{"id":2239343,"date":"2024-05-07T15:41:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T19:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dea-leader-anne-milgram-dodges-questions-on-biden-plan-to-deschedule-marijuana\/"},"modified":"2024-05-07T15:43:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T19:43:19","slug":"dea-leader-anne-milgram-dodges-questions-on-biden-plan-to-deschedule-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dea-leader-anne-milgram-dodges-questions-on-biden-plan-to-deschedule-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"DEA chief Anne Milgram avoids queries on Biden&#8217;s marijuana descheduling plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdea-leader-anne-milgram-dodges-questions-on-biden-plan-to-deschedule-marijuana%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2239343&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Biden administration&#8217;s DEA\u200c chief, Anne \u2063Milgram, avoided inquiries on the federal government&#8217;s plans to reclassify marijuana, \u200ddespite pressure from lawmakers. The \u200dmove, part\u200d of a promise made by\u2063 President Biden, \u2062aims to shift marijuana \u200bto a less\u200b serious drug category.\u2062 This decision could impact the enforcement focus of DEA agents and potentially bridge conflicts between state and \u200cfederal laws. DEA Administrator \u200bAnne Milgram sidestepped \u2063questions about the Biden administration&#8217;s intention to reclassify marijuana, an action aligned\u2063 with President Biden&#8217;s\u200d pledge. \u200dThis\u2063 reclassification \u2064could alter DEA enforcement priorities and address discrepancies between state \u200cand federal \u200cregulations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Biden administration\u2019s top drug enforcement official dodged questions from Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill about the federal government\u2019s forthcoming plans to dramatically reclassify <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marijuana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>marijuana<\/a> from the most dangerous type of narcotic.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Drug Enforcement Administration<\/a> Administrator Anne Milgram relatedly refused to field questions from four House Appropriations Committee lawmakers who pushed for answers to who was behind the sudden decision in an election year to move marijuana down the drug classification system, a move that would check off one of President Joe Biden\u2019s campaign promises.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder the Controlled Substances Act, there\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-lawmakers-move-to-block-biden-from-making-massive-payments-to-illegals\/\" title=\"GOP Lawmakers Move To Block Biden From Making Massive Payments To Illegals\">formal rulemaking process<\/a> for scheduling or rescheduling controlled substances. That process is ongoing. The next step in that process will be a notice of proposed rulemaking, and then an opportunity for public comment,\u201d Milgram testified during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025 DEA budget. \u201cBecause DEA is involved very much in that scheduling process and the DEA administrator is personally involved in it, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Plans to reschedule, or change the classification of marijuana as a drug, were first announced in late 2022, though President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\">Joe Biden<\/a> promised such a change while on the campaign trail in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Biden instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to look at the impact of changing marijuana from a Schedule I to a less serious Schedule III drug. Attorney General Merrick Garland \u201ccirculated a proposal to reclassify marijuana,\u201d the Justice Department <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/2988108\/biden-declassify-marijuana-promise-kept-election-ploy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>announced<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Schedule I narcotics include those that have a high potential for abuse and have no medical use, including ecstasy and heroin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/drug-information\/drug-scheduling\" title>according to<\/a> the DEA. Down the ladder, Schedule III drugs include anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine.<\/p>\n<p>Marijuana would not be decriminalized or legalized, but such a move would be a grand step forward after decades of the federal government\u2019s war on drugs and ease legal business surrounding the drug.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) warned Milgram that not going far enough to deschedule marijuana would create new \u201cconflicts\u201d between state and federal laws.<\/p>\n<p>Fellow Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) proposed that moving marijuana down the scheduling list could free up DEA agents who work on marijuana enforcement to instead focus on fentanyl, the leading cause of death in Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo we have agents that are working on marijuana investigations that could be freed up to go to work on cases tied to fentanyl?\u201d Cartwright said. <\/p>\n<p>Milgram declined to comment \u201cbecause some of this will implicate decisions that become a part of that rulemaking process.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Biden\u2019s sudden move on reclassifying marijuana comes seven months ahead of the November presidential election and could set him up to appeal to some young voters after failing to wipe the slate of millions of college students with student loan debt.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) asked Milgram who was behind the rescheduling effort, the White House or the DEA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, I\u2019m not going to be able to get into this conversation right now,\u201d Milgram said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have said multiple times that it would be inappropriate for you to talk about this. Inappropriate or illegal?\u201d Clyde responded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInappropriate, according to our counsel, that I should not be engaged in a conversation about it \u2026 since DEA is ultimately the decider of scheduling and rescheduling, and the DEA administrator\u2019s in that role, it would be inappropriate for me to make comments about this process or parts of that process,\u201d Milgram said.<\/p>\n<p>But Clyde refused to accept her withdrawal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re the United States Congress. You wouldn\u2019t have authority if we didn\u2019t give it to you,\u201d Clyde said. \u201cWe make the law; you execute the law. We give you the authority; we\u2019re asking the questions. So I mean, it\u2019s like you\u2019re an extension of us when we create the law. So I\u2019m asking you a question. Where\u2019s it coming from? Is it coming from DEA? Is it coming from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue \"Substantial Allegations\" of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a>? Is it coming from the White House [Office of Management and Budget]?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Again, Milgram declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarijuana is a very, very dangerous drug,\u201d Clyde retorted. \u201cNot as dangerous as some of the others we\u2019ve talked about here. \u2026 We\u2019ve had a significant increase in traffic accidents that we have seen that sent people to emergency rooms \u2026 simply because they have been partaking of marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) noted a 2023 study by the National Institute of Health that concluded the number of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, where a marijuana user may become violently ill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis same study that NIH referenced did numerous studies establishing a connection between marijuana use and elevated risk of psychotic conditions, including psychosis, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder,\u201d Aderholt said. \u201cThe United States is in the midst of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/9-year-old-girl-pepper-sprayed-during-interaction-with-rochester-police\/\" title=\"9-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed During Interaction With Rochester Police\">mental health crisis<\/a>, and with the adverse effects that I just mentioned, such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorder, my concern is rescheduling marijuana would make the crisis worse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last December, Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2671356\/biden-pardons-all-americans-on-federal-marijuana-use-charges\/\" title>pardoned<\/a> all those arrested, prosecuted, or convicted of federal marijuana use charges, following through on his 2020 campaign promise to expunge cannabis use offenses.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The White House\u2019s hope in taking such broad action was to make it easier for people with criminal records to obtain work and housing as a result of clearing their records of the felony offense.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous states have decriminalized or legalized medical marijuana and marijuana.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DEA Administrator Anne Milgram sidestepped inquiries on the Biden administration&#8217;s plan to reclassify marijuana, avoiding questions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Four House Appropriations Committee members sought answers, but Milgram declined to respond<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2655,"featured_media":2239344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24110681507222-1024x608.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2239343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24110681507222-1024x608.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2655"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2239343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239343\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2239344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2239343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2239343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2239343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}