In a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra defended his department's recommendation to reschedule marijuana against criticism from Republican Senator John Cornyn. Becerra highlighted that many states have already taken significant steps towards cannabis reform, surpassing the federal government's stance on the issue.

Senator Cornyn questioned the parameters of the scientific review conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under HHS, suggesting that it lacked comprehensive analysis and deviated from past scheduling assessments. In response, Becerra emphasized the extensive scientific information now available on cannabis, pointing to the 252-page analysis provided to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to support the rescheduling recommendation.

Becerra acknowledged that many states, including Texas, have made progress in implementing limited medical marijuana programs, indicating that the federal government should reflect the science surrounding cannabis. However, he redirected inquiries on the timeline of DEA's decision to the agency itself when cannabis lobbyist Don Murphy sought clarification after the hearing.

Senator Cornyn also brought up the concern that the review did not adequately examine the health impacts of marijuana use on adolescent brains and pregnant women, echoing criticisms from the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). Becerra, cautious not to speak on FDA's behalf, stated that their scientists conducted the review independently and considered all relevant information, emphasizing that the findings were rooted in rigorous scientific work.

DEA holds the ultimate authority over marijuana's scheduling, and it remains uncertain when the agency will announce its decision. Unnamed sources cited in The Wall Street Journal reported that certain DEA officials are resisting the Biden administration's push to reschedule marijuana, disputing the HHS findings on its safety and medical potential.

In addition to directing the scheduling review, President Joe Biden recently issued two rounds of pardons for federal marijuana possession offenses, a move he highlighted during his State of the Union address. However, a coalition of 36 members of Congress is calling on Biden to grant clemency to all non-violent cannabis offenders currently incarcerated in federal prisons, as the pardons issued so far have not resulted in any releases.

The debate surrounding marijuana rescheduling continues to unfold, with the Biden administration defending its recommendation based on scientific analysis, while some officials and lawmakers remain skeptical. As the DEA prepares to make its final determination, the national conversation on cannabis reform and criminal justice reform remains at the forefront of public attention.