As 2024 draws to a close, hopes for significant progress in cannabis reform in the United States remain largely unfulfilled, despite early optimism at the start of the year. Key proposals, including the potential rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, have stalled, leaving many advocates frustrated.
Alex Halperin, a long-time cannabis industry journalist and founder of WeedWeek, notes that the main focus has been on rescheduling cannabis, which would ease federal restrictions. “The big issue is rescheduling, and there was a lot of excitement about that, but it’s been sort of mired down,” he said. Rescheduling would reduce cannabis from its current classification as a Schedule I substance, making it eligible for FDA approval and easing federal legal burdens.
President Joe Biden had promised to reform federal cannabis law during his 2020 campaign, and rescheduling seemed to be a key step in that effort. However, developments throughout the year indicate that this may not happen under his administration. Halperin added, "Now, of course, we have the new administration, and who knows what they’re going to do?"
The year began with hope as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended that cannabis be reclassified from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, a proposal that would have allowed cannabis-derived drugs to be approved by the FDA. Following HHS's recommendation, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed a new rule and opened a public comment period in May. With over 40,000 comments, 69% supported federal decriminalization or legalization. Despite this, the process has encountered significant delays. The DEA, after announcing a hearing in December, later made it preliminary and postponed the official hearing until next year.
Paul Dunford, a cannabis financial services expert, remarked that the DEA is “remarkably resistant to political pressure,” and expressed doubts about whether rescheduling will move forward soon. “They’re taking their sweet time,” he said.
In addition to federal developments, this year's election cycle offered mixed signals for cannabis reform. Both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates voiced support for cannabis legalization, with Vice President Kamala Harris pushing for full federal legalization, while former President Donald Trump endorsed a Florida initiative to legalize recreational cannabis.
However, the momentum failed to translate into concrete action. In 2024, voters in Florida and South Dakota rejected recreational cannabis initiatives, marking the first year since 2017 that no new states legalized the substance. The only state to introduce new cannabis legislation was Nebraska, which authorized medical cannabis for the first time.
Despite these setbacks, Halperin remains cautiously optimistic about future reform. “Trump seems more open to reform than he has been in the past,” he said, though he added that support among elected Republicans remains a significant obstacle. A Pew poll from earlier this year found that more than half of Republicans under 49 favor both medical and recreational cannabis legalization, suggesting that public opinion may outpace political action.
Despite the political hurdles, the cannabis industry has continued to expand in 2024. Ohio and Delaware issued their first licenses to recreational dispensaries, and cannabis consumption lounges are gaining legal approval in more states. However, rising concerns over product safety have emerged. A major exposé by Halperin and Los Angeles Times reporter Paige St John revealed high levels of pesticides in cannabis products sold in California dispensaries, highlighting the need for stricter regulation.
The hemp industry, which operates under less stringent regulations, also came under scrutiny in 2024 due to reports of contaminated and mislabelled products. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency ban on intoxicating hemp products in September, although enforcement has been inconsistent.
Efforts to regulate the hemp market at the federal level, including provisions in the next Farm Bill, have stalled, along with other crucial reform measures such as the Safe Banking Act, which would allow cannabis businesses to access financial services.
With no significant legislative action in sight, Halperin remains uncertain about the future. "Whether there’s going to be more movement, or just ongoing limbo for 10 years now, is really unclear," he said.
As 2024 ends, cannabis reform advocates are left wondering what the next year will bring—whether continued frustration or potential breakthroughs in an issue that continues to divide lawmakers and the public alike.
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