Actually if you look at the FDA approval process,
Post# of 15624
That said, I believe that if in the trial process the FDA was satisfied with the way that various components of the cannabis were being extracted, and perhaps even how the cannabis were being grown, a case could be made for them approving a drug without cannabis being rescheduled in general.
To me it's sad that if you can extract something from cannabis that's beneficial, but then duplicate it artificially, you have no problem with the artificial product, only with the naturally extracted product. I don't know if this is true in many other countries in the world, but clearly cannabis is gaining greater acceptance worldwide, it's a shame that our Federal Govt. cannot see this and act for it's acceptance under proper regulations.
Gary