Federal officials are pushing for an increase next year in the amount of cannabis that can be grown for research legally in the United States and proposing a reduction the number of Schedule II opioids that can be produced in the country.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced on Wednesday a proposal to reduce the amount of fentanyl produced in the U.S. by 31 percent, hydrocodone by 19 percent, hydromorphone by 25 percent, oxycodone by 9 percent, and oxymorphone by 55 percent.
Including morphine, the proposed quota would mean a 53 percent reduction in the allowable amount of the five opioids that can be produced since 2016.
The five opioid drugs were the subject of increased scrutiny after the enactment of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act in 2018.
The Act required DEA to estimate the amount of diversion of the covered substance that occurs in the United States and make appropriate quota reductions.
DEA is also proposing an increase in the amount of cannabis for research from 2,450 kilograms in 2019 to 3,200 kilograms in 2020.
According to DEA, the increase in production will meet the need created by the amount of approved cannabis research in the country.
The number of individuals registered by DEA to conduct cannabis research rose 40 percent from 384 in January 2017 to 542 in January 2019.
“The aggregate production quota set by DEA each calendar year ensures that patients have the medicines they need while also reducing excess production of controlled prescription drugs that can be diverted and misused,” said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “DEA takes seriously its obligations to both protect the public from illicit drug trafficking and ensure adequate supplies to meet the legitimate needs of patients and researchers for these substances.”
The Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas and Assessment of Annual Needs, which are published in the Federal Register, address more than 250 Schedule I and II drugs as well as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine from List I.
The numbers reflect the total amount of substances needed for medical, scientific, research, industrial, reserve stock, and export needs for the next year without producing an excess quantity.
DEA has opened a public comment period where interested parties may share their thoughts on the proposed production quotas until 11:59 p.m. on October 10.
Following the comment period and DEA’s consideration of public input, the Agency will publish a separate notice later in the year to announce the established production quotas which can change at any time as needed.
