A key congressional committee has voted to prevent the federal cannabis rescheduling process, despite the Trump administration’s recent announcement to advance the reform. The House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill containing a provision that, if enacted, would obstruct federal officials from taking further steps to implement broader cannabis rescheduling.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had previously announced that certain marijuana products, specifically those regulated by a state medical cannabis license or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would immediately move to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. An administrative hearing is scheduled to consider broader federal cannabis rescheduling, as reported by Marijuana Moment.
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill. This bill includes Section 591, which states: “None of the funds appropriated under this Act or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).”
The committee passed this anti-rescheduling provision in a 32-28 vote. While similar language has been advanced by the panel in previous years, these provisions have not been enacted into law. The bill will now proceed to the House Rules Committee for preparation before floor consideration.
The immediate impact of this congressional rider on businesses and patients already covered by the Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s order to move certain products to Schedule III remains unclear. However, if this language is passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump, it could prevent the scheduled administrative hearing and subsequent actions on broader federal cannabis rescheduling.
Alongside the provision targeting federal cannabis rescheduling, the funding bill also includes an updated version of a longstanding rider designed to protect state medical cannabis programs from federal interference. Section 531(a) specifies that no Department of Justice funds may be used to prevent states or territories from implementing their laws authorizing the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana. This year’s provision notably includes Nebraska for the first time, following its 2024 voter approval of medical cannabis legalization.
A new subsection, Section 531(b), seeks to allow the Justice Department to enforce 21 U.S.C. 860, which mandates increased penalties for distributing cannabis within 1,000 feet of schools or public housing. This specific subsection has not been enacted in previous appropriations legislation.
Furthermore, the bill includes Section 530, a rider protecting state hemp research programs. This provision prevents the Department of Justice or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from using funds in contravention of Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which pertains to the legitimacy of industrial hemp research.
The committee report accompanying the spending bill contains several other cannabis-related directives:
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hemp Gazette does not provide medical recommendations, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any decisions regarding your health or any medical condition. Statements concerning the therapeutic uses of hemp, cannabis, or cannabinoid-derived products have not been evaluated by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medicinal cannabis products in Australia are accessed via prescription pathways under TGA regulation.
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