DEA begins picking witnesses for December cannabis hearing | Where to buy Skittles Moonrock online

The Drug Enforcement Administration is preparing for its Dec. 2 hearing on cannabis rescheduling by starting the process of picking witnesses to speak.

The federal agency notified a number of parties that they have been approved to testify at the hearing, according to a report in Marijuana Moment.

The National Cannabis Industry Association confirmed to the outlet that it was among the chosen speakers.

“We are thrilled to announce that NCIA has been invited to testify at the upcoming DEA hearing regarding the rescheduling of cannabis,” CEO and co-founder Aaron Smith told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. He added that “we look forward to making sure that the independent small businesses that make up the heart of the cannabis industry have a seat at the table at this hearing and we’re proud to be able to participate.”

Marijuana Moment also stated that anti-cannabis groups Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) have also received notices granting their requests.

Green Market Report previously wrote that the DEA published a notice on its website that the hearing is set for Dec. 2 – well after the upcoming presidential election – at 9 a.m. Eastern Time at 700 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, Virginia. Anyone wanting to testify during the hearing had to sign up in advance.

Legalization has become a hot-button issue for the presidential candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently expressed her support for full legalization and even attended a virtual rally hosted by Willie Nelson and other cannabis-friendly celebrities. Even former President Donald Trump, whose former Attorney General Jeff Sessions rolled back advances made by previous administrations, began courting the pro-cannabis crowd. Trump signaled his approval for adult-use legislation in his home state of Florida despite many Republicans in the state backing the hemp crowd.

The final decision on rescheduling likely won’t happen until at least 2025, which will be under a new administration. With a close race, it’s difficult to know whether the cannabis-friendly Democrats will get the upper hand or whether the hemp-friendly Republicans will win the day. Either way, the news means the hearing is moving forward as planned.

Debra Borchardt

Debra Borchardt is the Co-Founder, and Executive Editor of GMR. She has covered the cannabis industry for several years at Forbes, Seeking Alpha and TheStreet. Prior to becoming a financial journalist, Debra was a Vice President at Bear Stearns where she held a Series 7 and Registered Investment Advisor license. Debra has a Master’s degree in Business Journalism from New York University.