NORML Calls Federal Rescheduling Inadequate, Demands Descheduling

NORML Argues Rescheduling Preserves Federal Prohibition

NORML said the DEA's proposed move to Schedule III doesn't legalize cannabis or eliminate federal criminal penalties. The organization released a statement on June 10, 2026, calling rescheduling "a half-measure that fails to address the fundamental injustice of federal prohibition." Deputy Director Paul Armentano said the proposal leaves intact the framework that criminalizes possession, cultivation, and distribution under federal law.

Schedule III substances remain controlled under the Controlled Substances Act. They're subject to federal enforcement. The DEA rescheduling proposal, which entered the public comment period in May 2024, would reclassify cannabis from Schedule I alongside heroin to Schedule III alongside ketamine and anabolic steroids. NORML said the change doesn't resolve the legal conflicts facing state-licensed operators or consumers in the 38 states that have legalized medical or adult-use cannabis.

Banking and Immigration Barriers Remain Under Schedule III

Federal banking restrictions and immigration consequences persist for cannabis users even if the DEA completes rescheduling. NORML noted that Schedule III classification doesn't grant state-licensed cannabis businesses access to traditional banking services or remove the threat of asset forfeiture. Immigrants who admit to cannabis use remain inadmissible under federal immigration law regardless of state legality or the substance's schedule, the organization said.

Rescheduling also fails to address employment protections, the advocacy group said. Federal employees and contractors in states with legal cannabis programs can still face termination for off-duty use. NORML said descheduling is the only pathway to align federal law with the reality that a majority of Americans live in states where cannabis is legal in some form.

For full background on the DEA's rescheduling timeline and the administrative process, see the CannIntel topic hub on DEA Rescheduling.

Advocacy Groups Split on Incremental Reform vs. Full Legalization

NORML's position contrasts with industry groups that view Schedule III as a meaningful step toward normalization. The National Cannabis Industry Association and the U.S. Cannabis Council have supported rescheduling as a way to eliminate the 280E tax burden that prevents state-licensed businesses from deducting ordinary expenses. NORML acknowledged the tax benefit. But it said the relief doesn't justify preserving a criminal framework that has resulted in more than 29 million arrests since 1965.

Armentano said NORML will continue to advocate for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act and similar descheduling legislation in the 119th Congress. During the notice-and-comment period, the organization submitted formal comments to the DEA urging the agency to recommend full removal from the Controlled Substances Act rather than rescheduling.

The next procedural milestone is the DEA's final rule, expected in late 2026 or early 2027. NORML said it will monitor the administrative process and press lawmakers to pursue statutory descheduling regardless of the agency's decision.