DEA to Hold Hearing on Reclassifying Marijuana as Drug With Lower Risk of Abuse

The proposal to be discussed would move marijuana from a Schedule I substance, defined as high risk of abuse, to a Schedule III, with some risk of abuse.

Marijuana plants in Poncitlan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on April 14, 2023. Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images

A hearing on rescheduling marijuana at the federal level will be held after the election near the end of the year, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In May, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Schedule I drugs are defined as posing a high risk for abuse. Schedule III drugs are considered to have a lower abuse potential.