Cannabis News

US House Passes Bill Protecting State Medical Marijuana Laws And Rejecting Attempt To Block Trump’s Rescheduling Move

Published

6 months ago

January 8, 2026

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The US House of Representatives has passed a spending bill that would continue Protecting state medical marijuana programs from federal interference—Rejecting a provision he previously advanced to prevent the Justice Department from rescheduling cannabis.

After bicameral negotiations on the appropriations package, the House advanced it on a 397-28 vote Thursday, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

Advocates and industry players were encouraged after the House Appropriations Committee approved last year the removal of reconsideration language from the final agreement, as well as keeping a longstanding rider that prevented the DOJ from using its funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws.

The legislation now advancing to the Senate covers fiscal year 2026 spending for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), Interior, Environment, and Energy and Water Development.

The move by President Donald Trump to Attorney General Pam Bondi from Schedule I to III of the Marijuana Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Here is the language of the provision advanced by the House but left out of the final agreement:

“SEC. 607. Funds made available by this Act or otherwise made available may not be used to reschedule marijuana (as that term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 USC 802)) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established by section (802) of the Controlled Substances Act.”

GOP senators have it individually tried to block the administration from rescheduling cannabis As part of a stand-alone bill introduced in 2023, but that proposal was not heard or voted on.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said Marijuana redistricting appeals process ‘remains pending’ Despite Trump’s executive order.

The appropriations package passed by the House also includes a pilot that has been renewed annually since 2014 to block the Justice Department from using its funds to implement state medical marijuana laws.

However, for reasons that are unclear, the rider listing every state that would be protected omits Nebraska.

Here is the text of that provision:

“SEC. 531. None of the funds made available to the Department of Justice under this Act shall be used in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire. Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico, to authorize their use, distribution, or establishment of their own laws.”

Missing from the final version is an addition to that rider that the House had previously included, which would have allowed enhanced penalties for sales near schools and parks.

That provision specifically specified that the Justice Department could still enforce a section of the US Code that requires increased penalties for distributing cannabis within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, vocational school, university, playground or public housing.

However, a joint statement explaining the spending package also says that Congress “directs the proper enforcement of federal law, the Drug-Free School Zones Act (2 1 USC 860), to ensure that areas where young children are present, including schools and playgrounds, remain drug-free.”

This appears to be related to a Senate committee report released last year stating that the pilot to protect medical marijuana “does not expressly prevent” US attorneys from enforcing a federal statute that prohibits the sale or manufacture of controlled substances in “areas where young children are present, schools and playgrounds.”

The invoice It also maintains protections for state industrial hemp research programs under the 2014 Farm Bill:

“SEC. 530. None of the funds made available by this Act shall be used by the Department of Justice or the Drug Enforcement Administration in violation of Section 7606 (‘Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research’) of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79).

Advocates may welcome the exclusion of the reconsideration provision and the inclusion of medical marijuana protections in the CJS bill, but many cannabis advocates protested Trump’s signing of a separate credit measure in November. It includes provisions to ban most consumable hemp products.

However, when the president ordered marijuana reregulation last month, he also directed Congress to review that policy and ensure that people continue to have access to full-spectrum CBD products. A federal agency will also move to cover these products for certain Medicare and Medicaid patients.

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Cannabis News

cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

Published

23 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/

Cannabis News

Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

Published

23 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

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Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.