Cannabis advocates protested outside the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Headquarters outside Washington, DC as the non-livestreamed rescheduling of the marijuana trial began.
Table of Contents
The DEA published a schedule of how the day’s federal marijuana hearing will go, as well as the following hearing dates.
According to them, “The Government” gets to make its case first for change.
A proposed rule under the Trump Administration would move marijuana to Schedule III, reflecting the federal government’s acknowledgment that marijuana has accepted medical uses and does not meet the statutory criteria for Schedule I.
Advocates Protest Outside Rigged Hearing Outside DEA Building
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) brought together physicians, cannabis advocates, and others to call for something better than administrative rescheduling.
The coalition urged Congress to finish the job by ending federal cannabis prohibition. They also called on President Donald Trump to (R) to free every person serving a federal sentence for a nonviolent cannabis offense.
“This hearing represents an extraordinary moment,” said Kat Murti, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). “… Changing a number in the Controlled Substances Act does not free a single person from prison. It does not erase criminal records. It does not stop arrests … And it does not end federal prohibition.”
She urged the United States Congress to push for descheduling and taking marijuana off the CSA. That is the position of Heady NJ, along with grassroots activists, small business advocates, and large Multi-State Operators (MSOs).
“…The DEA has made it clear that it is vehemently opposed to removing cannabis from Schedule 1 and will fight to keep it there. … the DEA is now eschewing any pretense of due process or respect for evidence by only selecting witnesses that share its bias. Despite the clear scientific research in support of rescheduling and broadly accepted medical use,” said Morgan Fox, Political Director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
DEA Judge Riggs Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Process
The first day is the only day that someone in the trial period of 8 days, who wants to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) list, will be allowed to speak.
Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius is controlling the process.
Because of Julis, no pro-cannabis attorneys or organizations were given “standing” to make their pitch for federal cannabis legal progress.
Among those excluded were Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the Drug Policy Alliance, NORML, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, the Reason Foundation, and advocates representing individuals harmed by federal cannabis prohibition.
The only way to get “standing” was if you were arguing that marijuana legalization was somehow bad.
They are allowing scientists to testify.
According to the Cannabis Business Times, they allowed two witnesses to speak in favor of Schedule III, which would help:
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Controlled Substance Staff Director, Dr. Dominic Chiapperino
- Dr. Corey Burchman, “a licensed medical doctor in New Hampshire who practiced as a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician until 2019.”
Lawyers for the seven anti-weed opponents granted standing will be able to cross-examine them in the following days.
The DEA expects to conclude the process by July 15th when Judge Julius issues a closing statement.
It is noteworthy that he sanctioned the ongoing federal medical cannabis program controlled by the DEA.
Advocates Ask DEA Judge to OK Livestreaming Marijuana Hearing
Cannabis advocates, including Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and the Coalition for Medical Marijuana of NJ (CMMNJ), sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to allow livestreaming at the upcoming marijuana rescheduling trial.
Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) also sent a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole urging the DEA head to livestream the proceedings.
In addition, the national cannabis news site Marijuana Moment also sent a similar separate letter criticizing the judge for not allowing livestreaming through their attorney Joe Bondy, who is also the current NORML Chair.
The initial marijuana rescheduling trial under former President Joe Biden (D) was livestreamed.
“Veterans and the public at large deserve to witness this landmark proceeding without having to choose between participation and their well-being,” said Shanetha Lewis, Executive Director, Veterans Initiative 22.
