Trump’s New DEA Head Blamed Marijuana For School Shootings And Claimed Rescheduling Push Was Politically Motivated

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a new interim leader—and he’s no fan of marijuana, previously linking cannabis use to school shootings and repeatedly insisting that the Biden administration”hijacked” the rescheduling process from the agency for political purposes.

DEA announced on Monday that Derek Maltz, who retired from the agency in 2014 after 28 years of service, will be serving as acting administrator. With President Donald Trump still having yet to name his choice to run DEA as administrator, it’s unclear if Maltz is positioned to receive that nomination or if he will ultimately be replaced.

But for cannabis advocates and stakeholders, Maltz’s return to DEA for now—especially as anxieties around the fate of the ongoing marijuana rescheduling process grow—represents a troubling development.

Here’s a look at where Maltz stands on cannabis: 

Among the most sensational positions the acting administration has taken in the past concerns his apparent belief that “obsessive pot smoking” is associated with school shooters, as he suggested in 2022.

“For all the irresponsible politicians trying to get votes by legalizing marijuana, maybe it’s time to understand the NEGATIVE IMPACTS from smoking this crap!” he said.

For all the irresponsible politicians trying to get votes by legalizing marijuana, maybe it’s time to understand the NEGATIVE IMPACTS from smoking this crap! People rushing to ER’s and increased info on schools shooters connected to obsessive pot smoking.https://t.co/MQh0Xpq3rR

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) October 22, 2022

Trump himself in 2023 similarly connected “genetically engineered” cannabis to mass shootings.

Maltz has been particularly critical of the current marijuana rescheduling effort, claiming that the Justice Department “hijacked” the process from DEA when it advanced a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Historically it has been the DEA administrator to sign off on drug scheduling moves, but in this case the cannabis proposed rule was signed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“It sure seems to me that DOJ has prioritized politics and votes over public health and safety!” he said last May.

At a time when updated research has indicating that the high THC marijuana is causing increased health risks, why would DOJ hijack the official process from @DEAHQ and interfere with the scientist’s ability to do work that is critical? It sure seems to me that DOJ has prioritized…

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) May 16, 2024

He also said that month that it’s “sad to see how DOJ’s interfering with DEA’s scientific review that’s required during the marijuana rescheduling process, especially seeing all the news about negative health impacts of using high concentrated THC pot.”

“Votes should never be more important than the health of Americans,” Maltz said, adding that the federal government “should be more concerned about what chemicals the Chinese nationals are using at their grow operations all over the country!”

He’s routinely raised concerns about Chinese trafficking organizations running illicit marijuana operations in the U.S.

False information being reported ALL OVER that @deahqs Agreed To Reclassify Marijuana Under Federal Law.

It’s crystal clear to me that DOJ has highjacked the rescheduling process placing POLITICS ABOVE PUBLIC SAFETY! 🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸https://t.co/LaToWIYv1r

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) May 2, 2024

But while Maltz has said it’s “crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” he also said last year that “if there’s scientific evidence to support this decision, then so be it. But you’ve got to let the scientists evaluate it.”

It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” said Derek Maltz, a retired agent who once headed the DEA’s Special Operations Division.https://t.co/JKfEgot0Pd

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) May 21, 2024

“The DEA said that the average percentage of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana known for giving users a “high” feeling, has been steadily increasing and reached an ALL-TIME HIGH!” he said in another post last May.

“This is at the same time the CHINESE CRIMINALS ARE INVADING THE COUNTRY AT RECORD LEVELS AND SETTING UP GROW OPERATIONS ALL OVER AMERICA!” Maltz said. “ALSO REMEMBER THE FBI DIRECTOR IS WARNING ALL CITIZENS THAT CHINA IS THEE GREATEST NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT TO THE USA. Without border security we will have no country!”

The DEA said that the average percentage of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana known for giving users a “high” feeling, has been steadily increasing and reached an ALL-TIME HIGH!

This is at the same time the CHINESE CRIMINALS ARE INVADING THE COUNTRY AT RECORD LEVELS…

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) May 12, 2024

He said during an appearance on Fox News last year that, in states that legalize marijuana, “the bad guys are going to take advantage of the vulnerabilities in our country, and that’s what’s happening.”

After the attorney general of Colorado renewed his call for federal marijuana rescheduling earlier this month, Maltz complained that “the priorities are out of order!!” and the official “should be focusing on escalating crime, homelessness and historic fentanyl deaths in CO instead of worrying about pot!”

Colorado’s attorney general leads call for DEA to reschedule marijuana.

Once again, the priorities are out of order!! The AG should be focusing on escalating crime, homelessness and historic fentanyl deaths in CO instead of worrying about pot! 🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸 https://t.co/LhZBWC4za1

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) January 14, 2024

Beyond cannabis, Maltz has also rebuked efforts to more broadly decriminalize drugs, calling the policy that was implemented (and later reversed) in Oregon a “TOTAL FAILURE” and “IDIOTIC.”

“Hope these other states will realize the mistakes made,” he said.

Portland, Oregon, is in a state of emergency over fentanyl.

TOTAL FAILURE WITH THE IDIOTIC IDEA TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS IN OREGON! Hope these other states will realize the mistakes made👎👎👎👎

⁦@Border911Live⁩ https://t.co/TXNDrIwMQU

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) March 2, 2024

Maltz also criticized a court in 2019 after it ruled that a proposed Philadelphia safe drug consumption site could operate lawfully, a decision that was later overturned by higher courts. He said the initial decision “will help support the Mexican Terror Cartels.”

“Blood money in the pockets of the most evil organizations in the world,” he said. “Taxpayers don’t realize how they will support terror! WAKE UP PHILLY.”

The Philly court ruling has now legalized injection sites which will help support the Mexican Terror Cartels . Blood money in the pockets of the most evil organizations in the world. Taxpayers don’t realize how they will support terror! WAKE UP PHILLY🇺🇸 https://t.co/av3TYEaZ7B

— Derek Maltz Sr (@derekmaltz_sr) October 3, 2019

The announcement that Maltz will be serving as acting administrator comes as another former agency official, Jack Riley, says he’s being courted to potentially lead DEA under the newly inaugurated Trump administration. Riley has previously described marijuana as a “gateway drug.”

Whoever ultimately assumes the top DEA position will be inheriting a years-long rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana initiated under the Biden administration, so advocates and stakeholders are closely following to see who might fill that role.

For now, administrative hearings on the rescheduling proposal that were scheduled to begin on Tuesday have been delayed, with an agency judge recently granting an appeal motion from pro-reform witnesses that will set the clock back at least three months amid allegations of improper communications between DEA and rescheduling opponents and more.

Trump initially chose Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead DEA, but the prospective nominee—who strongly advocated for marijuana decriminalization—withdrew from consideration last month amid scrutiny from conservative lawmakers over the sheriff’s record on COVID-related public safety enforcement actions.

Meanwhile, Trump’s choice for U.S. attorney general, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R), is declining to say how she plans to navigate key marijuana policy issues—including the ongoing rescheduling process and renewing federal enforcement guidance—if she’s ultimately confirmed.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.