A coalition of 45 marijuana advocacy and medical groups—including Americans for Safe Access (ASA), U.S. Pain Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Epilepsy Foundation of America and more—are calling on congressional lawmakers to ensure that state medical cannabis programs remain protected under spending legislation that’s advancing.
Along with the Monday letter it sent to House leadership, ASA noted that Nebraska was not listed in a House measure to maintain protections against federal intervention for states using medical marijuana. This is despite voters having legalized access to cannabis there last year.
ASA has also called for the deletion of a specific section from the legislation budgeting 2025, which would prevent the Justice Department reclassifying cannabis. The provision in question was included earlier this week in a House bill that covered Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. It then made its way through subcommittees on Tuesday.
Since 2014 the rider protecting state medical cannabis laws against federal interference is part of federal legislation, but it must be renewed annually as part appropriations law.
The signatories to the coalition’s new letter stated that “Medical Cannabis patients have one or more conditions, symptoms, or medical problems for which cannabis, cannabinoid products, or both, may be an effective treatment or adjunct, as well as a way of reducing side effects from other medication in their treatment plan.” The signatories of the new coalition letter wrote: “Patients report that accessing medical cannabis has improved their mental health, daily functioning and symptom relief.”
Medical cannabis programs are a lifeline to millions of Americans. This includes the 30% of Americans with chronic pain, and 10% with intractable, debilitating pain. Research generated by the state programs indicates that medical cannabis can help patients avoid or reduce certain high-risk drugs, such as opioids. This could lead to a reduction in overdoses and other medication-related problems.
The letter states that “over the past decade, major barriers to reforming cannabis have been removed.” The letter continues, “Over the last decade, significant barriers to cannabis reform have been dismantled.” [Food and Drug Administration].”
The letter ends with the statement “You can protect the safety, health and dignity of millions Americans.” The Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment must be maintained until comprehensive federal legislation to integrate medical marijuana into the mainstream of healthcare is passed.
The letter was also signed by the Tourette Association of America and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
For the second time now, the base legislation contains language hostile to marijuana rescheduling efforts that remain ongoing.
The bill prohibits the Justice Department’s use of its budget to redistribute or de-distribute marijuana. The DOJ, under the Biden Administration, recommended that cannabis be moved from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III. However this process was delayed by months due to challenges raised by witnesses at administrative hearings.
This language was approved by the CJR committee in its last CJR budget bill. However, it did not become law.
GOP senators have separately tried to block the administration from rescheduling cannabis as part of a standalone bill filed in 2023, but that proposal did not receive a hearing or vote.
Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently notified an agency judge that the marijuana rescheduling process remains stalled under the Trump administration.
John Mulrooney, DEA Administrative Law judge (ALJ), temporarily halted hearings in June on a proposed move to schedule III of cannabis. In a report submitted to the judge earlier this month by DEA lawyers and rescheduling advocates, they said that there is still no agreement.
As it appears in this new House spending measure, the medical cannabis amendment, which has been around for many years, now includes a new provision stating that the Justice Department is still able to enforce an article of the U.S. codes that increases the penalties if cannabis is distributed within 1,000 feet from a public housing unit, elementary school or vocational school. The language in question was originally included in the latest version of appropriations legislation.
Steph Sherri, the founder of Americans for Safe Access stated in a release that “the inclusion of Medical Cannabis Amendment Language is a partially victory for patients.” However, the proposed changes could put the patients at risk. Stopping the process of rescheduling cannabis would be an ineffective way to get to the truth.
The CJS bill also keeps intact another longstanding rider preventing DOJ interference in state hemp research programs.
Meanwhile, a retired professional football player who’s since become an advocate for marijuana policy reform met with top Trump administration officials at the White House last week to discuss the ongoing federal cannabis rescheduling process.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the United States. He has been vocal before about his support of cannabis legalization and psychedelics as therapy. But during his Senate confirmation process in February, he said that he would defer to DEA on marijuana rescheduling in his new role.
Separately, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was reportedly photographed reviewing a document that appears to be a draft contract to provide services—including “administration-related guidance”—to a firm affiliated with the major marijuana company Trulieve. The visible portion of the document describes a lucrative bonus if a certain “matter resolves,” with an “additional ‘Super Success Fee'” for other “exclusive policy remedies.”
Last month, the former congressman reiterated his own support for rescheduling cannabis—suggesting in an interview with a Florida Republican lawmaker that the GOP could win more of the youth vote by embracing marijuana reform.
Gaetz also said last month that Trump’s endorsement of a Schedule III reclassification was essentially an attempt to shore up support among young voters rather than a sincere reflection of his personal views about cannabis.
A survey conducted by a GOP pollster affiliated with Trump that was released in April found that a majority of Republicans back a variety of cannabis reforms, including rescheduling. They’re also more in favor of states being able to legalize cannabis without interference from the federal government than average voters.
Trump has chosen Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, to be his nominee for DOJ. The Senate ratified this decision. During her confirmation hearings, Bondi declined to say how she planned to navigate key marijuana policy issues. As attorney general of Florida, Bondi opposed the legalization of medical marijuana.
Amid the stalled marijuana rescheduling process that’s carried over from the last presidential administration, congressional researchers recently reiterated that lawmakers could enact the reform themselves with “greater speed and flexibility” if they so choose, while potentially avoiding judicial challenges.
Meanwhile, a newly formed coalition of professional athletes and entertainers, led by retired boxer Mike Tyson, sent a letter to Trump on Friday—thanking him for past clemency actions while emphasizing the opportunity he has to best former President Joe Biden by rescheduling marijuana, expanding pardons and freeing up banking services for licensed cannabis businesses.