Judge declares marijuana saves lives after hearing from users who want its Schedule I status tossed

Author: Molly Crane-Newman and Victoria Bekiempis

A judge weighing whether pot should be considered a dangerous drug under federal law seemed sympathetic to medical marijuana advocates during a hearing Wednesday.

Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein heard arguments for a July 2017 lawsuit in which several medical marijuana users sued the federal government.

Under federal law, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug — meaning it's considered so dangerous that doctors can't legally prescribe it for medical use.

While 30 states have reportedly greenlighted ganja use in some way, users and vendors could still get charged under federal law — regardless of whether it's medical or recreational, the suit states.

The law also limits research into medical marijuana — so its potentially life-saving uses can't be adequately assessed, the suit charges.
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The civil complaint is pushing for the present classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance to be ruled illegal.

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