Federal Republicans push back on cannabis rescheduling 🥊

GOP
GOP-led committee wants a review of cannabis rescheduling

Driving the news: Last year, President Joe Biden directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to move cannabis from the most restrictive Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to the less restrictive Schedule III.

While stopping far short of federal legalization, it would have been the biggest change to federal drug policy since the Nixon Administration. 

But since President Donald Trump took office, rescheduling has sputtered amid a series of lawsuits and shifting federal priorities. Planned January hearings were cancelled, and the status quo remains. 

What happened: Federal Republicans are seizing the moment to push back on cannabis reform. 

The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee attached a report to a big 2026 spending bill that directs HHS to complete a report on the rescheduling recommendation — but not in a good way.

The bill would also, if passed, close the intoxicating hemp ‘loophole’ that allows hemp-derived THC products to be sold across the US. It passed a subcommittee last week, but as I’ve written, paints far too broad of a brush to be effective legislation.

What they’re saying: “The Committee is concerned about deviations from established drug scheduling evaluation standards in the FDA 2023 marijuana scheduling review,” the report reads, per Marijuana Moment. 

“The Committee is concerned about reports of the mental health hazards of regular use of high-potency marijuana, particularly among adolescents. The Committee encourages the FDA to support research on high-potency marijuana and its effects on the adolescent brain, specifically regarding addiction and mental illness such as schizophrenia or psychosis.”

Call out: If the language in this report sounds familiar, by attacking the HHS review process and highlighting the potential of cannabis to be addictive and spur schizophrenia and psychosis, that’s because it comes straight from Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a prominent anti-cannabis advocacy group.

SAM CEO and founder Kevin Sabet confirmed as such on X. Clearly, the group is finding a receptive audience among House Republicans.

And for what it’s worth, the jury is very much out on whether cannabis causes mental illness. It’s an under-studied, developing area for scientists and medical researchers. 

And more: Nevada Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said in an interview that Trump’s federal budget cuts could catalyze a renewed push within states to legalize cannabis.

But, she says that initial hope among pro-reform lawmakers during the campaign that Trump would act on cannabis reform have dissipated. 

“It’s just so hard to say about this administration. I mean every policy position they take, they switch the next day or the next hour,” she said on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Voice of Cannabis podcast. 

“Look at tariffs — back and forth, back and forth. Employees of the federal government, same thing. So it’s hard for me to predict, but until they kind of get on board more, I think you will still see a reluctance by Republicans in Congress.”

-JB

“Texans do not want a total ban. They do want a reasonable, regulated hemp market free of dangerous products - especially those advertised and sold to minors. The gas station garbage must go while Texans enjoy the freedom they expect from conservative governance,” Texas Republican State Rep. and former House Speaker Dade Phelan said on X, in a discussion about a bill that’s awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature that would outlaw intoxicating THC products in the state.

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