The DEA released its proposed rules for the rescheduling of marijuana last week. These rules will be officially published in the Federal Register tomorrow, initiating the legally required 60-day public comment period.
According to the notice published by the DEA, the agency plans to reschedule marijuana, moving it from its current Schedule I status to a Schedule III classification. This announcement coincided with a social media video from President Biden and Vice President Harris announcing and praising the move.
The DEA has confirmed that the notice will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, May 21, 2024. This publication will kick off the legally required 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals and organizations to provide remarks and feedback on the proposed change. The proposed change is currently listed on the Federal Register’s website with the disclaimer, “This document is unpublished. It is scheduled to be published on 05/21/2024.”
After the public comment period, the DEA will review all submissions to assess public sentiment and gather additional evidence. This process will culminate in a final hearing and the issuance of a final ruling. Based on the current timeline, marijuana is expected to be officially moved to Schedule III sometime in August.
For a look at the 10 biggest implications of marijuana being moved to Schedule III, click here.
