Schedule I Drugs: The Legalization Of Medical Marijuana

Schedule I and Schedule II substances according to the drug classification system established in the The Comprehensive Drug and Abuse Prevent and Control Act of 1970 represents drugs with the highest abuse potential. As stated in our text and this article, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug and Schedule I drugs are viewed as having no acceptable medical use in addition to having high potential of addiction. Schedule I drugs are not legally available on either a prescription, which marijuana is, or as an over the counter. With the changes that has taken place in our society such as 29 states’ legalization of medical marijuana to date and at least eight states legalizing recreational marijuana, the drug no longer falls under Schedule I category. …show more content…
Authorities, especially policy makers do need to re-think the classification of drugs. It does not make much sense that a drug that has been proven to have some medical benefits, is legal in most states in certain context should be regarded as more dangerous than methamphetamine. Furthermore, according to our text marijuana was improperly regarded as a narcotic without much regard to its pharmacological and psychological properties and its has significant psychological difference than methamphetamine. Although, I believe society should be careful in its consumption of any legal drug, marijuana and alcohol alike, there is a strong case for de-classification of