# DEA’s Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Includes The Wrong Voices (Op-Ed) > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/deas-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-includes-the-wrong-voices-op-ed/ > **Published:** 2026-06-23T12:17:56-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-09T10:01:19-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** DEA cannabis rescheduling hearing risks excluding treating physicians. Here's why clinician input on evidence and policy matters for patient care. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance #67 Notable Clinical Interest Emerging findings or policy developments worth monitoring closely. PolicyResearchMental HealthSafetyIndustryAnxietyPain Why This Matters Clinicians need to understand how DEA scheduling decisions affect their ability to prescribe [cannabis-based treatments](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-medical-clinic-experience-beyond-smoking-vaping/) and conduct research, as excluding relevant medical voices from the rescheduling process may perpetuate regulatory barriers that prevent evidence-based [cannabis medicine](https://cedclinic.com/essential-oils-industrial-hemp-antimicrobial-benefits/) from reaching patients who could benefit. The absence of comprehensive clinical input in scheduling hearings means treatment guidelines and prescribing protocols remain disconnected from emerging clinical evidence, potentially leaving clinicians uncertain about when and how to recommend cannabis to appropriate patients. As rescheduling could expand research opportunities and clinical access, clinicians should recognize that their input in policy discussions directly influences future [patient care](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-risk-impact/) options and the evidence base for cannabis therapeutics. Clinical Summary The DEA’s rescheduling hearing on cannabis has been criticized for excluding key stakeholder voices, particularly patients, healthcare providers, and researchers with clinical experience, while reportedly prioritizing law enforcement and anti-drug policy perspectives. This exclusion is problematic because scheduling decisions should incorporate evidence from those directly managing [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) in clinical practice, understanding patient outcomes, and conducting rigorous pharmacological research. Clinicians and medical experts can provide crucial data on cannabis’s therapeutic efficacy, safety profile, and appropriate clinical applications that inform evidence-based policy rather than perpetuating outdated prohibitionist frameworks. The absence of these voices from the hearing process undermines the credibility of any rescheduling decision and risks maintaining policies that conflict with emerging clinical evidence and patient access to a potentially beneficial therapeutic option. For physicians treating patients with cannabis or considering it as part of their therapeutic armamentarium, clinician engagement in regulatory proceedings is essential to ensure that policy reflects contemporary medical knowledge rather than historical stigma. Dr. Caplan’s Take “The DEA’s scheduling process has historically lacked adequate representation from clinicians who work directly with cannabis patients, which means policy decisions are being made without grounded clinical input on what we’re actually seeing in practice, though I’d note that anecdotal clinical experience also needs to be complemented by rigorous research to inform sound policy.” Clinical Perspective 🏥 The DEA’s rescheduling process for cannabis carries significant implications for clinical practice, yet as this opinion piece highlights, the composition of advisory voices may not adequately represent the healthcare providers and patients most affected by current policy. The absence of robust clinical perspectives in policy deliberations risks perpetuating a disconnect between legal scheduling and the evolving evidence base for cannabis in symptom management, particularly for conditions like [chronic pain](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pain-management-opioid-alternative/), chemotherapy-induced nausea, and intractable epilepsy. Clinicians should recognize that scheduling decisions are ultimately policy choices influenced by non-medical factors, not purely evidence-based determinations, and this reality may explain the lag between clinical observations in practice and regulatory frameworks. As rescheduling discussions continue, healthcare providers benefit from staying informed about policy developments while maintaining their responsibility to counsel patients about both the therapeutic potential and genuine risks of cannabis based on current evidence. Ultimately, clinicians should advocate for their own participation in 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? 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