A coalition of anti-marijuana advocacy groups has filed a federal lawsuit aimed at blocking a new Trump administration initiative that would expand access to hemp-derived CBD and THC products through Medicare.
The lawsuit, led by Smart Approaches to Marijuana and several allied organizations, challenges the legality of a program being rolled out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiative is designed to allow certain Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, marking a significant shift in how these substances are treated within federal healthcare.
Under the plan, eligible patients could gain access to CBD-focused products—and in some cases limited THC formulations—through a federal reimbursement framework. Supporters say the program could improve access to alternative therapies for conditions like chronic pain, especially among older adults.
Opponents, however, argue that the policy oversteps federal authority and raises concerns about safety, oversight, and the broader implications of integrating cannabis-related products into government-backed healthcare. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt the rollout of the program, which was scheduled to begin this week.
The case names key federal health officials, including CMS leadership and the Department of Health and Human Services, and represents one of the first major legal challenges to the administration’s recent efforts to expand cannabinoid access at the federal level.
The outcome could have wide-reaching implications—not only for patients and providers, but also for the future role of cannabis-derived products within federally funded healthcare programs.
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