Good evening. Here's what's moving in the world of medical cannabis today.
Pew poll finds broad US public support for ending cannabis prohibition
A new survey from the Pew Research Center has found that marijuana prohibition is increasingly unpopular among American voters. The poll, reported by NORML on 27 May, indicates that liberalising cannabis laws continues to enjoy widespread favour across the electorate.
NORML's deputy director Paul Armentano commented that elected officials who refuse to act on cannabis criminalisation, or who vote against reform efforts, "do so at their own political peril". The findings underscore a sustained shift in US public opinion on cannabis policy, though no specific percentages from the poll were released in the report.
NORML seeks formal role in DEA rescheduling hearing
NORML has formally petitioned for a seat at the upcoming Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing on marijuana rescheduling. In a statement dated 26 May, the organisation argued that the hearing record would be incomplete without representation of adult cannabis consumers — the constituency it has represented for more than fifty years.
The DEA is currently considering a recommendation from the US Department of Health and Human Services to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. NORML's legal team contends that patient and consumer voices must be heard directly in the proceedings, rather than being filtered through industry or government representatives.
NORML makes case for continued membership support amid reform push
In a separate appeal published on 25 May, NORML urged supporters to maintain their backing, stating that the current moment is critical for "finishing the fight for justice, equity, and freedom". The organisation emphasised that its work is not about protecting corporate cannabis profits but about ending criminalisation and securing legal access for patients.
The appeal comes as the US federal rescheduling process enters a pivotal phase, with a formal administrative hearing expected later this year. NORML has been at the forefront of cannabis law reform advocacy since its founding in 1970.
