DEA chief allows that pot is 'probably not' as dangerous as heroin

The new acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chuck Rosenberg, said Tuesday that marijuana and heroin may not be equally dangerous.

"If you want me to say that marijuana's not dangerous, I'm not going to say that because I think it is," Rosenberg said. "Do I think it's as dangerous as heroin? Probably not. I'm not an expert." Despite its cautious nature, this statement marks a significant change from the perspective of his predecessor, who was willing to compare the two substances, saying pot is an "insidious" drug.

Both pot and heroin are currently classified by the DEA as Schedule I substances, the "most dangerous" of all drugs with "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," despite research suggesting medical marijuana can be effective in pain relief and other treatment in a variety of diseases.

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