Where does marijuana rescheduling stand? In its Oct. 14, 2026 order, DEA’s administrative law judge continued the stay and directed the government to respond by Wednesday, Oct. 21 to opponents’ motion to reopen the hearing. This page tracks each step with links to the primary documents.
Updated October 19, 2026.
Latest
Oct. 14, 2026 — DEA judge orders a response to the motion to reopen. Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius granted the moving parties leave to reply and ordered the government to respond, in no more than ten pages, by Oct. 21 to a motion to reopen the hearing. The moving parties — DUID Victim Voices, Kenneth Finn, M.D., and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association — asked on Oct. 12 to reopen for limited discovery and testimony if the GAO report is admitted. The government’s Oct. 9 opposition opposed supplemental briefs but deferred to the tribunal on admitting the GAO report; SAM and the states of Idaho, Indiana and Nebraska supported admission on Oct. 13. The judge reserved ruling on the GAO report, and the matter remains stayed. Read the Oct. 14 order (DEA).
Oct. 13, 2026 — South Dakota says rescheduling changes little for its medical program. Attorney General Opinion No. 26-06 (dated Oct. 6) concludes rescheduling will likely have a “negligible impact” on the state program and points licensed businesses to DEA registration under 21 C.F.R. 1301.13(k)(1). Our coverage · Opinion 26-06.
Sept. 10, 2026 — Sixth Circuit: Schedule III order doesn’t rescue a marijuana purchase contract. In Hello Farms v. GR Vending, the court reversed a $31.8 million verdict and said the April 2026 Schedule III order covers FDA-approved products and state-licensed medical marijuana and does not retroactively validate the agreement. Our coverage · Opinion.
What to watch
The government’s Oct. 21 response on reopening, then any ruling on the GAO report.
Any later orders or recommended decision in DEA Docket No. 1362. Check the dated primary documents before treating a requested outcome as a result.
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