A decision was made by the Administrative Law Judge on September 6, 1988. Marijuana remains a subject of intense social, political and medical interest and has been a prohibited substance in the United States for more than half a century. Since 1970, marijuana has been legally controlled under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I drug which is defined as a drug having no accepted medical use in the United States and is considered unsafe for use under medical supervision. Those seeking marijuana's reclassification argue that it has important medical uses and should more properly be defined as a Schedule II drug which is recognized as having an accepted medical use and considered safe for use under medical supervision. Decisions reached as a result of the hearings will determine how our society views marijuana for the remainder of this century, and how our culture balances the legitimate medical needs of patients with grave physical disorders against the government's use of legal prohibitions to control social drug use.