<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> In the United States, the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law for any purpose, by way of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 . Under the CSA, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, thereby prohibiting even medical use of the drug . At the state level, however, policies regarding the medical and non-medical use of cannabis vary greatly, and in many states conflict with federal law . </P> <P> The medical use of cannabis is legal (with a doctor's recommendation) in 29 states, plus the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia . Seventeen other states have more restrictive laws limiting THC content, for the purpose of allowing access to products that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis . In the 32 U.S. jurisdictions that have passed comprehensive medical cannabis laws, the Rohrabacher--Farr amendment prohibits the Justice Department from prosecuting individuals acting in accordance with those laws . </P> <P> The non-medical use of cannabis is legal in 8 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) and decriminalized in another 14 states (plus the U.S. Virgin Islands). The District of Columbia has also legalized the non-medical use of cannabis; however, no system is in place for commercial distribution of the drug . In the states that have legalized non-medical cannabis, the 2013 Cole Memorandum previously provided some protections from the enforcement of federal law, but the memo was rescinded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018 . </P>

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