Trump Nominee to Lead DEA Won’t Commit to Schedule III for Cannabis

President Donald Trump’s (R) pick to lead the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said during a Senate confirmation hearing this week that if confirmed to the role, the cannabis rescheduling process would be one of his top priorities — but he refused to commit to moving cannabis to Schedule III despite a recommendation by federal health officials, Marijuana Moment reports.

Terrance Cole, a former DEA agent who spent 22 years with the agency, is currently the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety but was picked by President Trump to be the agency’s next administrator. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, California Sen. Alex Padilla (D) asked Cole about his position on rescheduling cannabis.

“I need to understand more where [agencies] are and look at the science behind it and listen to the experts and really understand where they are in the process,” Cole said.

“If confirmed, it’ll be one of my first priorities when I arrived at DEA to see where we are in the administrative process. I’m not familiar exactly where we are, but I know the process has been delayed numerous times — and it’s time to move forward.” — Cole, during the confirmation hearing

During the hearing, Sen. Padilla pressed Cole specifically on whether he was “leaving the door open to changing course.”

“I’m leaving the door open to studying everything that’s been done so far, so I can make a determination,” Cole responded.

In 2023, under the Biden Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, after nearly two years, the effort has stalled with many pointing to the DEA — which was tasked with overseeing the move — as having purposely dragged its feet on reforms.

DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney canceled a long-awaited rescheduling hearing in January due to improper communications between DEA officials and rescheduling opponents, and the judge has since stated that the agency’s next administrator will decide whether the hearing will be rescheduled.