Marijuana Opponents File Lawsuit to Halt Federal Cannabis Rescheduling
Opponents of federal cannabis reform have filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. to overturn the Trump administration’s recent marijuana rescheduling order, escalating the legal battle over national cannabis policy
Key Points
- 1SAM and NDASA filed a lawsuit to block federal cannabis rescheduling in the D.C. Circuit Court
- 2The petition claims the rescheduling order violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Controlled Substances Act
- 3Attorneys from Torridon Law PLCC, where former U.S. Attorney General William Barr is a partner, represent the plaintiffs
- 4The lawsuit targets the DOJ, DEA, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and DEA Administrator Terrance Cole
- 5A House appropriations subcommittee also voted to halt further federal cannabis rescheduling actions
A coalition of marijuana reform opponents has initiated legal action to block the Trump administration’s recent federal cannabis rescheduling move. The lawsuit, filed by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA), targets the Department of Justice’s decision to shift certain cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The legal petition was submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Monday, according to Marijuana Moment
The groups claim that the rescheduling order, announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche last month, violates procedural and statutory requirements. The order allowed immediate reclassification for state-regulated medical marijuana and FDA-approved cannabis products, with a broader administrative hearing on recreational cannabis rescheduling set for this summer. The lawsuit alleges the order is “arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with law,” and was filed by attorneys at Torridon Law PLCC, where former U.S. Attorney General William Barr is a partner
SAM’s CEO, Kevin Sabet, criticized the federal order in a press release, arguing it undermines both legal standards and public health. “This order gave federal approval to a new Big Tobacco industry selling cookies, gummies, and sodas laced with highly potent marijuana,” Sabet stated. He continued, “The public-health carnage wrought by these products is not ‘medical’ and that word should never be associated with them. This is a fight for the next generation.”
The lawsuit names the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Acting Attorney General Blanche, and DEA Administrator Terrance Cole as defendants. This legal effort follows SAM’s earlier announcement that it would retain Barr’s firm to oppose federal cannabis reform after former President Trump ordered expedited rescheduling. Meanwhile, a House appropriations subcommittee recently voted to block federal officials from further implementing cannabis rescheduling measures
From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, this lawsuit signals persistent resistance to federal cannabis reform, even as regulatory momentum grows. The involvement of prominent legal figures and organizations suggests the rescheduling debate will remain contentious and highly visible in U.S. courts. The outcome could shape the pace and scope of future cannabis policy changes nationwide
