Now that Terrance Cole has been confirmed as the new permanent head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), cannabis industry stakeholders are urging him to move forward with the cannabis rescheduling process begun under former President Joe Biden.
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) this week issued an open letter to Cole today, congratulating him on his confirmation and urging the DEA to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act — consistent with the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation.
“Administrator Cole steps into this role at a pivotal moment,” said NCIA CEO and Co-Founder Aaron Smith. “With decades of research, strong public support, and the overwhelming majority of Americans now living in a state with legal medical cannabis access, the DEA must act without further delay to update federal policy.”
The agency pointed toward President Donald Trump's campaign promises to reschedule cannabis and “unlock the medical uses of marijuana” and implement “smart regulations” that provide safe, tested products for adults.
“The rescheduling process under the Biden Administration was slow, opaque, and mired in controversy,” Smith said. “We’re counting on Administrator Cole to reset that approach and deliver the evidence-based reform that Americans—including President Trump—have supported for years.”
The DEA's process for rescheduling has made little progress since it began in January.
