Why is cannabis still a schedule 1 substance in the USA if it has proven medical benefits?

Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States, meaning that it is classified as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. This classification is in spite of growing evidence of the medical benefits of cannabis and increasing support for legalization and regulation of the drug.

There are several factors that have contributed to the ongoing classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance, including political and ideological opposition to legalization, concerns about the potential for abuse and negative health effects, and a lack of comprehensive scientific research on the drug. Additionally, the federal government has been slow to change the classification of cannabis due to concerns about the drug's impact on public health and safety and the potential for increased use and abuse.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to legalize and regulate cannabis for medical and recreational use in the United States and around the world. This has been driven by increasing evidence of the medical benefits of cannabis, as well as changing public attitudes towards the drug and a growing recognition of the limitations and negative consequences of the current system of prohibition.

However, despite these developments, the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance remains a contentious issue, and its ongoing legalization and regulation are the subject of ongoing political and legal debates.