The DEA is creating a proposed rule to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
key takeaways:
- On June 29, a coalition led by the American Trucking Associations urged four federal agencies to coordinate marijuana testing as the DEA moves to reschedule the drug.
- The group said the DOT recorded 7 million tests in 2025 and about 56,000 positive marijuana results, warning that the rescheduling could undermine safety-sensitive testing.
- The coalition asked DEA, DOT, HHS, and Justice to preserve testing authorization, laboratory certification, and federal coordination before any final redistricting action.
A trucking-industry coalition is asking four federal agencies to coordinate marijuana testing for transportation workers to prevent unscheduled use in critical public functions.
The two-page letter outlines the precautions government agencies should take as the Drug Enforcement Administration prepares to downgrade marijuana’s Schedule I classification, deeming it no longer an accepted medical use.
is dea Conducting Proposed Rulemaking Rescheduling the drug to Schedule III, a category of substances with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
“In practical terms, this would mean that truck and bus drivers, pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, air mechanics, rail operations personnel, dispatchers and signal personnel, transit operators and pipeline workers could continue to perform safety-critical, high-risk duties without any reliable means to verify that they are not actively using marijuana.” Warning given in letter dated June 29 From 19 transportation and safety organizations.
The letter was sent to DEA Administrator Terrence Cole and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, as well as Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanch and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The organizations expressed concern that the ongoing rulemaking lacks transportation safety considerations that will impact both the traveling public and the four government agencies with shared responsibilities.
Led by the American Trucking Associations, the coalition reported that “Since no validated test exists to measure real-time marijuana impairment, transportation safety relies heavily on controlled-substance testing to identify recent use and potentially prevent impaired individuals from performing safety-sensitive duties. Redesignation could create legal or regulatory gaps that Weaken the existing drug testing framework “On which regulated employers rely.”
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Without clear federal guidance, transportation employers will be uncertain about compliance requirements, leading to “a direct impact on public safety. This concern is shared by the National Transportation Safety Board, which cautions that any final rule should not compromise marijuana testing for safety-sensitive transportation employees,” the letter states.
Its signatories include the American Pyrotechnics Association, Airlines for America, Association of American Railroads, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Institute of Makers of Explosives, Intermodal Association of North America, and the Gases and Welding Distributors Association.
The group noted that the Department of Transportation’s drug and alcohol testing program recorded 7 million tests in 2025, with about 56,000 positive marijuana results across all public transportation modes. This testing program is aligned with federal workplace drug testing programs and HHS mandated guidelines for HHS-certified laboratories.
(Soulstock via Getty Images)
“Although DOT has expressed its intention to continue testing for marijuana, a commitment we deeply appreciate, it is unclear whether DOT will retain the ability to rely on HHS processes and certifications after realignment. Without that alignment, DOT may retain the authority to test but lack the scientific and procedural infrastructure to do so,” the letter declared.
The group underlined that marijuana is one of the most frequently detected drugs in transportation testing programs.
The letter said the reclassification was likely to result in “unintended consequences for transportation safety if key safeguards are not preserved.”
Four agencies were requested:
- Protect long-term marijuana testing for all safety-sensitive transportation workers
- Affirm the authority of DOT-regulated employers to administer this test
- Ensure that HHS laboratory certification and testing guidelines remain available and aligned with DOT’s safety mission
- Establish a coordinated federal strategy focused on the transportation safety implications of redistricting
“The traveling public and the workers who keep our transportation systems running safely deserve a process that ensures these safety measures remain firmly in place before any final action is taken,” the coalition declared.
