The full 2,533-page transcript of DEA’s 11-day marijuana rescheduling hearing is now public, following judge-ordered corrections to the initial draft. The transcript shows DEA attorneys arguing that cannabis meets the legal standard for Schedule III (citing 30,000+ practitioners treating 6 million patients under medical supervision, and deference to HHS’s 10-month scientific review), while opponents, including SAM, several state governments, and drug-testing advocacy groups, pushed back on the medical-use test and warned of workplace safety-testing implications. Both sides have now filed final briefs. DEA Administrator Terrance Cole controversially limited hearing participation to rescheduling opponents only, and refused to livestream the proceedings despite pushback from reform advocates, a congressman, and journalists. Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius will now review the record and issue a non-binding recommendation; the final rescheduling decision rests with the DEA administrator. Read the full Marijuana Moment article here. Follow us for up-to-date news, changes, and links to current cannabis affairs.
