FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Tuesday, July 22, 2025

CONTACT:
Aaron Smith, NCIA CEO and Co-Founder
(888) 683-5650, Aaron@TheCannabisIndustry.org

Michelle Rutter Friberg, Director of Government Relations
(202) 599-9743, Michelle@TheCannabisIndustry.org

New DEA Administrator Urged to Swiftly Advance Evidence-Based Marijuana Rescheduling Process

Leading cannabis trade group calls on Administrator Cole to deliver on President’s campaign pledge

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following today’s Senate vote confirming Terrance Cole as Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is calling on the agency’s new leadership to act swiftly and transparently to advance the marijuana rescheduling process.

NCIA issued an open letter to Administrator Cole today, congratulating him on his confirmation and urging the DEA to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act — consistent with the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation and President Trump’s campaign promise.

“Administrator Cole steps into this role at a pivotal moment,” said NCIA CEO and Co-Founder Aaron Smith. “With decades of research, strong public support, and the overwhelming majority of Americans now living in a state with legal medical cannabis access, the DEA must act without further delay to update federal policy.” 

In the letter, NCIA also referenced the President’s promise to “unlock the medical uses of marijuana” and implement “smart regulations” that provide safe, tested products for adults. The association expressed optimism that Cole will “listen to the experts” and “follow the science,” as he pledged during his confirmation hearing.

While NCIA ultimately supports removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely, a move to Schedule III would represent a critical first step by formally acknowledging the medical value of cannabis and expanding opportunities for research.

“The rescheduling process under the Biden Administration was slow, opaque, and mired in controversy,” Smith said. “We’re counting on Administrator Cole to reset that approach and deliver the evidence-based reform that Americans—including President Trump—have supported for years.”

NCIA was one of a small number of stakeholders selected by DEA to participate in the agency’s public hearing on rescheduling late last year. The organization emphasized the importance of including real-world industry voices in ongoing decision-making.

NCIA’s full letter to DEA Administrator Cole is available here.

Just over half of Americans live in a state where cannabis is legal for adults over 21, and more than 80% live in a state with a licensed medical cannabis program. A 2023 Gallup survey found that 70% of Americans support legalizing cannabis for adults, while a Pew Research Center poll found that fewer than 10% support prohibition. 

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The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. and the only organization representing small and independent cannabis-related businesses at the national level. NCIA promotes the growth of a responsible, sustainable, and inclusive cannabis industry and works for a favorable social, economic, and regulatory environment for that industry throughout the United States.