Misfiled marijuana: pot reclassification.

• Author: Sullum, Jacob
• Position: Citings - Brief article

In a policy statement published in January, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reiterated its opposition to marijuana legalization. But it also endorsed the decriminalization of possession and called for the drug's reclassification under the Controlled Substances Act.

Marijuana currently is classified as a Schedule I substance, which cannot be legally used for any purpose. The AAP says that classification makes medical research difficult: "The AAP strongly supports research and development of pharmaceutical cannabinoids and supports a review of policies promoting research on the medical use of these compounds. The AAP recommends changing marijuana from a Drug Enforcement Administration schedule I to a schedule II drug to facilitate this research."

That change, which could be carried out by Congress or by the executive...