With the decision by the judge coming imminently, the entire transcript of the multi-day hearing has been released to the public.
Spanning 11 days and running 2,533 pages, it’s hard to fault the process for lack of transparency now that this has been released.
“In making a recommended decision on the proposed rescheduling of marijuana, I give my solemn promise to counsel, the designated parties, and the public that I will thoroughly consider and evaluate all the evidence presented at this hearing,” said the judge on the final day of the hearing.
It becomes clear in the transcripts that the DEA is relying heavily on the study performed by the Department of Health and Human Services which ultimately recommended a change to Schedule III.
As for why Schedule III and not II, the DEA said there is “substantial evidence sufficient to show that marijuana’s abuse and dependency profiles better align with Schedule III substances than Schedule II. The vast majority of individuals who use marijuana do so in a manner that does not result in dangers to themselves or to their communities.”
Once the judge makes his decision, the ball rolls into the DEA administrator Terrance Cole’s court, where he makes the final, final decision.
Many advocates, including Marijuana Moment, felt they were shut out of the hearing despite being very interested parties. However, it seems that the DEA wanted to go it alone when it came to defending their case, and only invited parties who opposed the rescheduling change.
Check out all of the transcripts at this link.
