The bill, titled the “Stop Pot Act,” was passed on July 10 by the House Subcommittee on Health under the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It is being championed by Republican lawmakers who oppose what they view as executive overreach in altering federal drug policy without direct Congressional involvement.
Representative Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican and vocal critic of cannabis liberalization, has been a leading force behind the measure. Supporters of the bill argue that any change in the legal status of cannabis should be subject to legislative scrutiny and debate, not administrative action.
“This is about maintaining the integrity of the process and ensuring public safety,” Sessions stated during the subcommittee session. “We cannot allow a unilateral change in federal drug classification that circumvents the role of Congress.”
Critics, however, have characterized the bill as a politically motivated attempt to stall long-overdue reforms. They argue that rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III—a classification reserved for drugs with moderate to low potential for dependence and accepted medical use—could alleviate barriers to research, reduce tax burdens on legal cannabis businesses, and better align federal policy with the laws of most U.S. states, which have legalized marijuana to varying degrees.
Advocates for reform have also pointed out the inconsistency in keeping cannabis in the same legal category as heroin, while drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids are classified less severely.
Despite the bill’s advancement in subcommittee, its path through the full House and Senate remains uncertain. The broader context includes growing bipartisan support for cannabis reform, as well as an evolving public sentiment favoring legalization or decriminalization.
The DOJ is currently reviewing the Drug Enforcement Administration’s recommendation to reclassify cannabis, a process that could culminate in the most substantial shift in federal cannabis policy in over 50 years. Should rescheduling proceed, it would not legalize cannabis at the federal level but would significantly alter how the substance is regulated, researched, and taxed.
As the debate intensifies, the proposed legislation signals a brewing clash between executive authority, legislative oversight, and a nation increasingly divided over cannabis policy.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
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