President Donald Trump has tapped Terrance Cole, a veteran of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, to lead the agency. The move, announced Tuesday on social media, puts a career DEA insider at the helm, raising questions about the future of the stalled marijuana rescheduling process initiated under the Biden administration.
A Familiar Face in Federal Drug Enforcement
Cole is no stranger to the DEA. With more than two decades in the agency, he rose through the ranks to become the acting regional director overseeing operations across Canada, Central America, and Mexico before retiring in 2020. His experience in drug enforcement is extensive, but his views on marijuana reform remain largely unknown.
His nomination follows the sudden withdrawal of Trump’s previous pick, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister. Unlike Chronister, who had a more public-facing law enforcement background, Cole’s expertise lies in federal drug enforcement operations.
One thing is clear—his selection doesn’t exactly signal a dramatic shift in DEA policy. Those hoping for the agency to push forward with marijuana rescheduling may not find much encouragement in Cole’s track record.
A Strong Law-and-Order Ally
After leaving the DEA, Cole took on a prominent role in Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration, serving as the state’s secretary of public safety and homeland security. Youngkin has been a staunch opponent of adult-use marijuana sales in Virginia, making Cole’s selection all the more telling.
Youngkin was quick to celebrate the 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.”
The praise from Youngkin highlights Cole’s tough-on-crime reputation. But it also raises concerns about how he may approach marijuana policy, particularly when the rescheduling process is already at a standstill.
The Future of Marijuana Rescheduling
Marijuana rescheduling has been in limbo since January, when pro-legalization participants in a DEA administrative hearing accused the agency of bias. That led to a pause in the process, leaving states and industry leaders in the dark about what comes next.
The DEA has been accused of deliberately dragging its feet, refusing to hear testimony from states like Colorado that support rescheduling. Whether that changes under Cole’s leadership remains an open question.
So, what happens next? It depends on the new DEA chief.
- If confirmed by the Senate, Cole will have sole authority to decide whether to restart the rescheduling process or let it fade away.
- The acting administrator, Derek Maltz, has not made any moves on rescheduling and has avoided taking a firm stance.
- Capitol Hill insiders suggest that whatever happens next will largely depend on Trump’s stance, rather than Cole’s personal views.
Trump’s Freeze on Federal Law Changes
One major roadblock for marijuana reform: Trump’s own executive order.
On Inauguration Day, he issued a sweeping directive freezing all federal law changes until a department or agency head appointed by him signs off. That means no progress on marijuana rescheduling can be made unless Cole—or another Trump appointee—explicitly approves it.
Congressional observers believe the DEA and Republican lawmakers will ultimately follow Trump’s lead on marijuana policy. While the former president has previously expressed support for rescheduling, it remains to be seen whether that translates into action.
For now, the marijuana industry is left waiting, watching, and wondering whether Cole’s appointment will lead to movement—or more gridlock—on rescheduling.