the law
It doesn't have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works.
​     - Dr. Sanjay Gupta, speaking about the problem with cannabis as a schedule one drug
It's a confusing paradox that cannabis is federally illegal (being a schedule one substance) and legal in certain states at the same time.  The Federal prohibition of cannabis as medicine exists because of it's status as a schedule one drug.  Schedule one drugs are supposed to:   1.  have no currently accepted medical use, 2. be highly addictive, and 3. not be safe for medical use.  Because of the 10th amendment, scientific evidence to the contrary and the will of the people, whole plant medical marijuana is legal in 23 states. 
The Federal government claims cannabis is dangerous - yet, the facts tell a different story:
  1. Cannabis has currently accepted medical use - yet it is legal in 23 states for a myriad of medical conditions
  2. Cannabis is not highly addictive - yet it is used to help addicts get off their drug of choice
  3. Cannabis is safe for medical use - yet children are successfully using it to stop seizures and there have been no recorded death from an overdose
Why should cannabis be re-scheduled - or not?