“This legislation embodies the wishes of more than two thirds of the American public, and will create a federal cannabis framework that respects states’ rights and is focused on science, pragmatism, and justice.”
Tag: Congress
The White House’s 2026 fiscal year budget request calls for the repeal of a long-standing federal budget rider that prohibits the Justice Department from using taxpayer dollars to prosecute patients and others involved in the state-legal medical cannabis industry.
“Although Congress has failed to amend federal cannabis laws to explicitly recognize state-legal cannabis markets, the attitudes and priorities of federal law enforcement agents and prosecutors have clearly shifted in a manner that reflects their reality. Now it’s time for Congress to do so by repealing the failed policy of federal marijuana prohibition.”
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 9-5 to approve legislation which will eliminate the ability of federal agencies to disqualify applicants for federal jobs and security clearances for solely for prior cannabis use.
In Congress, far too many politicians remain wed to the sort of “Reefer Madness” view that most voters have long since abandoned. Like Harris did, they also need to evolve their views on cannabis to more closely align with current scientific and public consensus.
Although members of the House have passed an earlier version of the legislation — the SAFE Banking Act — on seven prior occasions, today’s vote marks the first time that Senate members have voted in favor of the measure.
In the coming days, members of the House and Senate could take action on multiple important federal cannabis bills.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), along with 15 other co-sponsors, have reintroduced the Veterans Equal Access Act, or H.R. 2431.