Federal cannabis reform has been in bureaucratic purgatory for several months. An effort to move the plant from Schedule I to Schedule III was paused indefinitely earlier this year. While not the same as full legalization, the change would make it easier for cannabis companies to do business. A big hangup in the process has been the arrival of a new administration in Washington. But the path toward a nationwide pot policy shift could be back on track.
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As first reported by Marijuana Moment, President Trump’s pick to head the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is ready to get to work. During a confirmation hearing this week, Terrance Cole said rescheduling would “be one of my first priorities.”
Speaking in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Cole added, “It’s time to move forward.”
When asked point-blank if he was in favor of rescheduling, Cole declined to endorse the proposal. He instead said, “I’m leaving the door open to studying everything that’s been done so far, so I can make a determination.”
Speaking on the current patchwork of marijuana policy throughout the country, Cole acknowledged there should be some federal regulation put forth.
“We need to stay ahead of it,” he contended.
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The comments were seen as a green flag by many within the cannabis space, offering hope that change could indeed be on the way. The U.S. Cannabis Roundtable, a coalition of operators that lobbies for reform, felt positively about the remarks.
“We’re encouraged by President Trump’s nomination of Terry Cole to lead the DEA and his acknowledgement that cannabis rescheduling is something the administration will be looking at,” the group said in a statement sent to GreenState. “We see this as a clear signal that the president is open to practical reforms that resonate with a broad swath of the American public.”
When Cole was first announced as President Trump’s pick to lead the DEA, advocates for cannabis reform were less optimistic. Cole had previously indicated concerns over legalization on social media and the DEA’s own blog. However, times have changed, and the vast majority of Americans now support reform. If Cole is confirmed, it’s likely some type of federal cannabis policy change is on the distant horizon.
