The ongoing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrative hearings in Arlington, Virginia—which began on June 29, 2026, and are scheduled to conclude by July 15, 2026—have reached a critical turning point as the federal government has officially rested its case-in-chief supporting the reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III.

The proceedings have now transitioned to testimony from the selected opposition groups.

During the first week of the historic hearing, the federal government surprised many onlookers by aggressively defending the medical legitimacy and relative safety of cannabis. Witnesses focused on the scientific data validating cannabis’s accepted medical use, establishing a baseline for the Schedule III criteria. Proponents and legal observers noted that this represents a monumental shift, as the federal government itself is now legally arguing in favor of loosening cannabis restrictions.

The current administrative law judge hearing is expected to wrap up by July 15, 2026. Once testimony concludes, the judge will issue a formal recommendation to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. The DEA Administrator and the U.S. Attorney General retain ultimate authority to accept, modify, or reject the recommendation to finalize the federal rule.

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