people without mental health conditions.
• Drug use by a person with a mental health condition may be to manage the symptoms of their condition as a form of “self-medication.”
• Some drugs fall into a category known as “Schedule I drugs,” which limits researchers’ ability to conduct research on the risks and benefits of these drugs for people with mental health conditions.
• As a result, we lack sufficient research to fully understand the impact of using Schedule I drugs on the brain. For example, while conclusions vary, some studies have found that marijuana and psychedelics use may trigger the appearance of symptoms like psychosis or hallucinations, respectively.
• At the same time, other preliminary studies have shown that CBD and psilocybin may reduce certain mental health symptoms.
• We believe the federal government should remove barriers so that we can rapidly accelerate research that helps us understand the possible positive and negative impacts of Schedule I drugs on people with mental health conditions.

What We’ve Done

• NAMI Regulatory Comment to the DOJ in Response to Proposed Rescheduling of Marijuana