A coalition of patient advocates, veterans groups and medical marijuana organizations is urging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of Administrative Law Judges to reverse a decision barring any broadcast of the upcoming federal marijuana rescheduling hearing.
In a letter sent Thursday to Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius, Americans for Safe Access and several partner organizations asked the tribunal to reconsider a June 18 preliminary order stating that the hearing “will not be televised, livestreamed, or broadcast in any way.”
The hearing, scheduled to begin June 29 in Arlington, Virginia, will focus on whether marijuana should be transferred from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
While the order allows limited public and media attendance, access will be based on available courtroom seating on a first-come, first-served basis, with no overflow seating. The organizations argue that such limits effectively exclude many of the patients, caregivers, clinicians and advocates most affected by federal marijuana policy.
“Medical cannabis patients have lived under the consequences of federal cannabis scheduling for decades,” said Steph Sherer, founder and president of Americans for Safe Access. “A hearing may technically be open to the public while still being practically inaccessible to the people most affected by it.”
The letter states that many patients are disabled, immunocompromised, elderly, financially constrained or managing serious medical conditions, making travel to Virginia difficult or impossible. Even those able to travel may not be able to wait in line for an uncertain chance at a seat, the groups said.
ASA said it is not asking for attendees to record the hearing from inside the courtroom or for the tribunal to compromise security, courtroom decorum, witness management or the integrity of the proceeding. Instead, the coalition is requesting an official remote access option controlled by DEA or the Office of Administrative Law Judges.
The letter says such access could take several forms, including a one-way public livestream, delayed livestream, audio feed or same-day public recording.
The organizations also noted that DEA previously livestreamed a marijuana rescheduling hearing before later proceedings were postponed, arguing that the agency has already shown remote observation can be provided while maintaining control of the process.
“The tribunal has already acknowledged the national public interest in this issue,” Sherer said. “Patients across the country have a real stake in this hearing, and public access should reflect that reality.”
Montel Williams, a longtime patient advocate and one of the letter’s signatories, said the rescheduling process could affect millions of patients who rely on medical marijuana.
“Transparency builds trust, and ensuring public access to these proceedings is essential to making sure every patient knows their voice and their experience matters,” Williams said.
Veterans Initiative-22 Executive Director Shanetha Lewis said many veterans served by the organization are disabled and should not have to choose between their health and observing a federal proceeding that could affect their care.
The letter was signed by Americans for Safe Access, Veterans Initiative-22, U.S. Pain Foundation, Realm of Caring, Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Montel Williams and Montel Media, ASA San Diego, Michigan for Safe Access, Firefighters for Plant Medicine and Georgia Medical Cannabis Society.
The coalition is asking the tribunal to reconsider the broadcasting prohibition and provide meaningful remote public access before the hearing begins.
