Cannabis rescheduling was dealt a major blow today as it was confirmed that long-time cannabis sceptic and anti-drug veteran Derek S. Maltz has been appointed as acting administrator of the DEA.
Just days after the rescheduling hearings were placed indefinitely on hold amid allegations that the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) was actively working to undermine the process, the administration confirmed that Maltz will act as ‘interim administrator’ from January 21, 2025.
As Business of Cannabis reported earlier this week, the rescheduling project now hinges more than ever on the views of the incoming leadership of the DEA, which has already been slammed by the judge for its behaviour in the process.
With Maltz confirmed, at least for now, Deborah Tharp who correctly predicted Maltz would be a frontrunner for the position, believes that any cannabis-friendly rescheduling option is dead now.’
“If they reschedule it in this environment, it will be an attempt by the feds to take control of our state markets,” she added.
Maltz has already expressed scepticism about federal rescheduling efforts. In response to the Department of Justice’s 2024 initiative to reclassify cannabis, he stated, “It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety.”
He has also been an outspoken opponent of cannabis legalization across the US, Tweeting that ‘all irresponsible politicians trying to get votes by legalizing marijuana’ should understand the ‘negative impacts of smoking this crap’.
This, he contends, includes school shootings and ‘rushing to ERs’.
Furthermore, he has repeatedly raised concerns about international influences on illegal cannabis operations in the US, suggesting that certain foreign entities aim to destabilize the country through drug proliferation.
Prior to this role, Maltz spent 28 years at the DEA, culminating in his position as the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division (SOD) from May 2005 through July 2014.
Despite Maltz’s clear distaste for cannabis, some have argued that the future of rescheduling will ultimately rest on President Trump’s shoulders.
