Medical marijuana advocates want drug reclassified

(AP)—A federal appeals court in Washington is considering whether marijuana should be reclassified from its current status as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use.

Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration rejected a petition by medical marijuana advocates to change the classification—thus keeping marijuana in the same category as drugs such as heroin. The DEA concluded that there wasn't a consensus of medical opinion on using marijuana for medical purposes.

Advocates want the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to force the agency to hold a hearing and conduct findings based on the scientific record.

A lawyer for the advocates told the judges on Tuesday that the DEA has misapplied the law. A government lawyer urged the court to deny the request.