House Committee Votes to Block Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Amid Ongoing Reform Efforts

A pivotal move in the ongoing federal cannabis policy debate occurred Wednesday as the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that would block the Biden administration from advancing marijuana rescheduling. Despite the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent announcement to move state-regulated medical marijuana products to Schedule III, this new provision—if enacted—would prohibit federal agencies from using allocated funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. The measure passed narrowly with a 32-28 vote and now heads to the House Rules Committee for further consideration before reaching the House floor

The bill’s language explicitly 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 ) or to remove marijuana from the schedules.” While similar efforts have been floated in past years, none were enacted into law. This latest attempt comes as an administrative hearing is set for next month to consider broader rescheduling, raising questions about the future of ongoing reforms if the provision survives the legislative process

In tandem with the anti-rescheduling measure, the committee renewed and updated a longstanding rider protecting state medical cannabis programs from federal interference. For the first time, Nebraska was added to the list of states shielded after advocates highlighted its omission despite recent voter approval of medical cannabis legalization. The bill also introduces a new subsection permitting the DOJ to enforce enhanced penalties for cannabis distribution near schools and other sensitive areas, a step that has not previously been enacted

Beyond marijuana rescheduling, the appropriations package addresses other cannabis-related issues. The committee report urges the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on unregulated cannabinoid products, citing concerns for consumer safety. “The Committee is concerned by the proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids,” the report states, directing federal agencies to take “appropriate enforcement actions against those whose products threaten consumer safety.” Additional provisions call for investigations into money laundering by Chinese-linked illegal marijuana operations and fund a wastewater surveillance pilot in federal prisons to monitor drug and disease prevalence

The House is also set to consider an amendment allowing military veterans to obtain medical marijuana recommendations through Department of Veterans Affairs physicians, highlighting the complexity of cannabis policy reform at the federal level. Meanwhile, the appropriations bill maintains protections for state hemp research programs, though Congress and President Trump have already signed legislation that will soon recriminalize certain hemp THC products. As Congress continues to grapple with divergent approaches to cannabis policy, a new Congressional Research Service report details the limitations of the federal rescheduling move, underscoring the uncertain landscape faced by patients, businesses, and regulators alike

From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, this latest congressional action signals persistent resistance to federal marijuana reform, even as administrative and state-level changes gain momentum. Industry stakeholders and patients should closely monitor the bill’s progress, as its passage could stall or complicate ongoing rescheduling efforts and shape the regulatory landscape for years to come. The evolving interplay between federal restrictions and state-level legalization remains a defining challenge for the cannabis sector