Part 7/11:
The shifting legal landscape reflects a slow but notable change. Cannabis, once outlawed nationwide, is now decriminalized or legalized in 27 states in the U.S., opening pathways for rigorous scientific inquiry into its medical uses. Nevertheless, cannabis remains classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA—conveying the message that it has "no accepted medical use" and a high potential for abuse. This classification directly hampers research, despite numerous studies indicating otherwise.