Weed could offer medical benefits, less risky than some drugs: federal review

What they found: The public health risks posed by marijuana, the most frequently abused illicit drug, are lower compared with other abused drugs.

• Still, there is "clear evidence" marijuana abuse produces harmful consequences, according to the review.
• There is some "credible scientific support" for marijuana as a treatment for pain, anorexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Federal scientists didn't identify safety concerns with medical use of marijuana for such purposes.
• Marijuana produces physical and psychological dependence in some, but those effects are likely limited.

Yes, but: Some drug experts said the scientific evidence for marijuana as a medicine isn't strong, and they note that increasingly strong products have been tied to higher rates of psychosis.

What's next: The DEA in the coming months is expected to announce a decision on marijuana rescheduling, which could be a boon for a cannabis industry that's struggled to do business with banks because of federal restrictions.