Federal regulators, in their rush to modernize the federal Drug Policy are about to make a decision which will have a long-lasting impact on American families.

According to reports, President Donald Trump may consider reclassifying marijuana federally from Schedule I into Schedule III. Schedule III is a less dangerous category of drugs. This would put our youth at risk, distort the science and place the bottom line of an industry before the health of Americans.

Rearranging sends a wrong message to children, in particular, at the wrong moment.

Marijuana of the past is no longer available. The marijuana of the past is no longer available. It has been replaced with a highly-commercialized market, dominated by ultra-potent products ranging from shatter to wax and vapes that are highly concentrated. The move to Schedule III would be a blanket classification of marijuana in any potency or amount, ignoring the scientific data about the extreme (and harmful) differences between marijuana from more than 30 year ago and today.

Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act is reserved for drugs that have a low to moderate potential for physical or psychological dependence, and are currently used for medical purposes. This classification of today’s THC-rich products implies a safety profile which the science, and scores of cases involving cannabis-related disorders do not support. The evidence of the dangers these products pose for the developing brain is growing. Even in states with labeling and packaging standards, there are too many poisonings and cases of negative effects.

Reclassifying marijuana would make it more common and give the impression to the public, but especially our youth, that marijuana is safer than we think. It is a myth that marijuana is a medicinal drug.

The marijuana industry, which is profit-driven, should not be allowed to pressure the federal government to put the cart in front of the horse. The United States does not want to reclassify cannabis nationally, as we are still unsure of the full consequences of its increased availability and potency.

Even Colorado and Washington which legalized pot more than a ten years ago are still trying to deal with the fallout on public health and safety for youth. Even the most experienced of states, such as Colorado and Washington, are still trying to correct their course. It is unrealistic to expect a better outcome from sweeping federal legislation.

Reclassifying marijuana would turn our children’s safety and health into a national experiment with high stakes — an experiment that is already in progress. Federal leaders are urged to accelerate the process rather than pause to analyze data about youth addiction, mental harms and high-potency drugs.

Premature federal action has already gone wrong. The 2018 Farm Bill aimed to legalize hemp that was not intoxicating. The vague definitions used by companies to flood the market with THC-rich products, often disguised as “hemp”, with devastating consequences for families and children, were exploited.

These unanticipated and devastating developments are a warning. They should not be a blueprint.

This mistake would be repeated on a much larger scale if marijuana was rescheduled without clear and enforceable safeguards relating to potency, dosages, marketing, education and youth access. This would be a federal endorsement of products whose safety, effectiveness, and long-term effects have not been tested.

The lives of our children should not be collateral damage for a policy experiment lacking sufficient scientific basis and carrying a high-risk of harm that can be prevented.

Restraint is required in this moment. Science, humility and accountability should drive the responsible path to success, not politics or profit. Our national and state leaders should prioritize protecting children and public safety over corporate greed and favor until marijuana policy is based on clear product standards.

Make the most of this opportunity for our children to grow up.