As far as a recreational adult market for cannabis in Virginia, everything is at a partisan standstill. but the federal marijuana rescheduling process continues to raise questions following the first pretrial hearing earlier this week. WFIR’s Ian Price has more.
RICHMOND, Va. (WFIR) — While Virginia’s recreational adult-use cannabis market remains at a partisan standstill, the federal marijuana rescheduling process continues to take shape. A pretrial hearing held earlier this week has raised questions about the federal government’s stance moving forward.
NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano provided insight into what unfolded during Monday’s hearing, which was held before a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrative law judge.
The pretrial hearing, which occurred after the initial scheduling of formal proceedings for December 2, allowed legal counsel to outline availability for testimony and clarify procedural matters. However, notable developments included the exclusion of certain evidence, such as public comments and patient testimonials, from the trial record.
“There are over 43,000 public comments submitted to the DEA, with the overwhelming majority favoring removing marijuana from Schedule 1,” Armentano said. “But the judge ruled these public comments would not be allowed as evidence.”
The most significant revelation came from the DEA’s own legal counsel, who failed to meet the court’s deadlines for submitting evidence and outlining expert testimony. Despite being the official proponents of the proposed rule to reschedule marijuana, DEA representatives offered little clarity about their position on the matter.
“It’s still unknown whether the DEA will champion removing marijuana from Schedule 1, testify against it, or take no position at all,” Armentano explained.
The uncertainty has left observers questioning what to expect when the trial formally begins in 2025. For now, the focus remains on how this process may ultimately influence federal marijuana policy and its potential implications for states like Virginia.
— WFIR’s Ian Price contributed to this report.
