We’re a small business with an even smaller blog, but it feels appropriate to post a succinct update regarding federal legalization efforts. With everything going on in our government right now, it’s becoming almost impossible to stay informed without getting lost in the media sauce.
Thus far we’re seeing slow progress, with the crippling of the DEA center stage, but overshadowed amongst other news regarding the DOGE cuts.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s wildly unpopular plan to merge the ATF and DEA is being met with resistance on both sides of the aisle. Critics are saying the proposed downsizing of the DEA and ATF while asking ATF to take over the responsibility of managing pharmacies and drug manufactures makes no sense. This decision also overwhelmingly simplifies the work that the DEA and ATF agencies do. During a hearing regarding the cuts she stated, “Everyone knows, everyone sitting up here knows guns and drugs go together.”
The DEA is facing other challenges as well. Executive order 14192 signed on January 31 of 2025 states “that for each new regulation issued, at least 10 prior regulations be identified for elimination.” This is an effort to deregulate for the sake of commerce and innovation, but it is also counterproductive in the face of an already downsized and potentially merged DEA.
It’s hard to imagine the DEA will have the ability to prioritize rescheduling in the face of these policy proposals, made it difficult to remain optimistic regarding cannabis legislation in the near future.
But, Don’t Lose Hope!
The issue of rescheduling and decriminilization remains a bipartisan issue. Once Terrance Cole is confirmed, the onus of resuming the process of rescheduling will fall to him. He has not committed to rescheduling to schedule three necessarily, but hasn’t spoken outright against it either.
Cole told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the rescheduling review would be “one of my first priorities” once in office. Responding to a question from Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, Cole said, “I know the process has been delayed numerous times, and it’s time to move forward.” This is welcome news, as the rescheduling process has been on hold for months following allegations that the DEA has demonstrated a sharp bias against resheduling despite regulators recommending it as early as August 2023.
Thus far the campaign rhetoric regarding federal legalization has all but been forgotten, but if Cole keeps his word there may at least be hope that the process will resume, in some capacity.
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