Senate Approves Trump’s DEA Pick, Marijuana Industry Urges Rescheduling in a Timely and Transparent Manner
The Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terrance Cole, who will play a crucial role in the long-stalled federal cannabis rescheduling process. The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) has already urged Cole to prioritize the rescheduling process and make it more transparent.
Cole’s confirmation comes after a 50-47 vote in the Senate, with some Democrats opposing his nomination. During his confirmation hearing, Cole expressed concerns about the health effects of cannabis and refused to commit to a specific outcome for the rescheduling process.
The NCIA, a major marijuana industry association, has written to Cole urging him to expedite the rescheduling process, which was initiated under the Biden administration. The organization is pushing for a timely and transparent process that would eliminate unnecessary barriers to research and reduce burdens on legitimate businesses operating under state law.
The rescheduling process has been stalled for months, with DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John Mulrooney temporarily pausing hearings on a proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The DEA has also notified Mulrooney that the process remains stalled, with any action contingent on the confirmation of a permanent DEA administrator.
The NCIA is urging Cole to recognize the importance of collaboration with stakeholders who can offer real-world insights into the public health, enforcement, and operational impacts of federal cannabis policy. The organization is also urging Cole to “listen to the experts” and “follow the science,” which it believes will lead to a change in marijuana’s status federally.
The Senate’s confirmation of Cole comes as the marijuana industry is pushing for federal legalization and reform. A recent survey found that a majority of Republicans support a variety of cannabis reforms, including rescheduling, and that they are even more supportive of allowing states to legalize marijuana without federal interference.
The stalled rescheduling process has generated significant public interest, with many advocating for a change in marijuana’s status federally. While moving marijuana to Schedule III would not federally legalize it, it would free up licensed cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions and remove certain research barriers.
The NCIA is urging Cole to prioritize the rescheduling process and make it more transparent, and is also pushing for collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that federal cannabis policy is based on science and public health.
