DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing and D.C. Circuit Challenge

The Drug Enforcement Administration scheduled a hearing for June 29 to consider moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The hearing, to be held in Arlington, Virginia, will feature only groups opposed to cannabis reform, including state agencies and anti‑legalization organizations. The proceeding must conclude by July 15 and follows an April 22 order by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that placed FDA‑approved and state‑legal medical marijuana products into Schedule III.

MMJ International Holdings, a pharmaceutical company pursuing FDA‑regulated cannabinoid medicines, has filed a petition for review and a motion for stay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The company argues the April rescheduling order exceeds statutory authority, violates the Administrative Procedure Act, and disregards treaty obligations. CEO Duane Boise said, “The issue is not whether marijuana should remain in Schedule I; the issue is whether federal agencies must follow the law when they fundamentally restructure a multi‑billion‑dollar industry.” The court will decide whether the order survives judicial review.