The US Drug Enforcement Administration has put on hold its consideration of a proposal to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. The decision comes after participants in the hearing cited a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, which highlighted gaps in the government’s process for scheduling drugs. The report found that the DEA and the Food and Drug Administration lacked clear policies and procedures for evaluating drugs for scheduling.
The DEA had previously argued that marijuana no longer meets the criteria for Schedule I because it has a recognized medical use and can be safely used under medical supervision. However, participants opposing the reclassification argued that the government’s case is only as strong as the process used to reach its conclusions.
The DEA’s chief administrative law judge, Derek Julius, has issued a stay in the proceedings to allow additional briefing and consideration of the GAO report. The DEA must respond by October 13 on whether the hearing record should be reopened.
The delay is a setback for proponents of marijuana legalization, who had hoped to see the drug reclassified this year. The reclassification would have significant implications for the drug’s legal status and availability.
