(Washington, D.C.) -- General Barry R. McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy, issued the following statement today following the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services of new procedures for the provision of marijuana for medical research.

"ONDCP endorses the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to facilitate further research into the potential medical uses of marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids. Such research will allow us to better understand what benefits might actually exist for the use of cannabinoid-based drugs, and what risks such use entails. It will also facilitate the development of an inhaler or alternate rapid-onset delivery system for THC or other cannabinoid drugs. Advisors to both the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Medicine have concluded that such research is warranted. This decision underscores the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that the discussion of the medical efficacy and safety of cannabinoids takes place within the context of medicine and science.

Continued strict regulation of cannabis is essential. Until we fully understand the ramifications of allowing cannabinoid-based medicines, such uses must only be part of clinical studies to expand the body of scientific understanding. In short, we need to be sure that as we examine cannabinoid-based drugs for possible medical benefit, we do not contribute to increased abuse of this psychoactive substance.