DEA Judge Sets June 29 Marijuana Hearing Rules as Schedule III Fight Excludes Reform Backers
Updated
Updated · Marijuana Moment · Jun 19
DEA Judge Sets June 29 Marijuana Hearing Rules as Schedule III Fight Excludes Reform Backers
3 articles · Updated · Marijuana Moment · Jun 19
Summary
Chief ALJ Derek Julius issued a 12-page order setting procedures for the DEA’s marijuana rescheduling hearing, which will run June 29 to July 15 in Arlington, Virginia.
The hearing will address only whether the remainder of marijuana should move from Schedule I to Schedule III, after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche already shifted state-licensed medical cannabis and FDA-approved marijuana products in April.
Government lawyers must file appearances by Monday, parties must submit prehearing briefs by June 24 and exhibits by June 25, and each side will face tight limits on openings, witnesses and cross-examination.
DEA said the government bears the burden of proof, but the invited participants announced this week are all opponents of cannabis reform; supporters including the Drug Policy Alliance were denied standing to participate.
The closed-format proceeding—open to in-person public attendance but with no recording or livestream—revives a process that stalled under Biden and is still facing consolidated federal lawsuits.
Why are only cannabis opponents allowed to speak at the DEA's rescheduling hearing?
What does this federal policy shift mean for people with past marijuana convictions?
Will rescheduling create a two-tiered system benefiting only medical cannabis businesses?
Cannabis Rescheduling 2026: Legal Showdown, DEA Deadlines, and the High-Stakes Future of Federal Marijuana Policy
Overview
The report highlights a pivotal moment for U.S. cannabis policy, driven by President Trump's Executive Order 14370, which directed the Attorney General to expedite marijuana rescheduling. This led to the DEA's June 27, 2026 hearing, aiming to move marijuana from Schedule I—where it has been since the 1970 Controlled Substances Act—to Schedule III. The process is built on AG Order No. 6754-2026, but faces major legal challenges that could reverse progress and disrupt DEA applications. The outcome will shape federal control, industry operations, and the future of medical cannabis access, amid ongoing legal and policy uncertainty.