DEA: Marijuana To Remain Classified As Dangerous Drug In U.S.
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Obama administration isn't going to reclassify marijuana and remove it from the list of the most dangerous drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said in a lengthy notice in the Federal Register that it consulted with the Health and Human Services Department and concluded that marijuana will remain in the class of drugs that have "no accepted medical use in the United States.''
But the agency said it will try to make marijuana more available to researchers, CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton reported earlier Thursday.
The agency is opening the door to further medical research of the drug by expanding the number of agencies that can legally grow marijuana for research purposes.
Currently only researchers at the University of Missouri have the government's permission to grow pot.
A nurse practitioner and two former Democratic governors filed petitions asking federal agencies to have marijuana reclassified as a drug with acceptable medical uses, CBS New reported.
Marijuana has long been classified as a "Schedule 1" drug with "no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse," which is the same classification for such drugs as heroin.
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