Feds Seek MMJ Patient Info from Northeastern States; Massachusetts Complies
Mon / Aug 28th
Officials in Massachusetts have complied with a medical cannabis patient data request from the White House National Marijuana Initiative, but… Read More
Federal Policy
Although cannabis acceptance is rising in many states, its use and possession is still illegal under federal law under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Activists are still working to change federal policy to reflect the voters in many states who have approved social use. Explore news below about the decriminalization effort from patients, politicians, and businesses on the federal level:
Justice Department Allegedly Blocking DEA-Backed Cannabis Research Applications
Wed / Aug 16th
The Justice Department, at the behest of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has actively blocked the Drug Enforcement Agency from moving… Read More
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Call for Cannabis Reforms
Fri / Aug 11th
Calling prohibition “unconstitutional,” the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators has penned a resolution demanding the federal decriminalization of cannabis… Read More
National Conference of State Legislatures Call for Cannabis’ Removal from CSA
Tue / Aug 8th
The National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan non-government organization, has passed a resolution calling for the removal of cannabis… Read More
DOJ Task Force Recommends No Changes to Federal Cannabis Policy
Mon / Aug 7th
In its report to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety offered no new… Read More
Oregon Sen. Asks AG Sessions to Release DOJ Crime and Public Safety Task Force Report
Thu / Aug 3rd
Last week, advocates and cannabis industry operators were expecting an explosive report from the Department of Justice Task Force on… Read More
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker Introduces Federal Cannabis Legalization Proposal
Tue / Aug 1st
Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat and former mayor of Newark, introduced a proposal today that would legalize cannabis… Read More
Federal Lawmakers Introduce Measure to Treat Hemp Like Traditional Agricultural Crop
Mon / Jul 31st
A bi-partisan bill has been introduced in Congress to exempt industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled… Read More
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Amendment Preventing MMJ Crackdown
Fri / Jul 28th
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Rohrbacher-Blumenauer amendment, which protects state-approved medical cannabis programs from federal interference, as part… Read More
House Republicans Block Veterans Equal Access and Hemp Water Rights Budget Amendments
Wed / Jul 26th
According to a report from MassRoots, The House Rules Committee is blocking two cannabis-related budget amendments from floor consideration, ruling… Read More
Federal Lawsuit Filed Challenging Constitutionality of Cannabis Prohibition
Tue / Jul 25th
Former New York Jets defensive end Marvin Washington is one of five plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the Department… Read More
Bill Allowing Use of Federal Water for Hemp Cultivation Approved as Part of Spending Measure
Fri / Jul 21st
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the fiscal year 2018 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill which includes the Industrial… Read More
Canadian Premiers Want Extension for Cannabis Legalization Deadline
Wed / Jul 19th
Some Canadian premiers are seeking to delay the implementation of the federal legalization of cannabis due to concerns over health… Read More
CBD Laws Are Convoluted Enough Without DEA Interjections
Mon / Jul 17th
In a recent interview with the Cannabist, the DEA took aim at CBD production, specifically naming Charlotte’s Web – a… Read More
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veterans Equal Access Amendment
Fri / Jul 14th
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an amendment as part of the 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies… Read More
High-Powered Lobbying Firms Hired for Cannabis Policy Advocacy in D.C.
Thu / Jul 13th
The New Federalism Fund, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to state’s rights issues, has hired consulting firm Trimpa Group to lobby… Read More
Michigan Lawmaker Seeking Federal Clarification on Cannabis Industry
Mon / Jul 10th
A resolution in Michigan’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives is asking the federal government to both decriminalize cannabis federally and allow… Read More
DEA Doubles Down: CBD Illegal
Thu / Jul 6th
The Cannabist has published a series of statements by the Drug Enforcement Agency that further muddy the waters of the… Read More
Prohibitionist Group Claims MMJ Protections Eliminated in Federal Budget; Blumenaur Rebukes
Thu / Jun 29th
Yesterday, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based cannabis prohibitionist group, sent out a foreboding press release claiming that the Rohrabacher-Farr… Read More
Trump Allies Diverging from Administration’s Anti-Cannabis Stance
Tue / Jun 27th
Powerful allies of President Donald Trump and conservative Republicans are speaking out and organizing against the plans by Attorney General… Read More
CARERS Act Reintroduced Following Sessions’ Attempt to Undo MMJ Protections
Mon / Jun 19th
In light of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recently revealed attempt to restore Congressional funding for the prosecution of state-legal cannabis operations, a… Read More
Federal Bill Would Allow CBD Research, Entrench Pharmaceutical Companies
Fri / Jun 16th
The leaders of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), have introduced… Read More
Pennsylvania Gov. Threatens Legal Action if Feds Attempt MMJ Crackdown
Fri / Jun 16th
In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf warned that if the federal government interferes with… Read More
Deputy Attorney General Toes Anti-Cannabis Line During Senate Hearing
Wed / Jun 14th
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein doubled down on the anti-cannabis stance of the Trump Administration during testimony in front of… Read More