Recent rumors indicate that the Drug Enforcement Administration may announce news on the potential rescheduling or even descheduling of marijuana within a matter of days.
In August the US Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to the DEA officially requesting marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Last month the DEA sent a letter to congressional lawmakers informing them that their review of marijuana as a Schedule I drug is currently underway, while noting that the agency has “the final authority” when it comes to any rescheduling effort.
Recently a DEA official said he believes marijuana will be rescheduled before the end of the summer, and now, attorney Adrian Snead, a partner at firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP who previous worked for Senator Jeff Merkley (D), says that an announcement regarding the DEA’s decision could come soon.
“Big #cannabis announcement is coming from the Administration this week”, Snead said in a post on LinkedIn. “A highly placed Administration source confirmed that there will be a big announcement regarding cannabis likely this week.”
Snead says “I suspect it will be a rescheduling decision from DEA, but it could also be something more drastic.”
Snead points out that “Last week, senators Warren (D-MA), Fetterman (D-PA), Schumer (D-NY), Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) urged President Biden to swiftly deschedule marijuana.”
In September congressional researchers released a report stating that the DEA is “likely” to reschedule marijuana, with many believing it will be done prior to the 2024 presidential election.
A nationwide poll released earlier this month found that a strong majority of American voters support rescheduling marijuana, and if the government does so this year it will give President Biden a large favorability jump.
