The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced the first witnesses due to attend the critical upcoming public hearing on cannabis rescheduling.
According to reporting from Marijuana Moment, a number of key industry experts have been invited to attend the December 02 hearing, including the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), anti-cannabis groups Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), as well as the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA).
It comes after the DEA announced in late August that a hearing would be held to gather factual evidence and expert opinions on whether cannabis should be reclassified under the CSA, which would indicate a recognized medical use and lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule I substances.
Interested parties were then asked to submit a written notice of their intent by a specified date (30 days after the official notice publication). These submissions were required to include details about their interest in the proceedings and the specific issues they wish to address.
The hearing will be conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and DEA regulations, with a presiding officer appointed to manage the proceedings. The officer has broad authority to ensure a fair and orderly process, including examining witnesses and ruling on evidence.
The hearing’s outcome could significantly influence the legal and regulatory landscape for cannabis in the United States and has had a mixed reaction from the industry given that the decision will now be delayed until after the presidential election.
While many advocates had hoped the DEA would proceed directly to rulemaking, this hearing reflects the agency’s cautious approach. DEA’s interest in gathering more input from stakeholders suggests they see significant issues yet to be addressed, and the hearing will allow for the presentation of diverse perspectives on potential impacts of reclassification.
