According to an FDA scientific evaluation, marijuana meets the requirements to be reclassified as a lower-risk medication

Researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration urge the reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule III substance, citing scientific evidence supporting its use as a medical therapy and a reduced potential for addiction than other substances under the same limitations.

Currently, marijuana is categorized as Schedule I, a classification designated for the most hazardous restricted narcotics, such as LSD and heroin. President Joe Biden requested in 2022 that the attorney general and US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra start the administrative process of reevaluating marijuana's scheduling under federal law.

In an August letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel Levine expressed her support for the reclassification to Schedule III, which includes “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” like ketamine, testosterone, and Tylenol with codeine.

According to the FDA's Controlled Substance Staff, marijuana meets three requirements for rescheduling: it has a lower potential for abuse than other substances on Schedules I and II; it is currently accepted for medical use in treatment in the US; and abusing marijuana carries a risk of low to moderate physical dependence. The recommendation has been approved by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.