ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – The Department of Justice announced this month it is classifying FDA-approved marijuana products as a Schedule 3 drug.
The department says the change is intended to strengthen medical research while maintaining federal controls.
According to the DEA, Schedule 3 drugs have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Examples of schedule 3 drugs include Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids and testosterone.
Previously, marijuana was labeled as a Schedule 1 drug. The DEA classifies a Schedule 1 drug as a substance without a currently accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse. Drugs in the schedule 1 category include heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote.
In the video above, Dr. Ginger Nichol sheds light on how the reclassification impacts marijuana research.
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