President Donald Trump’s pick to be the White House’s top drug policy adviser refrained from endorsing a proposed rule to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
That abstention was, in part, because her likely new role prevents her from publicly supporting such a reform.
Sara Carter, Trump’s nominee to be the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), did call cannabis rescheduling a “bipartisan issue,” but said more research and data need to be evaluated as the administration explores all options. Her comments came during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 17.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., asked Carter, whose legal name is Sara Bailey, how she would advise Trump on the Joe Biden-era rescheduling proposal should she be confirmed.
“This is a bipartisan issue, and I look forward to working with you as well as all the Republicans here on the committee and other Democrats,” Carter said. “If confirmed, as director, I will comply with all federal laws and fulfill all statutory responsibilities of the ONDCP. However, we will continue to work extensively with research and data. We will continue to do that and explore all options.”
Her comments come more than five weeks after Trump said at an Aug. 11 press conference that his administration would decide on the Schedule III proposal “over the next few weeks.” The proposed rule was signed off on by former Attorney General Merrick Garland after Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services conducted a scientific review and made the recommendation.
Read more at the Cannabis Business Times
