DEA’s Marijuana Rescheduling Efforts Remain Stalled Under New Administrator
Despite promises to prioritize the issue, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has failed to make progress on rescheduling marijuana, leaving the process stuck in limbo. In a recent filing, the DEA confirmed that the appeal process remains stalled, with no briefing schedule set for the interlocutory appeal.
The delay is a blow to those who had hoped that the new administrator, Terrance Cole, would move quickly to reevaluate the drug’s scheduling. During his confirmation hearings, Cole pledged to make examining the rescheduling proposal one of his top priorities. However, more than two months have passed since President Donald Trump promised to make a decision on the proposal, and no action has been taken.
The DEA’s inaction is a disappointment to those who had hoped that the administration would take a more proactive approach to marijuana reform. Meanwhile, some lawmakers and advocates are continuing to push for change, with three GOP senators recently describing the potential rescheduling of marijuana as a “game changer.”
The delay is not the only obstacle facing marijuana reform efforts. The administration’s nominee for White House drug czar, Sara Carter, has said that the administration is keeping “all options” on the table, leaving the future of the proposal uncertain.
Despite the setbacks, some are holding out hope that the administration will eventually take action on marijuana reform. One of Trump’s advisors, Roger Stone, recently suggested that the administration has an opportunity to move forward with marijuana rescheduling or even broader legalization, an idea that has been met with enthusiasm from some lawmakers.
For now, however, the DEA’s inaction has left the future of marijuana reform uncertain, leaving many to wonder when – or if – the administration will take action on the issue.
