SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge in California has declined to remove marijuana from the list of the most dangerous drugs.
U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller issued the ruling on Wednesday in response to a motion by defense attorneys to dismiss charges in a case that authorities say involves a marijuana growing operation. It will likely be appealed.
The case was unusual in that Mueller decided to consider marijuana’s designation as a Schedule 1 drug. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin and LSD and are defined as drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Marijuana’s classification as a Schedule 1 drug has brought states that have legalized medical marijuana into conflict with federal authorities, leading to raids on growers and dispensaries that appear to be operating legally under state law.
Attorneys for the defendants had argued that marijuana was far less harmful than some legal drugs.