Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) says an announcement on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) marijuana scheduling decision “could be coming this week.”
“We’ve heard rumors that potentially that announcement could be coming this week – whatever the decision may be”, said a representative for the organization during today’s episode of their podcast The Drug Report.
SAM, founded in 2013, is the nation’s largest anti-marijuana group, advocating against the legalization of marijuana and promoting policies aimed at decreasing marijuana use. SAM was founded by Kevin Sabet, a former White House advisor on drug policy, and Patrick J. Kennedy, a former U.S. Congressman from Rhode Island.
“We’re hearing a lot of chatter, even as we’re having this podcast I’m hearing from some sources that pro-marijuana Democratic senators are saying it’s very soon, as in today or tomorrow”, said Sabet, who serves as SAM’s President.
The remarks from SAM come days after it was discovered that the DEA has been telling senators that there will be a “public comment period” following their announcement, which would only be relevant if the agency decides to actually reschedule or deschedule marijuana rather than retaining the status quo. According to the law, any DEA scheduling decision must undergo a 30-day public comment period and a hearing before it can take effect.
“We’re hearing a lot of chatter, even as we’re having this podcast I’m hearing from some sources that pro-marijuana Democratic senators are saying it’s very soon, as in today or tomorrow”, said SAM President and co-founder Kevin Sabet said during the podcast.
The DEA’s current review of marijuana’s status as a Schedule 1 substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act was prompted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommending that marijuana be moved to Schedule III, legalizing it for prescription use. HHS began its nearly year-long review following an executive order from President Biden.
For a complete timeline of the DEA’s marijuana review, click here.
