Millions of Patients, One Message: Congress Must Protect Medical Cannabis
Immediate release:
July 11, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Today, a coalition of 45 national and state-based organizations representing millions of patients, healthcare professionals, veterans, and caregivers announced a joint letter to congressional appropriators, which was delivered last week, urging them to preserve crucial protections for state medical cannabis programs in the upcoming FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill
Addressed to Chairman Hal Rogers, Ranking Member Grace Meng, Chairman Jerry Moran, Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen, and other key members of Congress, the letter calls on lawmakers to extend the longstanding provision, the Medical Cannabis Amendment—commonly known as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment—which prevents the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from interfering in state-authorized medical cannabis programs.
"You have the power to protect the health, safety, and dignity of millions of Americans,” the letter states. “Until permanent federal legislation is enacted, maintaining the Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment is essential.” (see letter below)
Since 2014, the CJS Amendment has protected state medical cannabis programs, patients, and healthcare providers from federal prosecution, arrest, asset forfeiture, and harassment. The provision has received bipartisan support for over a decade and serves as a vital safeguard as Congress works toward comprehensive cannabis Legislation.
However, the FY2026 budget proposal from the Trump administration omits these protections—a move that patient advocates warn could jeopardize access for more than six million Americans currently enrolled in state medical cannabis programs.
“This is not a theoretical debate. Without the CJS Amendment, real people—including veterans, parents of children with epilepsy, persons with intractable pain—could lose access to the only treatment that works for them,” said Steph Sherer, Founder of Americans for Safe Access. “Congress must not let a decade of progress be erased by omission.”
Medical cannabis programs serve individuals with a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and cancer. In addition to improved symptom control, patients report better daily function, reduced reliance on opioids and other high-risk medications, and improved mental health outcomes.
More than 40 states, D.C., and four U.S. territories have legalized medical cannabis in some form, demonstrating overwhelming bipartisan support for access and regulation at the state level. The CJS Amendment ensures these democratically enacted programs can operate without threat of federal intervention.
The letter also notes that medical cannabis plays an important role in addressing the opioid epidemic and managing care for the nearly 30 million Americans with rare diseases, many of whom lack FDA-approved treatment options. Removing these protections now, the signatories argue, would create chaos in an already fragile healthcare landscape.
“The CJS Amendment is a necessary ceasefire,” Sherer added. “It buys time for Congress to do what patients need -- pass comprehensive legislation that reflects the scientific consensus and the will of the people.”
This coalition urges Congress to renew the CJS Amendment in the FY2026 appropriations cycle and to move swiftly on comprehensive federal reform, such as the Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Act (MCCA).
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