The Dangers of Rescheduling Marijuana: DEA Testimony Part II

In Part II of our special series on the DEA cannabis rescheduling hearings, expert witnesses Dr. Philip Drum, Dr. Ken Finn, and Dr. Karen Randall continue their detailed breakdown of the medical evidence the DEA is ignoring.

Dr. Finn opens with shocking data from Colorado: 70% of dispensaries surveyed encouraged pregnant women to use marijuana during the first trimester, despite this being the most critical period of fetal brain development. He cites the NIH‑funded ABCD study showing that children exposed in utero are experiencing psychotic‑like symptoms as early as age 8–10 — even without using cannabis themselves.

“Some of them are having psychotic‑like experiences without having use.”He also explains research showing cannabis use by fathers may alter autism‑related genes, and that states with marijuana programs have 20% higher autism rates.

Dr. Drum expands on the medical and regulatory failures, including rising rates of head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and testicular cancer in Canada following legalization. He reiterates that marijuana has no FDA‑approved medical use, and daily use carries a 30% addiction rate, higher than daily opioid use.

“Chronic daily use will lead to 30% of people having a cannabis use disorder.”He also details how the DEA mis-transcribed his testimony, falsely claiming he supported Schedule III — which he corrected twice.

Dr. Randall highlights pediatric harm, including infants and toddlers exposed to cannabis products. She notes that DEA lawyers repeatedly dismissed her cases as “diversion,” implying parents were supplying children — a claim she strongly refutes.

“I presented case after case… They said word zero about that.”The doctors also expose fabricated statements in the DEA’s official brief, including claims they never made.

The episode concludes with a call to action: listeners should contact the DEA Administrator, the Attorney General, and their Congressional representatives to oppose cannabis rescheduling — and families harmed by cannabis should speak out.

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To find out how to contact your congressman/woman: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

To email the attorney general: https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice

Please write to your congressman/woman and to the Attorney General of the US about this issue, in your own words: