Federal
Federal cannabis rules
DEA and Justice Department scheduling actions, Federal Register notices and related federal reports.
| Date | Body | Item | What it does | Primary source | Our coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | DEA, Office of Administrative Law Judges | Order Staying Case and Ordering Response to Motion, DEA Docket No. 1362, Hearing Docket No. 26-96 | Chief ALJ Derek C. Julius stayed the rescheduling proceeding pending a Sept 28 joint motion (DUID Victim Voices, Kenneth Finn, M.D., NDASA) to add the Sept 23 GAO report and allow more briefing; the Government's response was due Oct 13, 2026. The merits hearing ran June 29 to July 15, 2026. Trade press reported an Oct 21 date; the order says Oct 13, so check for a later order | dea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/Proposed%20M | Our story |
| 2026-09-23 | GAO (federal) | GAO-26-108623, Drug Scheduling | GAO found DEA lacks policies on scheduling roles and procedures and FDA lacks evaluation procedures; recommendations open | gao.gov/products/gao-26-108623 | Our story |
| 2026-04-28 | DOJ / DEA, Federal Register | FR 2026-08176 (91 FR 22714), AG Order No. 6754-2026, final rule and order signed April 22, 2026 by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche | Effective April 28, 2026. Places in Schedule III: marijuana, marijuana extract and naturally derived delta-9-THC that are in an FDA-approved drug product or subject to a state medical marijuana license. Adds an expedited DEA registration path for state medical licensees (60-day early window; early filers may keep operating while pending), lets state rules stand in for federal labeling, packaging, disposal and security, accepts state medical certifications in place of prescriptions, and adds import/export permits. Does not cover: non-medical (adult-use) activity, which registrations expressly don't authorize; unlicensed or bulk marijuana, which stays Schedule I; synthetic THC (stays Schedule I); hemp. Says state medical licensees are no longer subject to IRC 280E but makes no tax determination | federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08 | Our story |
| 2026-04-28 | DEA, Federal Register | FR 2026-08177, new notice of hearing on rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III (Docket DEA-1362, AG Order 6753-2026), hearing from June 29, 2026 | Restarts the 2024 proposal's hearing under Executive Order 14370; this is the proceeding that could reschedule marijuana generally, beyond medical | federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08 | Our story |
| 2026-04-28 | DEA, Federal Register | FR 2026-08178, withdrawal of the August 2024 hearing notice | Ends the old hearing proceedings so the new one can run | federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08 | |
| 2026-10-14 | DEA, Office of Administrative Law Judges | Order for Response to Motion to Reopen Hearing (dated Oct 14, 2026) | The Government filed its opposition to the GAO motion on Oct 9 and defers to the tribunal on admitting the GAO report. SAM filed on Oct 13. On Oct 12 the moving parties filed two new motions, one asking to reopen the hearing for limited discovery and testimony if the GAO report is admitted. The ALJ reserved ruling on the GAO motion and ordered the Government to respond to the motion to reopen by Oct 21, 2026. The matter remains stayed. Refresh on or after Oct 21 | dea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/Proposed%20M | Our story |
| 2026-10-22 | DEA, Office of Administrative Law Judges | Order on motions to admit GAO report and reopen hearing (dated Oct 22, 2026) | Chief ALJ Derek C. Julius granted the motion to admit the Sept 23 GAO report, denied reopening the hearing for testimony or discovery, and invited optional briefs (max 10 double-spaced pages) by Oct 29 with replies by Nov 5; further briefing "disfavored"; the stay expires when briefing closes. No date for the recommended decision. Refresh on or after Nov 5 | marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-denies-marijuana-r |