Removal of Marijuana as a Schedule I Drug The argument for or against the legalization of medical marijuana has been in existence for decades with no sign of resolution. Ever since Congress passed into law the Controlled Substance Act in 1970, placing marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the debate has grown ever larger, with feelings strengthening on both sides. Recently the argument for medical marijuana has come into the debate, with more and more evidence supporting it. People in support of keeping it illegal feel that the drug would cause much more harm than good. People in support of making the drug legal feel that the harm of marijuana is over exaggerated, and keeping the drug illegal is causing the most harm. I fell that whether for medical or recreational use marijuana needs to be removed from its Schedule I status because it does not meet the definition of what a Schedule I drug is, it does not have adverse health effect if used properly, and it could positively affect the United States economy if taxed and/or used as a renewable resource. Many studies have found that marijuana meets none of the Controlled Substance Act’s criteria for placement in Schedule I, and therefore the government is required by law either to permit medical use or to remove the drug from federal control altogether. In regards to what a Schedule I drug is, Section 812 of the Controlled Substance Act states:
Substances in the schedule have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision. Some examples of substances listed in schedule I are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), peyote, methaqualone, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphtamine (“ecstasy”).
(“Title 21 CFR Excerpts, Section 1308.”DEA Diversion