GOP Congressman Dismisses Concerns About Marijuana Rescheduling Delay, Saying Trump Made It ‘Very Clear’ DOJ Must Act

A GOP congressman says President Donald Trump made it “very clear” his administration should move forward with rescheduling marijuana, and so he isn’t concerned about the possibility that the Justice Department will delay or ignore the recent directive to complete the process.

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that he doesn’t think Attorney General Pam Bondi would seek to undermine the president’s executive order to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) despite any personal reservations she may have.

The congressman—who attended the Oval Office signing ceremony for the rescheduling order last month and has sponsored or cosponsored a number of marijuana reform bills over recent sessions—said Trump “was pretty clear about what he wanted and where he wants to go, so I can imagine it’s a good opportunity—the rescheduling of it—to be able to do the things that are necessary to study it and figure out, good or bad, what the impacts are.”

“Certainly the ability exists to reschedule,” Joyce, who has also sponsored legislation to give cannabis businesses access to the banking system, said.

The Department of Justice has not yet commented on its place for the rescheduling process, which was initiated under the Biden administration.

DOJ representatives have not responded to multiple inquires from Marijuana Moment about the department’s intentions or the potential timeline for finalizing the reclassification rule. Bondi, who opposed efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Florida as state attorney general, also did not appear at Trump’s signing ceremony for the rescheduling order.

If the pending proposal was to federally legalize cannabis, the congressman said that “might have been a different subject matter” for Bondi. But simply rescheduling marijuana—which would free up certain research barriers and allow state-legal cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions—is a simpler matter.

“At this point, obviously, if they asked certainly I’d give my input. But the attorney general is certainly competent,” he said, adding that he’s confident “we’ll be able to work this through.”

Asked about a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report that discussed how DOJ could, in theory, reject the president’s directive or delay the process by restarting the scientific review into marijuana, Joyce reiterated that “the president made it very clear what his intent was in doing this, so that’s why we want to follow through with it.”

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a spending bill that would continue protecting state medical marijuana programs from federal intervention—while excluding a provision that previously advanced to block the Justice Department from rescheduling cannabis.

If federal officials follow through on Trump’s executive order directing the reclassification of marijuana, it could also free up Washington, D.C. to finally legalize recreational cannabis sales after a years-long congressional blockade.

Separately, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently said that a marijuana rescheduling appeal process “remains pending” despite the president’s order directing the attorney general to finish the job “in the most expeditious manner.”

An agriculture-focused conservative nonprofit connected to a PAC linked to the president recently applauded the rescheduling order, arguing that it will “destroy” the illicit market and support seniors and military veterans who could benefit from cannabis.

Also, a coalition of Republican state attorneys general have criticized Trump’s rescheduling decision, saying cannabis is “properly” classified as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Last month, groups of House and Senate Republican lawmakers also sent letters urging Trump not to reschedule cannabis. Trump, however, dismissed those concerns—pointing out that an overwhelming majority of Americans support the reform and that cannabis can help people who are suffering from serious health issues, including his personal friends.

The LCB contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.