Congresswoman Barbara Lee Says Marijuana Rescheduling Could Hinder Legalization For 'Another 50 Years'

California Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) is taking a stance against the potential rescheduling of cannabis by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), arguing that it could set the industry's legalization efforts back 50 years.

Speaking at the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) summit in Sacramento last week, Lee told Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger at the conference that she was opposed to moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, as suggested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the DEA because the move could significantly delay the path to full legalization.

"Because sometimes you take an incremental step such as this, which took us years and years and years to get through, it will take another 50 years to get to legalization," Lee said.

While rescheduling would offer some advantages for the cannabis industry, including reduced tax burdens and easier access to banking services, Lee told Jaeger it falls short of addressing her main objective: full removal of cannabis as a controlled substance.

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A prominent voice in the Congressional Cannabis Caucus who began her political career in 1975, Lee said that while she hasn't heard anything directly about whether the DEA will accept the Schedule III recommendation, "I assume that they are and I'm getting ready." 

Lee, who has consistently criticized the War on Drugs as unjust and discriminatory, joined 31 bipartisan lawmakers in October 2023 in a letter to DEA administrator Anne Milgram, urging the agency to fully deschedule cannabis during its ongoing review.

Despite growing public support for legalization, as evidenced by a November 2023 Gallup poll, federal policy on cannabis has remained stagnant for decades. Lee attributes this delay to “political dynamics,” specifically partisan gridlock aimed at undermining political opponents rather than serving the public’s interests.

"Of course, it's about elections and it's about trying to make sure that the president is not successful, nor the House Democrats or the Senate Democrats," Lee said. "Rather than doing the people's business, which is what we were elected to do, it's just all about trying to stop President Biden from winning reelection."

At the conference, Jaeger wrote, Lee stressed that even if the government initiates rulemaking to reschedule marijuana, advocates and stakeholders should not give up the fight.

"We still have a chance once these regulations are promulgated," Lee said. “Once they come out, there will be a comment period. This is where I hope you all weigh in, because comment periods allow for interested parties, the industry, the public, to send their comments and weigh in.”

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