A coalition of Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and John Fetterman, along with Reps. Barbara Lee and Earl Blumenauer, are urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to expedite the removal of marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, the lawmakers expressed frustration over the prolonged review of cannabis’s classification.
Elizabeth Warren (Credits: Getty Images)
The letter highlighted that it has been nearly eight months since the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III, and 18 months since President Biden directed HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to initiate the review process.
The lawmakers emphasized the need for the DEA to take decisive action, stressing that it is time for marijuana to be descheduled entirely. While acknowledging potential internal disagreements within the DEA, the lawmakers urged the agency to swiftly rectify marijuana’s classification, emphasizing its misguided placement in Schedule I.
They expressed hope that the DEA would not diverge from HHS’s medical finding regarding marijuana’s scheduling, citing Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent assurances to stakeholders.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman (Credits: People)
The letter was also signed by prominent Democratic senators including Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ron Wyden, Alex Padilla, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, John Hickenlooper, and Cory Booker.
Additionally, House Democrats, including Robert Garcia, Jan Schakowsky, Dina Titus, Val Hoyle, Becca Balint, Jim McGovern, Katie Porter, and Del.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, added their support to the call for action. As of now, neither the DEA nor the attorney general’s office has provided immediate responses to the lawmakers’ request for comment.
