(The Center Square) – Colorado, California and 10 other state attorneys general called upon the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to classify cannabis as safe for medical research, potentially paving the way for next steps towards federal cannabis decriminalization. 

The DEA currently classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, which means it is recognized as a substance with high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use, and lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Other Schedule I substances include heroin, LSD and MDMA. Moving cannabis to Schedule III would mean recognizing cannabis as having a moderate to low potential for abuse and a currently accepted medical use. Schedule III substances include ketamine, testosterone, and barbiturates.