(NaturalNews) Those who support the nationwide legalization of marijuana for therapeutic use, were disappointed by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent failure to reclassify marijuana's status from that of a Schedule I drug to another more appropriate classification.

Since 23 states have now legalized marijuana for medical use, and since numerous studies have confirmed its value as medicine and have proven that it is safe, it seemed the logical next step to begin relaxing the laws at the federal level.
 

Is marijuana really more dangerous than meth or PCP?

After all, Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act are defined as those having "high potential for abuse; no currently accepted medical use; [and] lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision."

Aside from marijuana, schedule I drugs include heroin and other drugs that can be considered dangerous. But to anyone with any semblance of an open mind, marijuana should not fall into this category – especially considering that Schedule II substances (which are legally considered less dangerous than Schedule I drugs), include methamphetamine, cocaine and PCP.

Could any sane person argue that marijuana is somehow more dangerous than meth, cocaine or PCP?

The truth is that the FDA does not operate on principles that could be considered sane. In fact, the agency's long history of outlawing natural plant-based therapeutic substances clearly indicates that its chief mission is to protect the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry.

For example, the FDA's handling of one such plant-based medicinal substance – pyridoxamine – reveals the extent to which the agency is willing to stoop to protect the interests of drug manufacturers.

In 2005, the pharmaceutical company Biostratum, Inc., found out that pyridoxamine – the active ingredient of one of its new drugs – was already available as a natural supplement and had been on the market for decades.