AG Bondi Misses Deadline on Schedule I Research Rules

Attorney General Pam Bondi has blown past a congressionally mandated deadline to issue new guidelines designed to make Schedule I drug research more accessible—leaving scientists studying cannabis and psychedelics in regulatory limbo.

The interim rules, required under legislation President Donald Trump signed into law last year, were supposed to establish streamlined processes for researchers seeking to work with federally restricted substances. The deadline has come and gone with no action from the Justice Department.

The Research Bottleneck

Schedule I classification has long been a major obstacle for cannabis and psychedelic researchers. The designation—reserved for substances deemed to have "no currently accepted medical use"—creates layers of bureaucratic hurdles that can delay studies by months or years. Researchers must navigate DEA registration requirements, facility security standards, and supply chain restrictions that don't apply to lower-schedule drugs.

The missed deadline is particularly frustrating for the scientific community given recent momentum around psychedelic therapy research and ongoing questions about cannabis rescheduling. Multiple states have legalized psilocybin therapy programs, while MDMA and psilocybin studies have shown promising results in clinical trials for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.

But federal researchers remain hamstrung by the same outdated framework that's been in place for decades. Even as the DEA considers moving marijuana to Schedule III—which would ease some restrictions but not eliminate them entirely—the promised research reforms remain on hold.

What the Legislation Required

The law directing Bondi to act was designed to address specific pain points in the current system. It called for clearer application procedures, faster review timelines, and reduced administrative burdens for qualified researchers. The goal was to bring Schedule I research protocols more in line with those for Schedule II substances like cocaine and methamphetamine, which are easier to study despite their high abuse potential.

Industry advocates had hoped the new guidelines would open doors for private sector research into cannabis formulations, delivery methods, and medical applications—work that's currently difficult to conduct under federal restrictions. Universities and medical centers have also been waiting for clarity on how the changes would affect their ongoing studies.

What's Next

The Justice Department has not provided an explanation for the delay or indicated when the rules might be published. Bondi's office did not respond to requests for comment.

The holdup adds to a growing list of cannabis policy actions stalled at the federal level. The DEA's marijuana rescheduling process remains in limbo following a contentious hearing last year. Meanwhile, SAFER Banking legislation—which would provide financial services access to state-legal cannabis businesses—has yet to gain traction in the current Congress.

For researchers, the wait continues. Without the promised guidelines, they're left navigating the same cumbersome approval process that has constrained Schedule I research for decades—even as public support for drug policy reform reaches record highs and states continue to legalize both cannabis and psychedelic therapies.

The question now is whether the Trump administration will prioritize finalizing these rules, or whether they'll join the long list of promised cannabis reforms that never materialized.

This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.