The administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) refrained from commenting on the agency’s new marijuana rescheduling plan during a session with senators. Administrator Anne Milgram asserted that in light of the ongoing regulatory procedure, talking about the topic would be improper.
Just one week prior to the hearing, the Justice Department disclosed the DEA’s possible decision to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, Milgram made it plain that she would not be sharing any details about the decision-making process at this time.
Milgram did neither confirm or deny the claims made by the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) that she did not personally sign the proposed rescheduling rule. Rather, she said that she couldn’t talk about the matter any more because of her involvement in the process.
Reps. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and Andrew Clyde, among others, questioned Milgram, but she refused to respond, citing the ongoing regulatory process. She emphasized the need of adhering to the proper procedures and refrained from discussing possible outcomes or repercussions.
Remarking on the scheduled rescheduling, former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson noted shifting public perceptions of medicinal cannabis. A Republican senator is among many who are worried about the possible negative effects of the measure, despite the fact that some view it as a positive step forward.
Ultimately, it is unclear what will happen to the DEA’s marijuana rescheduling plan because further procedures must be completed before a rule is made official. The complexity and sensitivities surrounding this subject among government agencies and throughout the political landscape are highlighted by Milgram’s reluctance to comment.