The Drug Enforcement Administration declined to comment and the Food and Drug Administration did not immediately respond. For decades, marijuana has been classified as a “Schedule I” drug with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” on par with heroin. Four states - Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado - and the District of Columbia have gone even further, allowing its recreational use for adults. Twenty-five states have sanctioned some forms of marijuana use for medical purposes. The expected change would show that the Obama administration is open to expanding legitimate research into pot’s effects, even though the administration and Congress appears to be far from endorsing its broader use or legalization.

Source: Huffington Post August 11, 2016 01:18 UTC