Marijuana’s Restrictive Federal Classification Isn’t Supported By Science, New Study Concludes

OG article by Aaron Houston

January 21, 2026

A new review in the December 2025 issue of Harm Reduction Journal concludes that marijuana’s Schedule I classification under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act lacks scientific support. A multidisciplinary panel of U.S. researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience evaluated 19 drugs across 18 harm criteria—including overdose risk, long-term health effects, family impact, crime, and economic costs—using multi-criteria decision analysis. Expert rankings showed federal categories overestimate certain dangers relative to evidence. Cannabis ranked lower in harm than its Schedule I status implies, while fentanyl topped the list as most harmful. Most drugs posed greater risks to users than to others. The study highlights policy misalignment: cannabis and psilocybin face strict controls despite lower harm profiles and medical potential, unlike unscheduled alcohol or Schedule II fentanyl. Authors advocate reallocating resources to health-focused approaches, including harm reduction (e.g., naloxone access, supervised sites), expanded treatment, and evidence-based rescheduling to curb punitive measures amid rising overdoses. They call for more research on additional substances, benefits, subpopulations, and consumption methods to better inform policy and promote societal well-being through reduced enforcement and increased support.