A congressional subcommittee has passed a new federal spending measure that includes language aimed at preventing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from reclassifying cannabis. The measure would also continue existing protections for state-run medical marijuana programs, although it introduces stricter rules for cannabis activity near parks and schools.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) advanced the bill with a 9-6 vote. The measure will now move forward to the full committee for review and potentially be sent to the House floor.
This marks the second time lawmakers have inserted language into the spending bill that seeks to block efforts to reclassify cannabis.
The bill specifically states that no funds from the legislation can be used to move marijuana to a different category under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or remove it from the schedule entirely. The process has faced long delays, partly due to legal objections raised during administrative hearings.
A similar provision was included in a previous version of the CJS spending measure, but it never became law. Additionally, Republican senators tried to pass a separate bill in 2023 that would have blocked the administration’s rescheduling efforts, but that proposal never made it to a vote.
Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informed an administrative judge that cannabis rescheduling remains at a standstill. The hearings have been paused for over six months. A joint report submitted this month by both DEA lawyers and advocates shows that the two sides have yet to resolve their differences.
Still, advocates can take some comfort in knowing the new spending measure maintains language that prevents the DOJ from interfering with state-level medical cannabis laws. This safeguard has been included in every federal budget since 2014.
However, new language allows the DOJ to enforce penalties for selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of schools, colleges, playgrounds, and public housing, potentially increasing legal risks in those zones.
In addition to medical cannabis protections, the bill also upholds a separate clause that restricts federal interference in state-led hemp research, referencing the 2014 Farm Bill’s definition of legal industrial hemp.
In related developments, a former NFL player turned cannabis advocate met with Trump administration officials last week to discuss marijuana reform. Separately, a group of athletes and celebrities, led by former boxing champion Mike Tyson, urged President Trump to outpace former President Joe Biden on cannabis reform, including expanding pardons and improving access to banking for legal marijuana businesses.
The entire marijuana industry, including companies like Cresco Labs Inc. (CNX: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF), will be watching how efforts to block marijuana rescheduling pan out, and how advocacy to advance marijuana policy reform helps in shaping federal drug policy.
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