Skip to content
MMJ Gazette
  Tuesday 26 August 2025
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Authors
  • Home
  • News
  • CBD
  • Cannabis
  • Drugs
  • Marijuana
  • Tobacco
  • Law
Trending
August 23, 2025South Dakota Marijuana Industry Rallies Behind Crackdown on Hemp THC August 22, 2025Florida Court Says Medical Marijuana Patients Can Own Guns August 7, 2025Los Angeles Greenlighted Massive Fee Hikes for Cannabis Operators—And Businesses Say It Could Break Them August 6, 2025Ayr Wellness to Shutter Grow Sites in Massachusetts and Nevada Amid Financial Strain August 4, 2025Cannabis Businesses Face Tightrope Act as Rules Shift State to State August 3, 2025Cannabis Dispensaries Rethink Retail: Design That Sells, Not Just Serves August 2, 2025Legal Weed’s Tax Nightmare: How Cannabis Firms Are Pushing Back Against 280E August 2, 2025Kentucky Gears Up for First Legal Medical Marijuana Sales by Autumn July 31, 2025Hemp THC Ban Pulled from Senate Bill After McConnell–Paul Face-Off July 30, 2025Oklahoma’s Marijuana Legalisation Fight Is Back—And It’s Getting Personal
MMJ Gazette
MMJ Gazette
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Authors
MMJ Gazette
  Marijuana  Congress Budget Bills Signal Split on Marijuana Policy, But Medical Use Still Safe
MarijuanaNews

Congress Budget Bills Signal Split on Marijuana Policy, But Medical Use Still Safe

Lars BeckersLars Beckers—July 22, 20250
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInTumblrRedditVKWhatsAppEmail

Congress is quietly inching forward on cannabis policy, and the fiscal 2026 budget bills reveal something unexpected: a bit of bipartisanship on medical marijuana, but clear divisions on rescheduling and enforcement—especially when it comes to international actors suspected of backing illegal grows.

Both the House and Senate versions of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) spending bill are taking shape. While lawmakers remain deeply divided over broader cannabis reform, they appear united in continuing a critical safeguard for state-run medical marijuana programs.

Medical Marijuana Still Sheltered From Federal Interference

This is a rare bright spot for patients and state-regulated providers. For over a decade, a spending provision—known originally as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment—has blocked the U.S. Department of Justice from using federal funds to prosecute legal medical cannabis operations. And this year, that protection remains.

The House and Senate bills both include language shielding compliant businesses and patients from federal crackdowns. That’s no small win, considering that federal law still technically treats marijuana as a Schedule I drug.

Just one sentence keeps an entire industry safe:

“None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to prevent any of the States… from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

The bipartisan support for this clause stands in contrast to the heated debates happening elsewhere in the same bills.

House GOP Tries Blocking Rescheduling — Senate Doesn’t Bite

Back in May, the Biden administration moved to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III—a big deal in regulatory terms. It wouldn’t legalise cannabis, but would acknowledge medical uses and reduce some research restrictions.

Some Republicans in the House didn’t like that. They tried slipping in an amendment to block the Department of Justice from spending money on implementing the change.

But here’s the twist: the Senate version, also Republican-led, didn’t touch the issue at all. That might suggest there’s more openness—or perhaps just less appetite for the fight—on that side of Capitol Hill.

One-sentence insight:

This split suggests rescheduling may not be a priority battleground in budget negotiations, even as it remains politically contentious.

For now, the move to Schedule III remains on track.

Concerns Over Chinese-Linked Illegal Grows Linger

Another issue creeping into cannabis debates this year? Foreign-backed illegal grows, especially those allegedly funded by Chinese investors.

Both federal law enforcement and state officials have reported a rise in suspicious grow operations, often hidden in plain sight in rural areas. These sites frequently bypass safety rules, use stolen electricity and water, and dodge taxes.

