DEA Judge Sets Schedule for Cannabis Rescheduling Testimony

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The debate over cannabis’ federal classification is set to intensify as the DEA prepares for pivotal hearings on its status under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney has announced that witness testimony will commence on Tuesday, January 22, 2025. The hearings are scheduled to run every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until early March, barring any unforeseen delays.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, responsible for proposing the reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, will present its witnesses on the opening day. Despite its role as the proponent of this rule change, the DEA has yet to clarify whether it will actively support the policy shift during the hearings. The agency’s legal team has until mid-December to submit its exhibits, while other participants have already complied with this requirement.

NORML, a consistent voice for cannabis reform, will not present during the proceedings despite its decades-long involvement in similar efforts. The organization previously filed the first administrative petition to reschedule cannabis back in 1972. In its recent public comments, NORML aligned with the Department of Health and Human Services, emphasizing that cannabis has an “accepted medical use” and a comparatively low abuse potential—criteria inconsistent with its current Schedule I designation.

Most of the participants selected for this trial oppose changing cannabis’ Schedule I status. This regulatory review, initiated by the Biden Administration in late 2022, is the fifth such effort to address cannabis’ federal scheduling. With hearings approaching, the stakes are high for the future of cannabis policy in the United States.

Stay tuned to Highly Capitalized for updates and expert analysis on this landmark moment in cannabis reform.