Medicinal cannabis products are substances derived from the cannabis plant that are used to treat various medical conditions. In the USA, the legal status and availability of these products vary by state, as well as by the federal government. Here are some key points to know:- The FDA has not approved the cannabis plant for any medical use, but it has approved four drugs that contain individual cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds found in cannabis. These are Epidiolex (cannabidiol), Marinol and Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone)¹²³.- Medical cannabis is legal in 38 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, as of March 2023¹. However, each state has its own regulations on how it can be produced, distributed, consumed, and what medical conditions it can be used for².- Medical cannabis is still illegal under federal law, which classifies it as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. This means that the federal government can prosecute anyone who possesses, cultivates, or distributes cannabis for medical purposes, even if they comply with state laws¹⁴.- In December 2014, the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment was signed into law, prohibiting the Justice Department from spending funds to interfere with the implementation of state medical cannabis laws⁵. This amendment has been renewed several times, but it does not change the legal status of cannabis at the federal level.- In October 2022, President Joe Biden announced that he would ask the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Attorney General to initiate a review as to how cannabis should be scheduled under federal law, adding that the Schedule I classification of cannabis “makes no sense”. In August 2023, following a review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services issued a recommendation to the DEA that cannabis be moved to Schedule III¹. This would allow for more research and medical use of cannabis, but it would still require a prescription and strict regulation. The DEA has not yet made a decision on this recommendation.Source: Conversation with Bing, 10/11/2023(1) Medical cannabis in the United States – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis_in_the_United_States.(2) Medical cannabis in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts | Statista. https://www.statista.com/topics/3064/medical-marijuana-in-the-us/.(3) Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know.(4) FDA and Cannabis: Research and Drug Approval Process | FDA. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-cannabis-research-and-drug-approval-process.(5) Medical marijuana – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medical-marijuana/art-20137855.

You might be interested in the legal history of cannabis in the United States. This article provides an in-depth overview of the legal status and changes surrounding cannabis in the country. Speaking of cannabinoids, you might find the article on cannabinoids informative. It explores the chemical compounds found in cannabis and their potential therapeutic uses. If you want to learn more about medical marijuana, the medical cannabis article