From Schedule I to Local Shelves: A Dynamic Look at Marijuana Regulation

Marijuana legalization is being emphasized in many state legislatures as the benefits of the drug are overcoming the stigma of the past. While the federal government continues to consider marijuana a Schedule I drug, several states have legalized medical use marijuana and 18 others have made recreational use lawful. Prosecutions by federal agencies are rare and usually limited to other criminal activities, while state prosecutions where marijuana is legal are almost non-existent. The courts are following the states’ initiatives, holding that pharmacist recommendations and counseling are legal.