HHS Secretary Confirms It Is Recommending Cannabis Be Rescheduled, Per Biden's Directive

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra confirmed his agency has responded to President Biden's directive to provide scheduling recommendations for cannabis to the Drug Enforcement Agency. 

What Happened

A top official at the HHS wrote to DEA administrator Anne Milgram calling for marijuana to be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, according to a letter dated Aug. 29 seen by Bloomberg News. 

This move represents a critical shift from cannabis's status as a Schedule I substance, which deems marijuana as not having any medical benefits and places the plant in the same category as high-risk drugs like heroin.

"I can now share that, following the data and science, HHSGov has responded to POTUS’ directive to me for the Department to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA. We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously," wrote HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Twitter/X.

I can now share that, following the data and science, @HHSGov has responded to @POTUS’ directive to me for the Department to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.

We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously. pic.twitter.com/p84x8p07sP

— Secretary Xavier Becerra (@SecBecerra) August 30, 2023

“Following the data and science, HHS has expeditiously responded to President Biden’s directive to HHS Secretary [Xavier Becerra] and provided its scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA on August 29, 2023,” an HHS spokesperson said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, per The Hill declined to comment on the process when asked about possibly rescheduling marijuana, only noting it is “independent” and led by HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“[Biden’s] asking HHS and DOJ to take a look at it, to do an initial administrative kind of process or review if you will,” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s going to be an independent process. They’re going to certainly use the evidence. It’s going to be guided by evidence and so I’m going to leave it to HHS and DOJ to move that process.”

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