We’re excited to share an important milestone with our community!
Dr. Marion McNabb, President of the Cannabis Center of Excellence, has been approved by federal Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney to serve as an expert witness in the upcoming federal cannabis rescheduling hearings. Out of hundreds of applicants, only 24 expert witnesses were selected — and we are proud to see Dr. McNabb among them.
With a master’s and doctorate in public health, Dr. McNabb brings decades of experience in public health research, cannabis policy, and regulatory leadership. Her testimony is scheduled for January 28, 2025, at DEA headquarters in Virginia. These hearings, running from January 21 through March 6, will help guide Judge Mulrooney’s nonbinding recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on whether cannabis should be reclassified under the Controlled Substances Act.
Dr. McNabb’s appointment reflects her tireless commitment to advancing evidence-based cannabis research. As the principal investigator for eight large-scale, real-world studies exploring cannabis use among patients and consumers, she has helped to shape the conversation around responsible cannabis policy. She also served as the Cannabis Retail Appointee on the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board (CAB) from 2021 to 2023, and partnered with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to create 11 social equity education courses. Additionally, she co-founded the Cannabis Education Center at Holyoke Community College.
Dr. McNabb was nominated to testify by Ellen Brown, U.S. Air Force veteran, longtime medical cannabis advocate, and founder of Green Path Training. Brown, who has known Dr. McNabb for over a decade, describes her as a trusted mentor and respected colleague.
“It’s an honor to have Dr. McNabb as my expert witness,” Brown said. “She meets the court’s high standards for expertise, and her work has consistently kept medical patients and inclusion at the heart of cannabis conversations.”
This hearing marks the first federal review of cannabis rescheduling since NORML’s historic 22-year effort that began during the Nixon administration. Dr. McNabb is one of only 15 experts testifying in favor of rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Dr. McNabb shared,
“It is a tremendous honor to stand beside my colleague Ellen Brown in support of rescheduling cannabis at the federal level as an expert witness. I am prepared to share scientific research and evidence-based testimony on January 28 to be considered by Honorable Judge Mulrooney.”
We are incredibly proud of Dr. McNabb’s leadership and look forward to supporting her as she brings science, research, and community voices to the national stage.
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This article includes information originally reported by Cannabis Business Times. We encourage readers to visit their site to read the full story.