On February 11, President Donald Trump nominated Terrance Cole as the new Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator (DEA).
Cole is currently Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. He has over 30 years experience in law enforcement, 22 of which he spent with the DEA. During his early career, he served as a criminal investigator and special agent in Oklahoma, Colombia, and Afghanistan. Cole also worked as the chief of staff, executive officer, and assistant regional director for the federal agency in Washington, D.C., as well as in Mexico City.
Cole was the state’s public safety director for the Commonwealth of Virginia during the two-year period. He led eleven agencies, with over 19,000 workers.
Trump said Tuesday, while announcing Cole, that he had chosen him, “Together we will SAVE LIVES and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
Trump selected Cole to head the DEA three weeks after he appointed Derek S. Maltz as the agency’s Administrator and two months later, he removed Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister from consideration, in early December.
Cole is Trump’s latest pick and will most likely be in charge of the hearings for cannabis rescheduling. The process has been slowed down by an interlocutory request that DEA Chief Administrative Judge John J. Mulrooney approved, which he sent to former DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, five days before Trump took office.
Cole’s appointment as the new hearing process manager may not excite those who favor rescheduling.
Cole’s attitude towards cannabis seems to be in line with the campaign “Just Say No”, which was launched by Nancy Reagan as part of America’s Drug War during the 80s.
During a visit 10 months ago to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which Cole helped oversee as the state’s secretary of PSHS, he made his position on cannabis somewhat clear when he included the hashtags #justsayno, #disorders, #notlegal4distribution and #healthissues on a LinkedIn post.
After 30 years of law enforcement experience, everyone knows what I think about marijuana. So don’t ask! He wrote.
Cole wrote on Facebook in February 2024: “Have you spent enough time at clubs or parties?” The Drug Enforcement Administration DEA has an informative article on the risks of marijuana and peer pressure.
The article stated, citing University of Mississippi Potency Monitoring Project that Delta-9 THC levels in DEA-seized marijuana increased from 3,4% in 1993 up to 15,3% in 2021.
Cole, a four-time father, also shared an article from X in February last year, which suggested a connection between marijuana and higher rates of suicide among young people.
Concerned about our Youth? Cole writes. A recent study found that high-school marijuana and alcohol usage is linked with increased suicide rates.
It is unclear, regardless of Cole’s position on cannabis and the current process for rescheduling that President Joe Biden started under his administration, if it will continue again with the new president.
On his inauguration day, Trump issued a regulatory freeze on all executive departments and agencies, instructing them not to propose or issue “any rule in any manner, including by sending a rule to the Office of the Federal Register.”
While Biden’s Department of Justice proposed a rule that cannabis be reclassified to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act—a proposal that drew some 43,000 comments—a final rule on the matter was pending the administrative law judge’s hearing process that Milgram granted.
The White House, should Trump or any of his agencies decide to scrap the Biden administration review of the cannabis schedule without a final regulation being published in the Federal Register prior to Trump taking office, could do so.
Trump did, however indicate on his campaign trail during September 2024, that he was in favor of reclassifying cannabis into Schedule III.
As president, he will keep concentrating on the research needed to make marijuana a Schedule III drug and unlock its medical applications.
On February 11, President Donald Trump nominated Terrance Cole as the new Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator (DEA).
Cole is currently Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. He has over 30 years experience in law enforcement, 22 of which he spent with the DEA. Early in his career, he worked as a criminal investigator and special agent in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Oklahoma. Cole also worked as the chief of staff, executive officer, and assistant regional director for the federal agency in Washington, D.C., as well as in Mexico City.
Cole was the state’s public safety director for the Commonwealth of Virginia during the two-year period. He led eleven agencies, with over 19,000 workers.
Trump said Tuesday, while announcing Cole, that he had chosen him, “Together we will SAVE LIVES and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
Trump selected Cole to head the DEA three weeks after he appointed Derek S. Maltz as the agency’s After removing his initial choice, Florida sheriff Chad Chronister from consideration for early December, the administrator has now reselected him.
Cole is Trump’s newest choice and will most likely assume control of the cannabis rescheduling process. This hearing has been stalled since DEA Chief Administrative Judge John J. Mulrooney issued an interlocutory order, which he sent to former DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, five days before Trump took office.
Cole, who is taking control of the hearing process may not appeal to those in favor of rescheduling.
Cole’s attitude towards cannabis seems to be in line with the campaign “Just Say No”, which was launched by Nancy Reagan as part of America’s Drug War during the 80s.
During a visit 10 months ago to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which Cole helped oversee as the state’s secretary of PSHS, he made his position on cannabis somewhat clear when he included the hashtags #justsayno, #disorders, #notlegal4distribution and #healthissues on a LinkedIn post.
After 30 years of law enforcement experience, everyone knows what I think about marijuana. So don’t ask! He wrote.
Cole asked on Facebook, “Do you spend enough time in clubs and parties?” In February 2024. You can read the article below from the Drug Enforcement Administration – DEA about the dangers associated with peer pressure.
Citing the University of Mississippi Potency Monitoring Project, it was stated in the article that the delta-9 THC content of cannabis seized by the DEA increased from 3.4% to 15.3% between 1993 and 2021.
Cole, a father with four children, also shared on X an article in which he suggested that cannabis was linked to a rise in suicides among teenagers.
Concerned about our Youth? Cole wrote. A recent study has shown that marijuana and alcohol consumption in high school is associated with higher suicide rates.
While Cole may have a stance against cannabis, it is not clear if the rescheduling of marijuana that began under President Joe Biden will resume with the next president.
On his inauguration day, Trump issued a regulatory freeze on all executive departments and agencies, instructing them not to propose or issue “any rule in any manner, including by sending a rule to the Office of the Federal Register.”
While Biden’s Department of Justice proposed a rule that cannabis be reclassified to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act—a proposal that drew some 43,000 comments—a final rule on the matter was pending the administrative law judge’s hearing process that Milgram granted.
The White House, should Trump or any of his agencies decide to scrap the Biden administration review of the cannabis schedule without a final regulation being published in the Federal Register prior to Trump taking office, could do so.
Trump did, however indicate on his campaign trail during September 2024, that he was in favor of reclassifying cannabis into Schedule III.
As president, he will keep a close eye on the research that is needed to convert marijuana from a Schedule 3 to an approved medical drug.
Cannabis Law Resources for Poland
Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. You can use these resources to learn about the requirements for certifications, permissions and compliance.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland