The DEA administrative process for moving botanical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III remains in a limited briefing phase following an October 22 order from Chief ALJ Derek Julius. That ruling admitted a September GAO report highlighting gaps in federal scheduling procedures but denied requests to reopen the June-July 2026 hearings for additional testimony. Optional briefs on the report’s weight are due by November 5, after which the stay lifts and the judge can issue a nonbinding recommendation. An April 2026 Attorney General order already placed state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products into Schedule III, with the DEA issuing initial federal registrations to over 900 dispensaries in seven states as the first implementation step. Broader rescheduling covering adult-use cannabis requires the full hearing record, agency decision, and potential further review, keeping near-term resolution unlikely.