What kind of drug is cannabis?

What kind of drug is cannabis?

Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States12. Schedule I drugs are defined as substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse2.However, recent developments indicate that this classification may change in the near future:

  1. In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that marijuana be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III4.
  2. As of May 1, 2024, the DEA is reportedly planning to follow this recommendation5. The Attorney General has circulated a proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III7.

If reclassified to Schedule III, cannabis would be categorized alongside drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, such as ketamine and anabolic steroids25.This potential rescheduling could have significant implications for medical research, the cannabis industry, and criminal enforcement4. It would recognize that cannabis has some accepted medical uses, contrary to its current Schedule I status6.It’s important to note that as of January 30, 2025, this reclassification process is still ongoing. The final decision and implementation may take some time, as it involves a public comment period and review by an administrative judge before the final rule is published7.

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What kind of drug is cannabis?
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