GOP House Committee Moves to Block Marijuana Rescheduling
September 11, 2025
A GOP-controlled congressional committee has voted to block the Biden administration’s effort to reschedule marijuana under federal law, adding new hurdles to what has already been a slow and contested process.
On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee passed its Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) spending bill, which includes a provision prohibiting the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis.
What the Bill Says
The measure states:
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act.”
This effectively freezes DOJ action on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)—a shift the Biden administration recommended in 2023 but has since been delayed by administrative hearings and political pushback.
President Donald Trump, who previously voiced support for cannabis rescheduling during his campaign, announced last month that the administration would be making a decision on the issue “within weeks,” though he has not indicated which direction he plans to take.
State Protections and Penalty Enhancements
While blocking rescheduling efforts, the spending bill does continue a longstanding federal rider that protects state medical marijuana programs from DOJ interference. First adopted in 2014, this provision has been renewed annually and remains one of the strongest federal safeguards for state cannabis laws.
However, the latest version includes language reinforcing enhanced penalties for distributing cannabis within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, playgrounds, public housing, or colleges—an enforcement priority the DOJ would still be permitted to pursue.
Other Cannabis-Related Provisions
The bill also:
Keeps intact protections for state hemp research programs under the 2014 Farm Bill.
Blocks Washington, D.C. from using local tax dollars to legalize recreational cannabis sales, maintaining a federal restriction that has frustrated local lawmakers for years.
Directs federal agencies to study whether state-level cannabis regulatory models are “adequate.”
Calls for more research on cannabis products that reflect the potency and variety available in today’s legal markets.
Banking and Broader Industry Concerns
Separately, members of Congress recently advanced a Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) spending bill that drew criticism for excluding protections for banks that serve state-licensed marijuana and hemp businesses. Without these provisions, many cannabis operators remain shut out of mainstream financial services, forcing reliance on cash-heavy operations that increase security and compliance risks.
What Comes Next
The House committee’s move highlights the deep partisan divide over cannabis reform in Congress. While many Democrats and some Republicans support loosening federal restrictions, conservative lawmakers remain firm in opposing rescheduling or descheduling.
For advocates, the continuation of protections for state medical programs offers some reassurance, but the prohibition on rescheduling represents a significant setback for broader reform efforts.
As the bill moves forward, it will face negotiations with the Senate, which has not included similar anti-rescheduling language in its version of the spending bill. The outcome will depend on how both chambers reconcile their differences—and whether the Trump administration takes independent executive action on cannabis scheduling in the meantime.
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