Lawmakers are worried. While the CJS bill doesn’t specifically name China, several Republicans have raised national security concerns. Expect further discussion when the House meets this Thursday.

Let’s not forget:

  • Illegal grows strain local infrastructure.

  • Some operations are tied to human trafficking and organised crime.

  • Legal cannabis businesses can’t compete with untaxed product from illicit farms.

Lawmakers from Western states like Oregon and Oklahoma have been particularly vocal about this. The Justice Department may get nudged to investigate more aggressively.

Timeline and What Happens Next

Right now, both versions of the CJS spending bill are moving through committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version on Thursday. The House version, already cleared in subcommittee, heads to full committee on Thursday.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the timeline so far:

Date Action Taken
July 15 House CJS bill gets subcommittee approval
July 18 Senate Appropriations Committee passes bill
July 25 (est.) House committee vote scheduled
September Full floor votes expected

After both chambers pass their versions, a conference committee will iron out differences. That could be where the bigger marijuana fights emerge—especially if rescheduling gets revisited or more amendments are introduced.

But for now, the focus seems to be on preserving what’s already in place.

A Policy Stuck Between Progress and Stalemate

Congressional handling of marijuana policy feels like a car with one foot on the gas and one on the brake.

Some things are moving. Medical marijuana protections are solid. Rescheduling is proceeding—cautiously. But broader reform? Still stalled.

The mix of bipartisan cooperation and ideological sparring keeps progress slow. One side sees cannabis as a states’ rights issue. The other wants tighter federal control—or outright prohibition. And somewhere in the middle are patients, business owners, and regulators trying to follow two sets of rules at once.

There’s no clear path to national consensus. But in the patchwork of federal budget bills and policy riders, we get a glimpse of the quiet, incremental way cannabis reform happens in Washington.

FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInTumblrRedditVKWhatsAppEmail

Lars Beckers

Lars Beckers is a distinguished senior content writer at MMJ Gazette, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of medical marijuana and cannabis-related content. With a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for sharing knowledge, Lars's articles offer readers comprehensive insights and engaging narratives in the dynamic world of cannabis. Known for his meticulous research, clarity of expression, and commitment to delivering high-quality content, Lars brings a seasoned perspective to his work, educating and informing audiences on the latest trends and developments in the field.

New York Cannabis Recall Sparks Fresh Scrutiny Over Pesticide Testing
Missouri Cannabis Manufacturer Loses License After THC Source Scandal
Related posts
  • Related posts
  • More from author
Marijuana

South Dakota Marijuana Industry Rallies Behind Crackdown on Hemp THC

August 23, 20250
Marijuana

Florida Court Says Medical Marijuana Patients Can Own Guns

August 22, 20250
Cannabis

Los Angeles Greenlighted Massive Fee Hikes for Cannabis Operators—And Businesses Say It Could Break Them

August 7, 20250
Load more
Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SEARCH
PROMOTIONS
RECENT POSTS
  • South Dakota Marijuana Industry Rallies Behind Crackdown on Hemp THC
  • Florida Court Says Medical Marijuana Patients Can Own Guns
  • Los Angeles Greenlighted Massive Fee Hikes for Cannabis Operators—And Businesses Say It Could Break Them
  • Ayr Wellness to Shutter Grow Sites in Massachusetts and Nevada Amid Financial Strain
  • Cannabis Businesses Face Tightrope Act as Rules Shift State to State
  • Cannabis Dispensaries Rethink Retail: Design That Sells, Not Just Serves
  • Legal Weed’s Tax Nightmare: How Cannabis Firms Are Pushing Back Against 280E
  • Kentucky Gears Up for First Legal Medical Marijuana Sales by Autumn
  • Hemp THC Ban Pulled from Senate Bill After McConnell–Paul Face-Off
  • Oklahoma’s Marijuana Legalisation Fight Is Back—And It’s Getting Personal
    © MMJ Gazette. 2024
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Authors