Outcome may affect how marijuana cases, medical use, and retail rules are handled in Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties.
ARLINGTON, VA — The Drug Enforcement Administration will open formal hearing proceedings on Monday, June 29, 2026, on the proposed federal rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The hearings will run through July 15 in the North Courtroom at DEA Headquarters on Army Navy Drive.
Although the proceedings are taking place in northern Virginia, the outcome carries direct implications the Carolina’s, where law enforcement agencies, courts, medical providers, and local businesses all operate under the same federal drug classifications now under review.
Local deputies and prosecutors routinely handle marijuana‑related cases, and any federal change to scheduling could influence how those cases are prioritized or processed. Medical providers in our region are also watching closely, as Schedule III status could expand research pathways and alter how cannabis‑related treatments are discussed or documented.
Retailers, including hemp and CBD shops in Horry County and along the Brunswick beaches are monitoring the hearings as well, since federal scheduling affects banking, taxation, and compliance rules even when state laws remain unchanged.
Because the region sits on a two‑state border, with North Carolina and South Carolina maintaining different marijuana laws, local agencies often field questions from residents and visitors about what is and isn’t legal. Federal rescheduling would not automatically change state statutes, but it would shift the national framework that shapes enforcement, public perception, and future legislative debates.
On May 21, 2024, the Department of Justice proposed transferring marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, aligning with the Department of Health and Human Services’ determination that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use and its assessment of abuse potential and dependence risk. After procedural steps and an interlocutory appeal, Acting Attorney General Blanche withdrew the prior notice of hearing on April 22, 2026, terminating Hearing No. 24‑44 and issuing a new notice directing DEA to begin fresh proceedings. The new hearings will run from June 29 through July 15, 2026.
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