Last week, the CJS Appropriation Committees in both the House and the Senate went against President Trump's proposal to omit protections for state medical cannabis laws. This was in part thanks to efforts by Americans for Safe Access and 45+ national organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation, the National MS Society, the U.S. Pain Foundation, Veterans Initiative 22, AIDS Action, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which signed on to a letter urging Congress to preserve the CJS Amendment.

This legislation has now been referred to the full House Appropriations Committee for a hearing on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The inclusion of the Medical Cannabis Amendment language is a partial victory for patients. However, the changes to the amendment would still put patients in harm's way, and stopping the rescheduling process at this time would not only be a waste of taxpayers' dollars but also an unnecessary roadblock in getting to the truth about the medical uses of cannabis.   

 These modest but crucial changes could impact the lives of millions of Americans:

  • TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT – ADD NEBRASKA SEC. 529(a)
  • REMOVE SEC. 529(b): Allows some federal intervention 
  • REMOVE SEC. 607: Stops Rescheduling Process

ACT NOW TO HELP MAKE THESE CHANGES. TIME IS RUNNING OUT! 

Please use the instructions below to contact the members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask them to amend the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill during the full committee markup on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 10 am ET. 

1) Please click on the "mail to" link below to email the staff of the members of the House Appropriations Committee

2) Add a subject like "Re: Clean-Up Amendments for CJS Appropriations FY2026"

3) Then copy and paste the letter below into your email browser. Feel free to personalize the email and don't forget to sign it!

TAKE ACTION: 

Mail to: (Consider moving these to emails to the bcc)

Subject: Re: Clean-Up Amendments for CJS Appropriations FY2026

Content: 

                A letter for the Members of the House Appropriations Committee:

I urge you to amend the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill during full committee markup on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT – ADD NEBRASKA to SEC. 529(a):
Due to what we hope is an oversight, Nebraska was not included in SEC. 529(a). In November 2024, voters overwhelmingly approved ballot measures establishing a comprehensive medical cannabis program. Governor Jim Pillen signed them into law on December 12, 2024, making Nebraska a medical cannabis state eligible for protection under this section. Please add Nebraska to the list.

REMOVE SEC. 529(b):
This new provision would undercut the intent of protections that Congress has renewed for the past decade. States—not Congress—determine the location and licensing of pharmacies and medical cannabis dispensaries. This change would unfairly penalize patients by disrupting their access. Every state has established regulations to protect public health and safety. These programs should not be upended by one sentence in an appropriations bill.

REMOVE SEC. 607:
This provision would interfere with the ongoing federal rescheduling process initiated in 2022 under the Controlled Substances Act. This process has included thousands of hours of research, a full public comment period, and is currently undergoing an Administrative Law Judge hearing. Congress retains the authority to act at any time—but halting this science-based process midstream undermines both evidence-based policymaking and public trust.

This position is shared by organizations representing millions of patients. See coalition letter here:

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I urge you to make these corrections before advancing the bill to the House floor and consider the lives impacted by your decisions:

        • Up to 50% of patients undergoing chemotherapy as a cancer treatment use medical cannabis to alleviate nausea, stimulate appetite, and manage pain—enhancing quality of life during treatment.
        • 1 out of 5 Older Adults who use medical cannabis to manage chronic pain, arthritis, sleep disturbances, and appetite issues.
        • 22% of Veterans use medical cannabis to manage these symptoms from PTSD, chronic pain, and sleep disorders
        • 30–40% of patients with Chronic Pain use medical cannabis to manage pain and improve daily function, potentially reducing opioid dependency.

These modest but crucial changes could impact the lives of millions of Americans. Thank you for time and consideration: 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

(Your City, State) 

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