DEA
Category: Legal · Level: Intermediate
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the US federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing controlled substances laws and regulations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice. It is responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act, combating drug trafficking, and recommending drug scheduling classifications in coordination with the FDA. The DEA has historically played a significant role in cannabis prohibition and in limiting cannabis research by controlling the Schedule I classification and limiting research-grade cannabis supply. Recent years have seen DEA policy shifts related to hemp (post-2018 Farm Bill), expanded cannabis research licenses, and proceedings to evaluate potential cannabis rescheduling.
Also known as
Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal drug regulator
Usage
- Legal
Related terms
- Legalization — Cannabis legalization refers to the process of removing criminal prohibitions on cannabis cultivation, possession, sale, or use and establishing a regulated legal market.
- Controlled Substance — A controlled substance is a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by law due to potential for abuse or harm.
- Medical Cannabis — Medical cannabis refers to cannabis or cannabis-derived products prescribed or recommended by a licensed healthcare professional for therapeutic purposes.
- Schedule I — Schedule I is the most restrictive classification under the US Controlled Substances Act, applied to substances deemed to have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use, including cannabis.