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The DEA is hiring a new head, and while it does so, there is an interim leader. Derek Maltz, a veteran of the department with 28 years of service, retired in 2014. For now, he’s back, leading the DEA during a very tumultuous time for its views on marijuana. Unfortunately, he’ll be no help.

Here’s a tweet from back in 2022: “For all the irresponsible politicians trying to get votes by legalizing marijuana, maybe it’s time to understand the NEGATIVE IMPACTS from smoking this crap! People rushing to ER’s and increased info on schools shooters connected to obsessive pot smoking.”

And another one from May of last year: “At a time when updated research has indicating that the high THC marijuana is causing increased health risks, why would DOJ hijack the official process from [the DEA] and interfere with the scientist’s ability to do work that is critical? It sure seems to me that DOJ has prioritized politics and votes over public health and safety! Meanwhile, the Chinese nationals are setting up sophisticated marijuana grow operations all over the country, taking advantage of the USG weaknesses and vulnerabilities.”

At every turn when discussing marijuana, Maltz will highlight negative side effects. He has also discussed how it causes psychosis, and that people will continue getting it from the illicit market and cartels.

It’s unclear how much sway he can have on the direction of the rescheduling effort that is for now delayed for a few months. Hopefully, not much. However, another person, Jack Riley, is currently being considered for the longer term position as the DEA head, and he has also called marijuana a gateway drug, so there may not be much hope in the other candidates either.

My prediction is another four years in which the marijuana problem will be left up to the states. Here’s hoping we’ll get something concrete by the end of the decade.

Read the original articles here and here.

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