While the administration’s medical cannabis rescheduling order is a welcome step forward, it falls well short of the comprehensive changes necessary to provide nationwide relief to patients — and it fails to harmonize state and federal marijuana policy.
“Representative Barney Frank was one of the earliest supporters of marijuana legalization in Congress. He consistently argued that prosecuting marijuana users was a waste of law enforcement resources, an infringement on personal liberty, and an issue better handled at the state level.”
The FY27 bill now advances to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to retain the provision in the final appropriations package.
“Governor Spanberger’s veto is a profound disappointment to the many Virginia voters who believed her when she said on the campaign trail that she supported establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis market. Now, instead of finally taking marijuana out of smoke shops and placing it behind an age-verified counter, Virginia is once again being forced to tolerate another yet year of dangerous illicit market activity in every corner of the Commonwealth.”
“Marijuana use under state marijuana programs or other non-prescription sources does not qualify as a ‘legitimate medical explanation’ under 49 CFR § 40.137(a),” the memo reads.
“After years of similar efforts being blocked under the previous administration, Virginia now has a process to revisit cannabis sentences that no longer reflect current law; families who have been waiting will finally have a path home.”
Following these expansions, NORML classifies Georgia as the 41st medical cannabis state.
“Acceptance of the newly proposed rule would mean that no state-legal medical cannabis patient will any longer have to choose between either their medicine or their constitutional right to bear arms.”