Federal Policy

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled last month that importing cannabis paraphernalia into the US is legal, breaking a previous Controlled Substances Act ban.

President Joe Biden issued a pardon for all federal cannabis possession charges on Thursday and said his administration would take steps to consider rescheduling cannabis under federal law.

A federal proposal would give small-scale cannabis companies the ability to operate on a direct-to-consumer model to help the smaller operations compete with large, corporate entities once cannabis is finally legalized nationwide.

The Air Force and Space Force are considering a recruitment policy change that would no longer automatically disqualify new recruits who test positive for cannabis.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed a bill to protect patients’ access to medical treatment even if they test positive for cannabis and the rights of doctors to treat such patients without ramifications from federal law.

The FTC is issuing product refunds for customers who bought CBD products from Kushly Industries LLC after the company made unsubstantiated treatment claims regarding CBD’s effects on ailments ranging from acne to cancer.

A recent memo from the Biden Administration suggests that White House applicants who have invested in the legal cannabis industry may be denied security clearances.

The Marijuana Misdemeanor Expungement Act, a bipartisan House proposal filed last week, would facilitate the expungement of low-level federal cannabis misdemeanors.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week to discuss the state of the hemp industry and how the government can continue to support the crop.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support that encourages medical cannabis research by easing the federal cannabis research application process.

The U.S. Senate’s long-awaited cannabis legalization bill was finally filed this morning by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The U.S. House passed a package of budget bills including one proposal to allow cannabis TV and radio advertisements in states where cannabis has been legalized.

President Joe Biden recently reiterated that he believes nobody should be imprisoned for “the use of marijuana” and said his administration is working on a “crime bill” to address the issue.

Democratic senators from four U.S. states sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for his administration to deschedule cannabis and issue pardons to all individuals convicted of non-violent cannabis crimes. 

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced an amendment this week to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Department of Defense to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for veterans.

The House Appropriations Committee approved an appropriations bill that includes language blocking the FCC from sanctioning broadcasters who air cannabis advertisements in legalized states.

The House Committee on Appropriations approved a measure to keep the DOJ from using its resources to interfere with state-approved cannabis industries.

The SAFE Banking Act was removed from the COMPETES Act, a China competition bill, at the behest of Republican lawmakers who argued the cannabis banking reforms didn’t belong in the legislation.

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear cases regarding employers’ refusal to pay for medical cannabis as a part of worker’s compensation claims.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) signed a bill legalizing pharmaceuticals containing THC so long as they have been approved by the FDA.

USDA Emergency Relief Program funds are not available for cannabis cultivators due to the plant’s federal status as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. Hemp farmers are not subject to the same provisions.

Despite President Biden’s campaign promise to reform federal cannabis laws, applicants interested in White House internships must disclose prior cannabis use, which could affect their eligibility even if the consumption took place in a legalized state.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed a resolution calling on federal lawmakers to pass the SAFE Banking Act and to legalize both medical and adult-use cannabis.