It's because of a broken feedback mechanism. Officially, it has no therapeutic uses, which means medical research is not sanctioned. Without medical research you can't discover therapeutic uses. And when someone does do the research, that research is by definition unsanctioned, so it's not officially recognized. Catch-22.
The same reasoning means the original classification of "high abuse potential" is difficult to overturn as well.
Comments
I find it amusing that "weed" is on the same tier of drugs as Heroin, LSD, MDMA and it is an entire class above Cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone [1].
Schedule I drugs
— High abuse potential.
— There is no accepted use for these drugs in medical practice.
— They cannot be prescribed.
— Drugs include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and mescaline.
Schedule II drugs — High potential for abuse and dependence.
— Generally require non-refillable, written prescription.
— Drugs include morphine , codeine , methadone , oxycodone , hydromorphone , meperidine , fentanyl , cocaine...
[1] https://uptowho.com/contents/UTD.htm?35/43/36535?source=see_...
Note: the above is a free version of UpToDate (physician portal that is widely used in the field.)
It's because of a broken feedback mechanism. Officially, it has no therapeutic uses, which means medical research is not sanctioned. Without medical research you can't discover therapeutic uses. And when someone does do the research, that research is by definition unsanctioned, so it's not officially recognized. Catch-22.
The same reasoning means the original classification of "high abuse potential" is difficult to overturn as well.
While we're at it, why is LSD in the same tier as heroin? It's far safer than that, or even cocaine, and it has therapeutic uses.