DEA Appointee Has Opposed Rescheduling In The Past
January 28, 2025President Donald Trump and his administration have nominated Derek Maltz as the nation’s new interim Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) leader. The move presents a potential challenge for cannabis rescheduling as Maltz has been staunchly opposed to the rescheduling process so far. Last May, Maltz, at the time working in the private sector, told the Associated Press that in his opinion rescheduling cannabis was a political move, not one motivated by public safety.
Maltz served nearly 30 years with the DEA and spent a decade in the organization’s Special Operations Division. Some Republicans, including Texas Rep. Chip Roy, praised Maltz’s selection, noting that Maltz worked to dismantle Mexican cartels and capture former Sinaloa leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. While aligned with many Republican priorities, Maltz’s skepticism of rescheduling cannabis would appear to place him at odds with the President on the issue, who has supported rescheduling since 2022.—Shane English
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