FDA to Review Schedule 1 Status for Cannabis

06-24-2014 • Next News Network

The Food and Drug Administration will review the status of cannabis as a schedule 1 drug. A request for a review was filed with the agency by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The FDA still considers cannabis to have no medical benefit. However, 23 states now have legalized medical marijuana, and two states have legalized the substance for recreational use. Re-classification of cannabis could help reconcile federal and state laws, and re-apportion funding to other programs. Schedule One drugs carry the greatest penalties for use and possession. Medical research on these substances is also tightly regulated. Other schedule one drugs on the federal list include heroin and LSD. The FDA considered re-scheduling cannabis in 2001 and 2006. Both of those times, the agency chose to the maintain current policies. Recent polls now show a majority of Americans now support the full legalization of cannabis. Medical marijuana and decriminalization enjoy even higher approval level