Career DEA official to lead agency, oversee marijuana rescheduling

President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is Terrance Cole, a career DEA official currently serving as a top law enforcement official in Virginia.

The appointment of a longtime DEA insider – which Trump announced midday Tuesday in a social media post – is not likely to boost hopes that the agency will resume the Biden administration-initiated marijuana rescheduling process.

A previous Trump pick to head the DEA, Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff, abruptly withdrew his nomination for the post.

Cole served more than two decades in the DEA, retiring in 2020 as the acting regional director overseeing operations in Canada, Central America and Mexico.

Trump has said he supports marijuana rescheduling, but Cole’s resume does not suggest he may embrace cannabis reform.

Cole worked under Virginia’s anti-marijuana governor

After exiting the DEA, Cole joined Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, where he served as the state secretary of public safety and homeland security.

Youngkin, who has repeatedly opposed adult-use marijuana sales in Virginia, praised Cole’s appointment.

“He will put the safety and security of Americans first as head of the DEA,” Youngkin said in a statement.

“It’s a great day to be an American and a bad day to be a drug dealer.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Cole would assume control of the paused marijuana rescheduling process.

Marijuana rescheduling process remains up in air

Rescheduling has been on hold since January after pro-legalization “designated participants” in hearings before a DEA administrative law judge accused the DEA of bias.

Critics have accused the DEA of slow-walking the process and refusing to hear evidence from states, including Colorado, in support of the change.

Considering those designated participants’ appeal and resuming the process – or abandoning it – is solely up to the discretion of the DEA administrator.

The acting administrator, Derek Maltz, also a longtime DEA insider, has not moved to resume the rescheduling process.

Nor did he indicate any plans one way or the other.

Capitol Hill observers believe federal agencies such as the DEA as well as Republican lawmakers will pursue whatever marijuana policy the White House demands.

However, a Trump edict issued on Inauguration Day froze all changes to federal law pending review – and approval – by a department or agency chief appointed by the president.