The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a major spending bill that continues to protect state medical marijuana programs from federal interference — while also declining to block the federal government’s efforts to reclassify cannabis.
By a decisive 397–28 vote, lawmakers approved the appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2026, covering agencies from Justice to Interior, sending it on to the Senate. At the heart of the legislation is a long-standing rider, first enacted in 2014, that bars the Justice Department from using federal funds to crack down on state medical marijuana programs — a key safeguard for patients and the industry alike.
Notably, a proposed provision that would have prevented the Justice Department from rescheduling cannabis was removed during negotiations. This leaves the path open for federal officials to continue considering moving marijuana from Schedule I — the strictest category — to Schedule III, which recognizes medical use and lower abuse potential.
Advocates welcomed the outcome: the medical marijuana protections remain intact, while the government retains flexibility on rescheduling. With the bill now headed to the Senate, states and patients can breathe a little easier — even if full federal approval for marijuana is still a few puffs away.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
