US eases access to marijuana for medical use

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The US government on Thursday made it easier for Americans to use cannabis for medical reasons by reclassifying the drug and enabling more research into its safety and efficacy.

Marijuana has been reclassified as having moderate to low addiction potential, "expanding patients' access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions," acting attorney general Todd Blanche said.

It was earlier classified as "Schedule I," a category for drugs with "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse" that includes heroin and methamphetamine, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

It has now been moved to the third rung of the five-level Drug Schedule.

The Department of Justice said Thursday's move followed up on President Donald Trump's executive order in December on increasing medical marijuana research.