DEA Website Promotes ‘Anti-420’ Social Media Contest

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is promoting a video contest for young people to participate in ‘Anti-420 Day,’ an Instagram campaign organized by the youth cannabis prevention group Johnny’s Ambassadors. First reported by Marijuana Moment, the campaign asks high school and college students to submit videos for the contest with the promise that “On April 20, we are going to flood Instagram with our anti-THC messages.”

“Please help us get the word out by sharing your story and/or providing education on why young people should not use THC,” the group said in a press release.

While the DEA is not helping organize the contest, the agency’s website JustThinkTwice posted a bulletin supporting the campaign, encouraging readers to “Get the word out by sharing your story and/or providing education on why young people should not use THC.”

Meanwhile, the DEA was, until recently, steering the effort to hold a hearing on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, a plan put into place under the Biden Administration.

But the hearing was canceled in January by DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney following complaints about improper communications between DEA officials and anti-rescheduling proponents, and Judge Mulrooney has since said it will be up to the next DEA Administrator whether the hearing will be rescheduled.

President Trump’s nominee to head the DEA is Terry Cole, a 22-year veteran of the agency who is currently working as the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety.