[Freight Weekly] Trucking Industry Opposes DEA Rescheduling of Weed

🪴Trucking, Transport Trade Groups Come Out Against DEA Rescheduling🪴

The American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association, and many other trade organizations in the vertical of trucking and freight have come out against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its proposal to go and reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. More:

• The DEA has recently announced that they won’t decide on the proposal to reschedule the popular drug until after the 2024 presidential election.

• DEA proposed to reschedule marijuana. Schedule III narcotics would be a misdemeanor conviction if illegal sales were made or in a system.

• Over 43,000 comments were filed for and against the rule change by the various trade groups, companies, and individuals. This makes the rule on rescheduling the most commented on in the DEA’s regulatory history.

• Other large trade groups like ATA, TCA, and the National Tank Truck Carriers fear that changing marijuana's status could prevent the Department of Transportation and some employers from testing for it.

• The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said it is an open question whether this proposal could also potentially result in DOT drug testing protocol changes via a comment with the Federal Register.

• A hearing at the DEA is set for December 2, 2024, with a notice to be published in the Federal Register, per reporting at Marijuana Moment.

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a rare case of the executive branch fighting amongst themselves, also criticized the Drug Enforcement Administration for considering the rescheduling proposal.

• Recreational marijuana is legal in at least 24 U.S. states, with medicinal marijuana legal in 38 states. Marijuana is a $33.6 billion valued industry.

Bottom line: The Drug Enforcement Administration’s proposal to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III narcotic would be a boon for civil liberties and pro-marijuana consumers. However, the trucking industry is very concerned that rescheduling would gut Department of Transportation testing.

MORE: Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana

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