Rumor has it that is in the works, but the fact that it has taken so long starts and ends with the executive office.
That said, Congress decriminalizing it entirely is definitely something that is going to take too long, and will also be entirely the fault of Congress.
The DEA is entirely under the control of the executive. So if you want a more permanent solution, the only one is legislative, and that is extremely unlikely to happen even if there were extremely broad public support.
Still long odds but we technically don't HAVE to do it with Congress.
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/artic...
Constitutional amendment is far harder than congressional legislation.
Rescheduling buys more time, and unlike other executive orders, is actually in line with the intent of Congress via the controlled substances act.
Obviously it’s intentional that it’s hard to pass things, and legitimately controversial things should be difficult to pass (and shouldn’t happen by executive fiat), but there are 2nd and 3rd order interests overriding what should be the 1st order interest of effective legislation.
Among these 2nd/3rd order interests: not looking bad to your party, making the other party look bad to their constituents, not upsetting some specific demagogues, not losing personal or party power at all costs, winning dunks in social media, looking good for the camera, ensuring that no third party could emerge, ensuring that if the other party gains power that they are incapable of exercising it, etc