Cannabis Businesses Can Apply for Federal Protections This Week
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The move is seen as a significant step forward for the industry, which has long been plagued by legal uncertainty.
The DEA’s decision comes as the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has stated that the Trump administration is moving forward with marijuana rescheduling because it is “overwhelmingly popular with the vast majority of Americans” and will help people “who need it for medical treatment.” The administration has also argued that the move will help to reduce the number of people who are arrested and incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) has signed a bill to block an automatic review that could have legalized medical cannabis under state law following federal marijuana rescheduling. Indiana Governor Mike Braun (R) has also directed state agencies to meet with medical cannabis advocates as federal marijuana rescheduling takes effect.
Meanwhile, Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access has argued in a new op-ed that federal cannabis rescheduling will upend policies discriminating against patients in housing, employment, and healthcare. “The recognition of cannabis as a legitimate medicine means that patients and their caregivers are no longer considered criminals under federal law,” Sherer wrote. “They have federal rights. Those rights now protect patients in housing, employment, healthcare, and in their military careers.”
The Nebraska Supreme Court has also held a hearing in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn voter-approved medical cannabis legalization because, as the former state senator who filed the lawsuit argues, the policy is preempted by federal law.
In other news, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its annual congressional budget justification, which highlights the agency’s work on “exploring efforts to accelerate treatment development for post-traumatic stress disorder, including psychedelic drug development.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about psychedelics during a hearing.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has tweeted that the Trump administration’s decision to protect continued research and access to alternative treatments with hemp-derived CBD is a “good work.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has also tweeted that hemp should be deregulated completely.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) hosted Trulieve’s CEO on his show for a segment about marijuana rescheduling.
