At the federal level, cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, where Schedule I substances are considered to have a high potential for dependence and are not accepted for medical use, making the distribution of cannabis a federal offense. In the United States, cannabis is legal in 38 of the 50 states for medical use and in 24 states for recreational use. At the federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It is considered to have a high potential for abuse and its medical use is not accepted, so its use for any purpose is prohibited.
Despite this prohibition, federal law generally does not apply to the possession, cultivation, or intrastate distribution of cannabis in states where such activity has been legalized.
