A DEA official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says the agency is still moving forward with rescheduling marijuana, despite delays that have raised concerns among supporters.
The official described the process as “delayed, but certainly not dead” and emphasized that Acting Administrator Derek Maltz has made it clear internally that he does not intend to halt the reform effort.
According to the official, Maltz has assured DEA personnel that “it’s not my intention to kill rescheduling,” signaling that the agency remains engaged in the review process. However, the timeline remains uncertain, with a DEA judge recently cancelling a series of public hearings that were set to begin on January 21 and run through March 6. The judge set a 90-day timeline to reassess the situation.
Last year this same official correctly predicted the timing of the DEA’s rescheduling announcement, but was incorrect about a final order coming by October. The official told us in September that the delay was due to internal conflict causing a delay. The judge’s ruling in January gave credence to this statement, with the judge heavily criticizing the agency for failing to comply with procedural directives in its submission of evidence.
While we can verify that this individual is indeed employed by the DEA, their specific claims about the agency’s ongoing actions cannot be independently confirmed.
[Update: Despite Maltz’s intention not to kill rescheduling, it appears it won’t matter for long, as Trump has chosen Terrence Cole to lead the agency.]
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