Much of the stigma regarding cannabis can be tied to its classification as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Cannabis is considered, along with heroin and LSD as substances that “have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.”
And yet, it’s a drug that depending on its form can be classified anywhere from Schedule II to V that may be the reason cannabis ultimately is rescheduled or de-scheduled and loses the stigma surrounding its use.
“I think the stigma is starting to reduce and a big part is that people don’t want to be on opioids if they don’t have to be,” says Jeff Brown, assistant health commissioner in charge of the medicinal marijuana program. “For many, particularly those with chronic pain, medical cannabis can be a really good alternative to opioids.”