The most frustrating part of the failed War on Drugs is that pain management doesn't have to be Sophie's choice between being in pain or being addicted to opiates, but thanks to a chilling effect on research due to the DEA's classification of cannabis as Schedule I, the mainstream medical establishment sees long-term opiate use to manage chronic pain as acceptable practice.

29 states plus Puerto Rico, Guam, and DC all recognize the medical benefits of cannabis including pain management. Presumably there's something when smoking the plant (whether THC or CBD, or some other as-of-yet undiscovered chemical) that's proven to be beneficial. In the face of the opioid epidemic, isn't it time for the DEA and the Federal government to think that there might be something to this stuff?

Instead, the current classification is that cannabis has a higher abuse potential than cocaine, Vicodin and methamphetamines!