D4DPR Wins Legal Challenge for Transparency and Accountability in Cannabis Rescheduling Case Against DEA

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In a recent press release (1), Doctors for Drug Policy Reform (D4DPR) announced that the organization had dismissed their legal challenge in regard to how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been handling the federal cannabis rescheduling hearing. Currently, there is still a hold on the rescheduling proceedings. According to the D4DPR v. DEA case, “the Government disclosed previously withheld DEA communications with individuals that sought to participate in the hearing,” (1). Documentation showed that the DEA had taken part with several applicants and communicated with then prior to formal selections.

“This disclosure was a major win for transparency and accountability,” said Dr. Bryon Adinoff, President of D4DPR (1). “The cannabis advocacy community has long questioned the DEA's objectivity, and these documents confirm those concerns. Our goal was to expose the agency's improper conduct—and we succeeded.”

To prevent further delay, D4DPR opted to not continue with their challenge of being excluded from the hearing. On April 9 2025, D4DPR filed a motion to “dismiss its petition without prejudice” and was granted by the court on April 11, 2025 (1). Through this procedure, D4DPR still obtains the option to pursue the case and refile if the DEA makes the decision to not reschedule cannabis. “We remain committed to advocating for evidence-based drug policy,” added Dr. Adinoff (1). “This legal effort exposed fundamental flaws in the DEA's process and reinforced the need for a more transparent, science-driven approach to drug scheduling.”

To learn more about D4DPR’s reform efforts, please click here (2).

References

1. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform. D4DPR obtains win for transparency and accountability against DEA in Cannabis Rescheduling Case https://www.prlog.org/13072447-d4dpr-obtains-win-for-transparency-and-accountability-against-dea-in-cannabis-rescheduling-case.html (accessed Apr 23, 2025).
2. Following D4DPR’s petition challenging the DEA’s participant selection process for the cannabis rescheduling hearing https://www.d4dpr.org/post/following-d4dprs-petition-challenging-the-deas-participant-selection-process-for-the-cannabis-rescheduling-hearing (accessed Apr 23, 2025).