Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are reportedly resisting calls to reschedule marijuana, creating tension with the White House as President Joe Biden continues to tout his role in directing the cannabis review.
That’s according to an article published by The Wall Street Journal on Saturday, with the report citing “people familiar with the matter” who say certain DEA officials are disputing scientific findings from the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) that led it to recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Some advocates and stakeholders have challenged the reporting, questioning the possible motivations of the anonymous sources. DEA has only publicly said that it is carrying out its review after receiving the HHS recommendation, without taking a specific position.
Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are reportedly resisting calls to reschedule marijuana, creating tension with the White House as President Joe Biden continues to tout his role in directing the cannabis review.
That’s according to an article published by The Wall Street Journal on Saturday, with the report citing “people familiar with the matter” who say certain DEA officials are disputing scientific findings from the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) that led it to recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Some advocates and stakeholders have challenged the reporting, questioning the possible motivations of the anonymous sources. DEA has only publicly said that it is carrying out its review after receiving the HHS recommendation, without taking a specific position.
In any case, the report says that the DEA officials are unconvinced by the health agency’s conclusion that cannabis hold certain medical value, and they’re concerned about issues related to increased THC potency.
The sources also said that HHS officials have recently requested information from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) on the legal implications of marijuana rescheduling.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram told lawmakers last year that she would “keep an open mind” and “look at all the research” as her agency carried out its own review.
DEA has stressed that it holds final authority in the scheduling decision, regardless of what HHS recommended. However, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has said it’s “likely” DEA will accept the Schedule III determination based on past scheduling precedent.
To read more, click on Marijuana Moment