US reclassifies marijuana, raising hopes of legalisation

The US Department of Justice has officially reclassified how it views cannabis, a step marking a historic shift in the country's drug policy.

The move changes cannabis, also known as marijuana, from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug - placing it in the same category as Tylenol with codeine.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year directing his administration to begin the reclassification process, in order to increase access and research of the drug.

Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Despite the federal ban, most US states have legalised the medical or recreational use of marijuana, and many have shops where it can be purchased legally.

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