The next steps on the path to cannabis reform are allegedly taking shape. According to reporting by The Washington Post and Axios, the White House is directing a range of federal agencies to get ready for an “imminent” change in cannabis policy—but they stopped short of saying rescheduling was ahead.
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According to the Post, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plans to announce an administrative hearing on cannabis, likely around rescheduling. However, the outlet’s unnamed sources warned plans were still “in flux.”
The hearing is necessary for the government to officially move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Hearings scheduled for early 2025 were canceled.
Trump restarted the rescheduling process last December, signing an executive order directing his administration to complete the move in an expeditious manner. Since then, there has been no publicly documented progress.
In response to the report, a White House press official shied away from confirming rescheduling was on track, focusing instead on medical marijuana.
“The administration continues to expeditiously implement President Trump’s December executive order to increase medical marijuana research to close the gap between current medical marijuana use and medical knowledge,” the official told GreenState.
It’s a departure from language the White House used earlier this month, when they told GreenState, “The administration continues to implement the President’s executive order on cannabis rescheduling.”
Representatives for the DEA and the Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment.
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Trump has reportedly been frustrated by the lack of movement on the subject. He appeared to reference the situation last weekend during a press conference focused on accelerating psychedelic drug research.
“Will you get the rescheduling done, please?” Trump said.
While he didn’t call out cannabis by name, observers inferred that that was what he was talking about.
“They’re slow-walking me on rescheduling,” Trump added.
While the latest reporting sent pot stocks soaring, some industry advocates say it’s another example of “hurry up and wait.” Potential legal challenges and other bureaucratic roadblocks could still drag out the rescheduling process for months or even years.
*This is a developing story.
