DEA Marijuana Ruling

July 11th, 2011

Marijuana has no medical value, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as of last Friday. This proclamation was issued in response to a petition calling for a change in the substance’s drug schedule.

Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, meaning that it is considered illegal for all purposes (other drugs in this category are heroin, psilocybin, and LSD). The petitioners would like to see marijuana classified at schedule III or lower, which would allow it to be legally prescribed for medical reasons under federal law.

This petition originally came out in 2002, so the fact that the DEA is finally acknowledging it could be seen as an advance of sorts for medical marijuana supporters. Regardless of the DEA’s decision, the fact remains that many states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Back in 2009, the Justice Department told federal prosecutors not to pursue medical marijuana users whose usage complies with the laws in their state of residence. Therefore, the DEA’s ruling has shallow legal implications for those already using medical marijuana.