The Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, recently announced that it's opening some doors for research into cannabis, but at least for now, the drug will remain listed as a Schedule I controlled substance. Our contributor Brook Bentley of Northern Nevada Business Weekly breaks down what this all means.
The agency is expanding the number of DEA-registered marijuana manufacturers, a change that should provide researchers with a more varied and robust supply. Right now, the University of Mississippi is the only entity authorized to produce marijuana for this purpose.
The DEA has also recently denied two petitions to reschedule the drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Agency officials say marijuana does not meet the current criteria for medical use in this country and it has a high potential for abuse.
