Judge Cancels DEA Hearing on Marijuana Rescheduling

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge has canceled hearings scheduled to consider the Biden administration's proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III due to allegations of improper agency conduct. The decision, made by Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney, follows claims that DEA officials conspired with opponents of the rescheduling plan and improperly selected witnesses for the hearings. Although Mulrooney criticized the DEA for procedural missteps, he stated that these issues do not warrant the agency's removal from the proceedings. The cancellation extends the timeline for potential cannabis reform by at least three months, impacting the state-legal cannabis industry significantly. Virginia's Governor Glenn Youngkin has voiced concerns about the negative impacts of legalized marijuana, suggesting that the harms outweigh any benefits. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to promote U.S.-grown cannabis internationally.