President Donald Trump has appointed Terrance Cole to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Cole, a seasoned DEA professional, is currently serving as a high-ranking law enforcement agent in Virginia.
Trump announced the decision on social media on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 11. However, Cole’s appointment as the new DEA administrator may not encourage those hoping for the agency to continue the Biden administration’s efforts to reschedule cannabis. His selection follows the withdrawal of Florida sheriff Chad Chronister, who had previously been Trump’s nominee for the position.
Cole’s career with the DEA spans more than 20 years. He retired in 2020 after serving as the acting regional director responsible for overseeing operations in Mexico, Canada, and Central America. Despite Trump expressing support for cannabis rescheduling, Cole’s professional background does not indicate he is likely to push for marijuana policy reforms.
Following his departure from the DEA, Cole became the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security for Virginia, serving in the administration of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Youngkin, a strong opponent of recreational cannabis sales in Virginia, commended Cole’s nomination. “He will prioritize the security and safety of American citizens as DEA administrator,” Youngkin stated. “This is a great day for Americans and a terrible day for drug dealers.”
If the Senate confirms Cole, he will take over the stalled cannabis rescheduling process. Progress on rescheduling halted in January after pro-cannabis legalization advocates involved in hearings before an agency administrative law judge claimed that the DEA was biased. Critics argue the DEA has intentionally delayed the process and dismissed supporting evidence from states such as Colorado that favor reclassification.
Deciding whether to proceed with the review or abandon it altogether falls solely under the DEA administrator’s authority. The current acting director, Derek Maltz, another long-serving DEA official, has not taken steps to restart the process or signaled any clear intentions regarding the issue.
Capitol Hill political analysts predict that Republican legislators and federal agencies like the DEA would align their marijuana regulations with White House directions. However, all federal legal changes were temporarily put on hold by Trump’s executive order, which was issued on Inauguration Day and required review and approval by department heads chosen by his administration.
In the meantime, Trump’s nominee attorney general, former Florida AG Pam Bondi, has not publicly addressed how she intends to handle key cannabis policy matters, including rescheduling and enforcement guidelines if confirmed.
For now, all that entities like Green Thumb Industries Inc. (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF) and other industry actors can do is wait and see how the new administration in Washington D.C. chooses to handle the reclassification process that was started under the previous administration.
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