"Biden Administration's Marijuana Rescheduling Efforts Face GOP Criticism and DEA Tensions"

The Biden administration's top health official, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, defended the recommendation to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, against criticism from GOP Senator John Cornyn. Becerra emphasized the scientific evidence and the actions of many states in moving ahead of the federal government on cannabis. The final decision now rests with the DEA, and it's unclear when they will announce it. Meanwhile, Biden has issued pardons for federal marijuana possession offenses and faces calls to grant clemency to all Americans currently in federal prison over non-violent cannabis convictions.