DEA Opposes Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Citing Policy Gaps

The Drug Enforcement Administration opposed a motion to reopen the marijuana rescheduling hearing before Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius. The opposition highlighted a Government Accountability Office report that found both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration lack comprehensive policies for scheduling substances. The GAO report also directed the Food and Drug Administration to develop criteria for determining a substance's 'potential for abuse.'

The findings expose a lack of written procedures within federal agencies responsible for drug control and approval. The Drug Enforcement Administration argued that this absence of procedures means there are no records to support the request to reopen the hearing. The DEA, Food and Drug Administration, and NIH concurred with the GAO's recommendations.