Democratic leaders on influential House committees are calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to expedite the marijuana rescheduling process.
Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking members of the Judiciary Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, will serve on Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Ann Milgram, respectively. In the letter we sent, we emphasized the need for swift action. Following a scientific study by the Biden administration.
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According to Marijuana Moment, the lawmakers argue that cannabis has a “lower potential for abuse than other drugs” and has “recognized medical uses in treatment.”
Their comments are consistent with recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice, which call for reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
“We appreciate the Department of Justice's steadfast commitment to preventing the misuse and diversion of controlled substances that pose a threat to public health,” Nadler and Pallone said in a statement.
Lawmakers praised the Biden administration for initiating the review and called on the DEA to “quickly complete this process and move marijuana to Schedule III status.”
Promote complete de-scheduling
While the immediate focus is on changes to Schedule III that would loosen some federal regulations on cannabis, lawmakers have urged federal agencies to explore further reforms.
They say “continuing to evaluate whether Schedule IV, Schedule V, or rescheduling is appropriate” will be the next step in aligning cannabis policy with evolving scientific and medical understanding. He said it was possible.
Changing the timeline to completely remove cannabis from the CSA remains an important goal for many advocates and lawmakers, including Nadler, who previously proposed the MORE Act, a bill that would lead to full legalization.
election year focus
The move comes at a time when cannabis policy is increasingly taking center stage in American electoral politics. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, both major political parties have announced their positions on the issue.
However, final action on rescheduling is not expected until after November, with the DEA scheduling an administrative hearing on the issue for Dec. 2. This hearing will provide further input from experts and stakeholders before the DEA finalizes its decision.
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