Marijuana Rescheduling Remains on Hold as Trump Supporters Urge Action From White House
Federal Cannabis Reclassification Process Still Frozen, DEA Confirms in July Update
The long-anticipated process to reclassify marijuana under federal law remains at a standstill, with no forward movement from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to a quarterly update submitted this week. The update, required every 90 days, confirms that hearings to potentially reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act remain paused.
The confirmation comes amid mounting pressure from loyalists of President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January. Though the Trump administration has yet to signal its intentions on marijuana reform, a growing number of his allies are calling for decisive executive action to restart the stalled process.
Rescheduling Hopes Diminish as Administrative Hearing Pause Stretches Into the Second Half of 2025
Hearings related to the Biden administration’s push to reclassify marijuana were paused in early January, just before Trump was sworn in for his second term. Advocates of rescheduling had requested the delay after alleging that the DEA’s internal process was biased against reform and called for the proceedings to be restarted entirely under a more transparent framework.
Under DEA rules, the agency has the power to resume the administrative hearings at any time, but must also provide regular updates to Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney. In its most recent report, filed July 7, the DEA stated that there is still “no briefing schedule … set,” according to cannabis attorney Shane Pennington.
Trump-Era DEA Remains Leaderless Amid Senate Inaction on Nominee
The current DEA is under the temporary leadership of Acting Administrator Robert Murphy, following the recent retirement of Derek Maltz. However, the Trump administration has nominated Terrance Cole, a former top Virginia security official and ally of Governor Glenn Youngkin, to permanently lead the agency.
Cole’s confirmation process has been sluggish. Earlier this year, he deflected questions from senators about his stance on marijuana reform, citing ongoing deliberations. While Governor Youngkin has publicly opposed recreational cannabis legalization, Cole’s own record suggests a similar skepticism toward reform leaving advocates wary of how the DEA will approach marijuana rescheduling under his leadership.
Trump Supporters Take to Social Media to Advocate for Cannabis Rescheduling
Although President Trump has remained largely silent on marijuana since taking office in January, members of his political base are becoming increasingly vocal. Political commentator and former police officer David Freeman—who boasts over 1.4 million followers on X (formerly Twitter)—shared his endorsement of rescheduling earlier this week, saying, “Foreign nations are outpacing the U.S. in medical marijuana research, and we must take the lead.”
Freeman’s remarks echoed a growing chorus of right-leaning figures who argue that the United States is falling behind globally on cannabis innovation. Several Reddit threads on r/MarijuanaPolicy and r/CannabisBusiness have compiled recent pro-rescheduling statements from influential Trump loyalists, many of whom are now pressing the administration to act.
Still, neither Trump nor any senior White House official has made a clear public commitment to reigniting the rescheduling process.
Schedule III Would Mark a Pivotal Shift in Cannabis Regulation and Taxation
If rescheduling were to proceed and marijuana was moved to Schedule III, it would mark a watershed moment for the U.S. cannabis industry. Such a change would acknowledge the plant’s medical use, lower the perceived risk of abuse, and—crucially—offer financial relief to cannabis businesses by lifting restrictions imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 280E.
Currently, cannabis companies cannot deduct ordinary business expenses under federal law because marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, considered to have “no accepted medical use” and a high potential for abuse. Moving to Schedule III would open new tax options and expand access to research and banking services.
But as the delay continues into its seventh month, businesses remain in limbo, making it difficult to plan ahead or raise capital.
Political and Regulatory Uncertainty Could Derail Industry Momentum
The longer the DEA’s administrative process remains frozen, the more uncertainty clouds the industry. Investors, operators, and patients alike are stuck in a holding pattern as the Trump administration decides whether to pick up where the Biden administration left off—or chart a new path altogether.
Although some observers had hoped Trump’s support for rescheduling during his 2024 campaign would carry over into policy, that momentum appears to have stalled. According to Cultivated News, internal rifts within the administration on drug policy may also be contributing to the holdup.
Further complicating the issue are ideological divisions within Congress. While some Republicans—including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)—have voiced support for reform, others, like Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), remain staunch prohibitionists.
Industry Advocacy Groups Continue Lobbying Efforts as Patience Wears Thin
Cannabis advocacy organizations are not standing still. Groups like Americans for Safe Access, the National Cannabis Industry Association, and the U.S. Cannabis Council continue to pressure lawmakers and regulators to take action.
Many of these groups argue that maintaining cannabis in Schedule I not only ignores scientific consensus but also perpetuates an outdated and racially biased drug policy.
“We are seven months into a new administration, and there has been zero action,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Cannabis Council. “That silence speaks volumes. We urge the White House to live up to the promises made on the campaign trail.”
What Comes Next? All Eyes on the White House
Until the DEA restarts its hearings or until Trump himself weighs in—marijuana rescheduling will likely remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Observers agree that Trump holds the key to unlocking the next phase of reform. Whether he chooses to use it is another question.
If the administration were to support rescheduling and instruct the DEA to resume the process, experts believe the move to Schedule III could happen within 6–12 months. But without political will at the top, that timeline could stretch indefinitely.
For now, the cannabis industry is bracing for more delays, even as demand for reform continues to grow among both patients and business stakeholders.
Rescheduling’s Fate Still Hangs in the Balance
The continued delay in cannabis rescheduling underscores a broader tension in American drug policy between entrenched federal prohibition and the growing acceptance of cannabis at the state and international levels.
The DEA’s July 7 update confirms what many in the industry already suspected: nothing is moving forward without clear political leadership from the White House.
With each passing month, the pressure mounts. Whether President Trump decides to act or leave the issue on the shelf will shape the cannabis landscape for years to come.
