In the latest twist in the federal cannabis legalization process, President Donald Trump has nominated former Virginia state official and DEA officer, Terrance Cole, to head the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”). Since former President Biden took action to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III from Schedule I back in 2023, that process has been met with delays and now questions surrounding the current administration’s stance on the rescheduling.
This nomination may signal bad news for rescheduling advocates as Cole’s prior stances on cannabis in his state and federal positions are not pro-cannabis, often referring to the failed 1980’s “Just SayNo” campaign and unfounded and uncited medical claims about the dangers of cannabis use.
While it is unclear what Cole’s opinion of rescheduling will be in the nomination hearing to come and as Administrator of the DEA should his nomination be approved, the Trump Administration has made past statements supporting rescheduling and researching medical cannabis use as recently as the runup to the 2024 election. Federal rescheduling of cannabis is not off the table during this administration, but it has most definitely entered a new stage as a new slate of federal leaders take the reins of drug enforcement and regulation in America.
