A coalition of 45 advocacy and medical organizations—including Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the U.S. Pain Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Epilepsy Foundation of America, and others—is urging Congress to safeguard state medical cannabis programs in federal spending legislation and to allow federal cannabis rescheduling efforts to proceed.
In a letter sent Monday to House and Senate appropriations leaders, the coalition emphasized the importance of preserving language in the annual spending bill that protects state-legal medical marijuana programs from federal interference—a provision that has been in place since 2014 but must be renewed each year.
ASA also pointed out a concerning omission in the House version of the bill: Nebraska, where voters recently approved medical cannabis access, is not included in the list of protected jurisdictions. The group is calling on lawmakers to correct the oversight.
At the same time, the coalition is pushing back against a separate provision in the same appropriations bill that would block the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using its funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis. That rider, included in the House’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) funding bill, would halt the Biden administration’s efforts to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act—a process that has been stalled for months amid ongoing administrative hearings.
In their letter, the coalition highlighted the life-changing impact of medical cannabis for patients with serious and often untreatable conditions. “Medical cannabis patients are living with conditions for which cannabis may be the only or most effective treatment option,” they wrote. “Patients report improved symptom relief, better functionality, and improved mental health with access to medical cannabis.”
The letter underscores the importance of these programs for people with chronic or rare diseases, including the 30 million Americans with one of 7,000 rare diseases—95 percent of which have no FDA-approved treatments. One-third of Americans live with chronic pain, and 10 percent suffer from debilitating, intractable pain. Research from state-level programs has shown that cannabis can help reduce reliance on high-risk medications, such as opioids, potentially lowering overdose rates and medication-related complications.
The signatories also highlighted recent progress in cannabis policy, including expanded access to U.S.-based research, international treaty changes, and growing FDA recognition of cannabis’s medical benefits. “You have the power to protect the health, safety, and dignity of millions of Americans,” the letter concluded. “Until permanent federal reform is passed, renewing the Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment is essential.”
Other organizations joining the letter include the Tourette Association of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), AIDS United, and Minorities for Medical Marijuana.
While the House bill maintains protections for state medical cannabis laws, it includes a new clause allowing the DOJ to continue enforcing penalties for cannabis distribution within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, colleges, and public housing. That language, first introduced in last year’s bill, raises concerns for patient advocates.
Steph Sherer, ASA’s founder, called the inclusion of the Medical Cannabis Amendment a “partial victory,” but warned that other parts of the bill pose significant risks. “Stopping the rescheduling process now would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and an unnecessary barrier to understanding the full medical potential of cannabis,” she said in a press release.
The CJS bill also preserves another rider that bars DOJ interference in state hemp research programs.
Meanwhile, outside the halls of Congress, the marijuana rescheduling process remains in limbo. DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney paused hearings on the Schedule III proposal more than six months ago. A recent joint report to the judge confirmed that DEA attorneys and rescheduling proponents remain at an impasse.
The issue continues to gain political attention. A retired NFL player turned cannabis advocate recently met with top Trump administration officials to discuss federal rescheduling. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a longtime marijuana reform supporter, was recently seen reviewing what appeared to be a consulting agreement with a cannabis company that included a substantial performance bonus tied to policy outcomes.
Gaetz has publicly stated that embracing marijuana reform—especially rescheduling—could help Republicans gain traction with younger voters. He also suggested that former President Trump’s support for rescheduling was a political strategy rather than a personal belief.
Polling appears to support Gaetz’s claim. A Republican pollster associated with Trump released a survey in April showing strong GOP support for various cannabis reforms, including rescheduling. Notably, Republican voters expressed even greater support than the general public for letting states set their own marijuana laws without federal interference.
Recently confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi, formerly Florida’s state attorney general, has not taken a public stance on marijuana policy. During her confirmation hearings, she declined to outline her approach to cannabis reform, despite her previous opposition to medical marijuana.
Amid ongoing federal delays, congressional researchers have reiterated that lawmakers could bypass administrative holdups and reschedule cannabis themselves through legislation—offering a faster and potentially less legally contentious route to reform.
Separately, a new coalition led by retired boxer Mike Tyson, featuring professional athletes and entertainers, sent a letter to Trump last week. The group thanked him for prior clemency actions and urged him to go further by rescheduling cannabis, expanding pardons, and supporting banking access for licensed marijuana businesses.
Cannabis is not just a passing trend—it’s a time-honored botanical with a rich history of healing. For too long, its medicinal potential has been clouded by stigma and legal barriers, leaving many without access to natural relief. Now that medical cannabis is legal in Georgia, residents have a safe, plant-based alternative worth considering. If you believe it could support your health, apply today for your 5-year medical cannabis card.
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