Analysis of the 42,000 public comments submitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding cannabis rescheduling shows ‘overwhelming support’ for reform.
New analysis from cannabis data platform Headset shows an ‘unprecedented’ level of engagement from the American public, with the response to cannabis rescheduling breaking the previous engagement record of 38,000 comments, submitted in 2020 regarding controversial telemedicine rules, comfortably.
More importantly, the vast majority of responses submitted were in favour of the proposals to move cannabis from a Schedule I substance to Schedule III, with many suggesting that the DEA should go even further and deschedule cannabis altogether.
According to Headset’s analysis, 92.45% of comments were in favour of changing cannabis’s schedule in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), meaning just 7.55% of respondents were against the change.
Furthermore, the majority of respondents (61.7%) called for cannabis to be descheduled completely, while 38.3% supported rescheduling to a less restrictive category.
“This overwhelming show of public support, equivalent to the unanimous voice of an entire state capital, sends a powerful message to policymakers. It suggests that not only is there broad backing for the proposed rescheduling, but there’s also a significant push for even more comprehensive reform,” the company stated.
A number of key themes were also revealed during Headset’s analysis. One ‘notable phenomenon’ was the appearance of distinct spikes in comments opposing rescheduling that coincided with coordinated efforts by opposition groups.
One significant instance occurred on July 15, when Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an organization against cannabis legalization, issued a call to action to its supporters. SAM provided a form letter and urged supporters to submit comments, resulting in a noticeable surge in opposition submissions on that day.
These findings underscore the impact of organized advocacy groups on public comment periods and highlight the importance of examining both the content and timing of comments to fully understand public sentiment.
Despite the overwhelming public support for the rescheduling, a number of significant challenges remain, including the potential waning of political support for the move should no progress be made before November’s presidential election.
