U.S. gov't disapproves marijuana's medical use

 　　BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. federal government officially announced that it denied the medical use of marijuana.

　　"Department of Health and Human Services concluded that marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use even under medical supervision," U.S. Department of Justice declared Friday.

　　The announcement will keep marijuana in the classification of dangerous, addictive¹ drug as heroin².

　　The decision comes almost nine years after medical marijuana advocates asked the government to reclassify marijuana, as its therapeutic³ effectiveness in treating some diseases and relieving pain of patients.

　　Joe Elford, the chief counsel for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), said he was not surprised by the government's disapproval⁴.

　　"It is clearly motivated by a political decision that is anti-marijuana," He noted⁵.

　　This is the third petition to reclassify marijuana has failed to be approved. The former two were filed in 1972 and in 1995, respectively.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

2 heroin   

n.海洛因

参考例句：

• Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。
• Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。

3 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

4 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。