DEA delivers a slap in the face to the marijuana industry

The DEA has worked hard to keep marijuana illegal – even though nearly 90% believe it shouldn't be.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is working diligently to turn the tide on legal marijuana. An agency based on the “war on drugs” is doing everything it can to prevent the population from accessing cannabis, undermining much of its efforts. And now the DEA is delivering another slap in the face to the marijuana industry. The agency is moving upstream in the process as it is recommended by the Health and Human Services and Food and Drug Administration to reclassify cannabis based in part on its medical benefits. This comes alongside the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians encouraging the federal government to make changes based on proven, science-based medical help for a variety of patients, including cancer, chronic pain, inflammation and more.

The delay until after the election is due to the DEA's inability to coordinate next steps, which is why it has postponed in-person testimony on the impending shift in marijuana use until early next year. DEA Director Anne Milligan is considered an opponent of marijuana and is more in line with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). When the current administration announced the postponement, Director Milligan held a meeting with key DEA leaders at which “no notes were taken” and it was confidential. If the DEA did not reschedule the appointment, it would violate the norm as it has always followed HHS and FDA recommendations.

While both presidential candidates have expressed support for marijuana, a YOUGOV poll found that more people trust Harris to support the industry. The surprise is the fact that both Democrats (65%) and Republicans (31%) believe their administration would hold out. Pew Research, which has tracked the mainstreaming of cannabis, estimates that over 88% of the population supports some form of federal legalization. Even AARP has voted to legalize marijuana, which is a key voting bloc for both parties. But apparently the DEA is against the move and is hoping for a change of heart in policymaking.

In another blow to the cannabis industry, Milligan and the DEA have attempted to clamp down on cannabis. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said he was disappointed but hardly surprised by the DEA's decision to disproportionately include groups opposed to marijuana policy reform as designated participants. “The fight to end our nation’s outdated and failed cannabis prohibition laws has never been fought on equal footing,” he said.