DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Faces Critical November 5 Deadline for Reply Briefs

The federal marijuana rescheduling process is at a critical juncture, with optional reply briefs due today, November 5, 2026. This deadline is part of an administrative hearing before DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius, who is considering the evidentiary weight of a GAO report on drug-scheduling procedures. The DEA has argued against assigning weight to the GAO report in determining whether marijuana should be transferred to Schedule III, while opponents contend that deficiencies identified by the GAO could undermine the broader scheduling process.