cannabis rescheduling is drawing public scrutiny as advocates, reporters and lawmakers press a Drug Enforcement Administration judge to allow livestream access to next week’s federal hearing.
Marijuana Moment asked the administrative law judge to reverse his decision to bar livestreaming, pointing to the judge’s own order that acknowledged a “national public interest in this issue predicates towards a policy of transparency.” The hearing will consider whether to change the federal scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. The judge had previously declined livestreaming requests; the petition argues the public and affected communities should be able to observe proceedings in real time.
Lawmakers and legislation
Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced a bill to create a marijuana-focused scholarship program and to fund cannabis research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The proposal targets students pursuing careers in cannabis cultivation, processing, regulation and research, and aims to allocate federal support specifically for minority-serving academic programs.
At the federal level, former U.S. Agency for International Development officials and other commentators continue to debate drug policy. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to expand the Great American Cotton Plan to include hemp and other industrial fibers, seeking federal recognition and support for hemp growers.
State actions and laws
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy allowed a criminal justice bill to become law without his signature that includes provisions to make certain marijuana conviction records confidential. The change affects people with past misdemeanor marijuana convictions, limiting public access to those records and reducing barriers for employment and housing.
Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission approved one company’s request to begin growing the state’s first legal medical marijuana plants and separately voted to open applications for product manufacturers. Regulators there are moving from licensing to production, a step that will allow dispensaries to stock state-compliant medical products once manufacturing approvals follow.
In Wisconsin, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes publicly committed to legalizing marijuana if elected. Connecticut and Colorado regulators issued updates about potential conflicts of interest and unified business license procedures, respectively. Massachusetts reported progress from four working groups drafting rules for social consumption businesses. Rhode Island issued a final medical cannabis business license, and Michigan regulators launched a public survey about product recall procedures.
Clinical data and research
A Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management study tracked outcomes for more than 6,000 chronic pain patients enrolled in that state’s medical program. The report found that 55 percent of participants “were able to improve their life enjoyment and pain interference in general activity within 4 months of starting medical cannabis.” The analysis measured self-reported changes in pain interference and daily functioning over a 120-day period after program enrollment.
Separately, broader research updates included one study suggesting recreational legalization may reduce the size of illegal cannabis markets or shift law enforcement priorities, and a review concluding that naturalistic and therapeutic psychedelic use can reduce some effects of racial trauma.
Advocacy and commentary
Jason Ortiz of Last Prisoner Project wrote in an op-ed that the DEA hearing includes “the wrong voices,” arguing that people and advocates directly affected by cannabis criminalization should have visible roles in the proceeding. Ortiz wrote that a decision about continuing a long-standing federal prohibition should not exclude those with lived experience of enforcement and incarceration.
Business and culture notes
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. shareholders approved several proposals at a recent meeting. Seth Rogen discussed his role in normalizing cannabis use in media and culture, noting film and television representations affect public perceptions and consumer behavior.
What’s next
The DEA hearing is scheduled to begin next week. If the judge reconsiders and allows livestreaming, the public will be able to watch witnesses, expert testimony and legal arguments as agencies and petitioners present evidence. If the judge maintains the ban, observers say access will be limited to on-site attendance and written transcripts released later.
Advocates, lawmakers and institutions are watching procedural decisions as closely as the substantive question of whether and how federal law should change. Concrete policy shifts in state systems — like Alaska’s record confidentiality and Nebraska’s move to production — are already altering access to cannabis and how regulators manage the market.
This week’s developments illustrate how regulatory processes, state law changes and clinical data are converging: policy debates about federal scheduling will occur alongside measurable outcomes from state medical programs and new state-level licensing actions. Observers who want to follow the hearing’s testimony and rulings are seeking immediate transparency from the DEA’s administrative judge.
For readers tracking the issue: expect updates on whether livestreaming will be allowed, summaries of witness testimony, and follow-ups on how state-level changes affect patient access and criminal records.
