The White House is facing heat from Congress over its termination of five staff members who have used marijuana. The lawmakers criticize the Biden administration for being “out of step” with broad public support for cannabis reform and going easy on those who consume, or have consumed, the drug. Marijuana is now legal in 14 states and Washington, D.C., and some states have also changed laws banning pre-employment screenings for pot. Yet this dustup also sheds light on Biden’s less than forthcoming policy agenda on marijuana. As states rush to legalize, members of congress are calling for ending federal-level prohibition, while Biden has not clarified where he stands on the issue since the campaign, when he opposed federal legalization.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vivek Murthy is back as Surgeon General— reprising the role he had during the Obama years—and is facing an agenda of drug crises, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his first go round, Murthy was outspoken about the worsening opioid epidemic and surging e-cigarette use. During his confirmation hearings, he called for expanded access to overdose reversal medications and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
And finally, can texting and tracking patients’ pain levels help reduce post-operative use of prescription opioid painkillers? A new study found that more than half of the pills go unused when monitored for pain and usage.