Just days after the Senate confirmed Terrance Cole as the new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney — the judge who was tasked with overseeing the stalled-out cannabis rescheduling process — told witnesses in the case that he is retiring “from the bench” on August 1, Marijuana Moment reports.
Judge Mulrooney’s departure will leave “the DEA with no Administrative Law judge to hear this case, or any Agency administrative enforcement cases that are pending.”
According to the Controlled Substances Act, DEA hearings on administrative enforcement proceedings are required to be held in compliance with Administrative Procedure Act rules and under an Administrative Law Judge’s supervision. 21 U.S.C. § 824(c)(4); 5 U.S.C. § 556(b)(3). Until this situation changes, any and all documents filed will be sent to the DEA administrator for his consideration. — Mulrooney, in the report
Mulrooney said that any orders he previously made “remain valid and in full effect unless they are modified by a new Administrative Law judge, the DEA administrator, or the Attorney-General.”
Cole hasn’t yet stated whether or not he will allow federal rescheduling to proceed, but he previously said that this decision was “one of the first priorities” for him.
Since Mulrooney cancelled an expert witness hearing for the case in January, the rescheduling has been halted. The judge had previously stated that he wouldn’t reschedule this case until a new agency administrator was in place.
Mulrooney stated, “Naturally I wish the parties all the best for resolving the issue of this importance in an accurate, fair and transparent manner. And, extend my sincere gratitude to their parties and representatives for their diligent and unflagging advocacy.”
Biden administration issued the initial recommendation for moving marijuana from Schedule I into Schedule III of federal law two years ago. While President Trump stated on his campaign trail last year that he was in favor of rescheduling, he has yet to do so or comment.
The National Cannabis Industry Association, one of the parties advocating for rescheduling in the administrative law case, congratulated Cole on his confirmation to in an open letter this week, urging him to “fulfill President Trump’s campaign promise to ‘unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule III drug’ and ultimately ‘implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product.'”
Cannabis Law Resources in Poland
Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. These guides will help you understand the legal requirements, such as certification, licensing, and other compliance issues.
-
Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
-
Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
-
Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
-
Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
-
Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
-
Registration of Medical Products in Poland