Steph Sherer & The Future of Cannabis: Why Schedule VI is the Best Path Forward

Dear Green Nurse,
I always thought your mission was to free the plant entirely and push for the complete descheduling of cannabis. However, after watching your webinar, I’m left confused. Could you clarify why you believe Schedule VI is the best path forward, rather than advocating for full legalization without restrictions?

Sincerely,
Freebie for Me

Dear Freebie,
I, too, once believed that descheduling was the ultimate solution. The idea of complete freedom, unrestricted by rules, certainly sounds appealing. However, the truth is that rules and regulations are essential to ensure the safety of patients, providers, and the broader community. I invite you to take a moment to reflect on this perspective. I’ve included a graphic from Steph Sherer’s deck for you to review, and I encourage you to rewatch the webinar with an open mind. As an additional resource, I’m sharing this blog with you, my gift to help deepen your understanding.

With love,
The Green Nurse

Watch the webinar – The Green Nurse Podcast Clinical Conversations with Steph Sherer from Americans For Safe Access

Steph Sherer & The Future of Cannabis: Why Schedule VI is the Best Path Forward

In a groundbreaking webinar hosted by Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse, Steph Sherer, founder and executive director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and a long-time advocate for medical cannabis, presented a compelling argument for classifying cannabis under Schedule VI. She explained why this designation is preferable to placing it under Schedule III or fully descheduling it, offering a thoughtful perspective on the future of cannabis regulation.

As the founder of ASA, Sherer has been at the forefront of patient advocacy, shaping federal cannabis policy for over two decades. Her latest push for Schedule VI represents a strategic move to ensure medical cannabis remains accessible, affordable, and well-regulated while maintaining patient protections.

The Problem with Schedule III and Descheduling

As the U.S. reconsiders cannabis policy, two primary options are being discussed: moving cannabis to Schedule III or completely removing it from the Controlled Substances Act (descheduling). While both approaches might seem beneficial on the surface, Sherer explains how they fall short of addressing critical patient needs:

• Schedule III still treats cannabis as a controlled substance, meaning access would be heavily restricted through FDA-approved pharmaceuticals. This would drive up costs, limit availability, and put cannabis under Big Pharma’s control, restricting the ability of dispensaries and small businesses to serve patients.
• Descheduling might remove legal barriers, but it offers no framework for standardization, regulation, or patient protections. This would create a chaotic, state-by-state patchwork of laws that could eliminate specialized medical cannabis programs altogether, leaving vulnerable patients without safe, consistent access.

Why Schedule VI is the Best Path Forward

Sherer advocates for the creation of Schedule VI, a category specifically designed for cannabis and cannabinoids, with oversight from the newly proposed Office of Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Control (OMC). This approach balances accessibility, regulation, and medical legitimacy.

Key Benefits of Schedule VI
✅ Recognizes Medical Use of Cannabis – Unlike Schedule I, which classifies cannabis as having “no accepted medical use,” Schedule VI acknowledges its therapeutic benefits and allows for integration into healthcare systems.
✅ Protects Patients & Expands Access – Unlike Schedule III, Schedule VI ensures cannabis remains widely available through dispensaries and specialty pharmacies without requiring expensive FDA-approved prescriptions. Patients wouldn’t be forced into a pharmaceutical-only model.
✅ Allows for Federal Oversight Without Big Pharma Domination – Under Schedule VI, the OMC would regulate cannabis and cannabinoid products, ensuring quality, safety, and consistency without shutting out smaller cultivators and dispensaries.
✅ Interstate Commerce & Research Expansion – Unlike the restrictive state-by-state approach, Schedule VI would allow for interstate distribution, fostering more research and innovation in cannabis-based medicine.
✅ Eliminates Criminal Penalties – Unlike Schedule III, which maintains criminal prohibitions on cannabis, Schedule VI would remove penalties for possession, cultivation, and distribution within the regulated system.
✅ Ensures Insurance Coverage – Schedule VI creates a pathway for Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance to cover medical cannabis, making treatment more affordable for patients.

The National Medical Cannabis Program (NMCP): A Game-Changer for Patients

One of the most revolutionary components of the Schedule VI proposal is the National Medical Cannabis Program (NMCP). This program, led by the Office of Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Control (OMC), would streamline cannabis regulation, ensure consistent patient access, and integrate cannabis into the U.S. healthcare system.

Key Components of the NMCP
1. Creating a Unified Federal Framework
Under the NMCP, cannabis regulation would no longer be a state-by-state patchwork. Instead, it would be federally recognized and regulated, ensuring uniform product standards, quality control, and consumer protections across the country. This means:

• No more disparities in access between states.
• Standardized product testing to ensure safety.
• Federal guidelines for labeling and dosing to help patients and healthcare providers navigate medical cannabis use.

2. Regulating Medical Cannabis Through the OMC
The Office of Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Control (OMC) would act as a central regulatory body overseeing cannabis policy, ensuring that patients, healthcare providers, and businesses all operate under clear, consistent federal guidelines. The OMC would:

• License cannabis businesses and oversee cultivation, distribution, and dispensary operations.
• Develop national research priorities in collaboration with the NIH and FDA.
• Ensure insurance coverage for medical cannabis, including under Medicare and Medicaid.
• Monitor and enforce safety standards for cannabis products.

3. Protecting Patients’ Rights
Many patients currently face discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare due to outdated cannabis laws. The NMCP would enshrine legal protections for medical cannabis patients, ensuring that:

• Patients cannot be denied housing for using medical cannabis.
• Employers cannot fire or discriminate against medical cannabis patients.
• Healthcare facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, hospices) must allow medical cannabis use.

4. Expanding Research & Medical Training
The NMCP would create new research initiatives in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focusing on:

• The effectiveness of cannabis in treating chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, cancer, and other conditions.
• Safe dosage guidelines for various delivery methods (edibles, inhalation, topicals).
• Standardized clinical trials to improve doctor-patient decision-making.
  Additionally, medical schools would be required to include cannabis education in their curricula, ensuring future healthcare providers are trained in cannabis-based treatment options.

5. Enabling Interstate Commerce for Medical Cannabis
Right now, patients in some states struggle to access medical cannabis, especially those living in restrictive states or federal housing.
Under the NMCP, cannabis businesses licensed under Schedule VI could legally transport medical cannabis across state lines, ensuring consistent supply and access nationwide. This would:

• Eliminate shortages in certain states.
• Lower costs by expanding the supply chain.
• Allow patients to travel without fear of losing access to their medication.

6. Transitioning State Programs into the National System
The NMCP would not replace existing state medical cannabis programs—it would strengthen them by:

• Providing funding for state programs to improve patient services.
• Ensuring state-licensed businesses can participate in federal programs.
• Recognizing state ID cards for patients nationally, so patients can travel freely without losing access.

A New Era for Medical Cannabis

Steph Sherer’s advocacy for Schedule VI is not just about policy—it’s about patients’ rights. The National Medical Cannabis Program would finally bring medical cannabis into the mainstream healthcare system, ensuring:

• Federal recognition of cannabis as medicine.
• Protection for patients and providers.
• Affordable and widespread access.
• The end of state-by-state medical cannabis disparities.

By establishing Schedule VI, the U.S. can create a comprehensive national medical cannabis framework that benefits patients, doctors, researchers, and businesses alike.

What’s Next?

Sherer and ASA are urging policymakers to support the creation of Schedule VI and the National Medical Cannabis Program. If you care about protecting patient access and ensuring cannabis remains a viable medical option, now is the time to get involved.

Join the movement at SafeAccessNow.org and demand a medical cannabis framework that works for patients, not just corporations.