Marijuana to Remain in Most Dangerous Drug Category

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has denied petitions by several groups to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Marijuana will remain a Schedule 1 drug, the most restrictive category under federal drug control laws. Heroin and LSD are also considered Schedule 1 drugs.

"Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance because it does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and it has a high potential for abuse," the DEA said today.

The DEA ruled that more research needs to be done to determine the medical effectiveness of marijuana. The agency has loosened the regulations on marijuana research.