This week, CNN’s Jake Tapper, with the help of FactCheck.org, fact-checks Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s claim that “you can’t do any research about” marijuana because it’s a Schedule I drug. That’s false.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies drugs and other substances into five categories depending upon their potential for medical use and abuse or dependency. Schedule I drugs are “the most dangerous” and have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” They include heroin, LSD, marijuana and ecstasy. In contrast, the DEA classifies cocaine, methamphetamine and OxyContin as Schedule II drugs.
In order to conduct research on marijuana, scientists have to obtain the plant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, gain approval of their research protocol from the FDA, and have their lab deemed safe by the DEA. There are additional funding challenges, too, researchers report.
Schedule I classification makes it difficult to conduct research on marijuana, but not impossible, as Clinton claimed.
Watch the full CNN video here. It’s based on our April 22 SciCheck post “Clinton on Marijuana Research.” And keep up with all of the videos produced in partnership between “State of the Union” and FactCheck.org on our website.