The federal government has reclassified medical marijuana under a less restrictive drug category, marking a significant policy shift in how the substance is regulated at the national level.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the immediate reclassification of medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III status. This change places medical cannabis in the same category as substances such as ketamine, codeine-containing Tylenol, and anabolic steroids.
The reclassification represents a departure from the previous federal stance that categorized marijuana alongside the most heavily restricted controlled substances. Schedule I drugs are typically defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III substances are recognized as having accepted medical applications despite some potential for dependency.
