Protect Medical Cannabis Programs & the 6 million Patients They Serve
Chairman Hal Rogers, Ranking Member Grace Meng, Chairman Jerry Moran, Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen, Chairman Tom Cole, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman Susan Collins, Vice Chair Patty Murray, and Honorable Members of the Committees:
We, the undersigned organizations, representing millions of Americans who depend on state-authorized medical cannabis programs, urge you to extend the critical protections in the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill until Congress creates a permanent solution to align federal cannabis policy with state laws.
Since 2014, bipartisan Congressional action has protected patients, caregivers, state regulators, and legitimate cannabis businesses from federal prosecution, arrest, asset forfeiture, and harassment. The Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment, also referred to as the Rohrbacher-Farr Amendment, serves as a crucial safeguard, preventing interference by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in states with medical cannabis programs. President Trump’s proposed FY2026 budget omits these longstanding protections, which would put the health of more than six million Americans and those who support their treatment at risk.
Forty states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories have passed laws creating medical cannabis programs to provide a regulated pathway for individuals living with chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and other severe medical conditions to access cannabis medicines under the care of their healthcare providers. The removal of these federal protections would subject patients and the programs they rely upon to unacceptable uncertainty and harm.
Medical cannabis patients are living with one or more medical conditions or experiencing symptoms for which cannabis or a cannabinoid-based product may be the only treatment option, a more suitable option, or work as an adjunct treatment, including side-effect mitigation from other medications in their treatment plans. Patients consistently report improved symptom relief, better daily functioning, and enhanced mental health with access to medical cannabis.
Medical cannabis programs have become a lifeline for millions of Americans, including many of the 30 million Americans living with one of 7000 known rare diseases (95% of which have no FDA-approved treatment available) as well as the one-third of Americans who live with chronic pain and the 10% of Americans living with debilitating, intractable pain. In fact, research generated from the state programs suggests medical cannabis may help some patients reduce or avoid certain high-risk medications, including opioids, contributing to lower rates of overdose and medication-related complications.
Over the last decade, significant barriers to cannabis reform have been dismantled. Advocates have successfully championed regulatory changes enabling U.S.-based cannabis research, debunked outdated misconceptions in federal agencies, changed the scheduling of cannabis under United Nations treaties, established rigorous safety standards, and demonstrated clear medical benefits recognized by the FDA.
You have the power to protect the health, safety, and dignity of millions of Americans. Until comprehensive, permanent federal legislation is enacted to align federal cannabis policy with state laws and integrate medical cannabis into mainstream healthcare, maintaining the Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment is essential.
We respectfully request your active participation in ensuring these vital protections are renewed in the FY2026 budget. Millions of patients are counting on your leadership.
Sincerely,
Steph Sherer, Founder & Executive Director, Americans for Safe Access
Stephen Dahmer, MD, Director, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
Deondra Asike, MD, Clinical Associate, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Leigh Vinocur, MD, MS, Ananda Medical Practice
Melissa Chubbuck, MD, Hospice Physician
Bonni Goldstein, MD, Goldstein Wellness
Ryan Vandrey, PhD, Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Laurie Kappe, President, i.e. Communications
Michelle Novack, Caregiver & Parent
Karen Jaynes, Integrative Health Professional
Anton Harb Jr , Disabled Veteran/1Lt (Ret) USA
David Hairston, Chairman, Safe Access Tennessee
Gretchen Bergman. Executive Director A New PATH
Sunil Aggarwal, MD, Co-Founder, AIMS Institute
Brandy Zink, Chair, Americans for Safe Access, Michigan Chapter
Graham Rigby, President & CEO, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)
Marshall Clabeaux, Vice Chair, Republican Cannabis Caucus
Erin Kirk, Connecticut Cannabis Ombudsman
Americans for Safe Access
A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing)
AIDS Action Baltimore
AIDS Foundation Chicago
AIDS United
The Advanced Integrative Medical Science (AIMS) Institute
American Cannabis Nurses Association
American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)
American Legion Blue Sky Post 426
Americans for Safe Access, Michigan Chapter
Bay Area Chapter of Americans for Safe Access
Cannabis Business & Professionals for National Medical Cannabis
Caregivers for National Medical Cannabis
Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey, Inc.
Epilepsy Foundation of America
Global Cannabis Network Collective
Georgia Medical Cannabis Society
Hemp for Victory
Holistic Caring
International Society of Cannabis Pharmacists
International Cannabis Bar Association
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Minority Cannabis Business Association
Minorities for Medical Marijuana
Montel Media Inc
National Clinical Director Consortium
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana
Parkinson's Association of Northern California
Patients Out of Time
Pharmacists' Cannabis Coalition of California (PCCC)
Realm of Caring
Rhode Island Patient Advocate Coalition (RIPAC)
Republican Cannabis Caucus
Safe Access Tennessee
Safe Access Virginia
San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access
SC Compassionate Care Alliance
Society of Cannabis Clinicians
State Officials of Connecticut
Texans for Safe Access
Tourette Association of America
Treatment Action Group
US Pain Foundation
Veterans Initiative 22
Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, Executive Director, Realm of Caring
Heather Jackson, Founder, Board President, Realm of Caring Foundation
Jill Swing, President, SC Compassionate Care Alliance
Mark Harrington, Executive Director, Treatment Action Group
Ellen and Stuart Smith, Co-Directors, Cannabis Advocacy, US Pain Foundation
Shenetha Lewis, Executive Director, Veterans Initiative 22
Rene Reisinger, NP, Veterans Initiative 22
Anthony Bowles, Chair, Bay Area Chapter of ASA
Michael Brennan, Board Member CMM-New Jersey
Yolanda Bennett, Co-Founder, Georgia Medical Cannabis Society
Angela Weston, Co-Founder, Georgia Medical Cannabis Society
Robert Head, Chair, Hemp for Victory
Elisabeth Mack, RN, Co-founder, Holistic Caring
Jennifer Bailey, Founder, Homegrown4Heroes
Jeremiah MacKinnon, Executive Director, MPPA
Eric Foster, National Policy Director, M4MM
Laura Barrett, RN, Executive Director, National Clinical Director Consortium
Jan Whitney, Executive Director, Parkinson's Association of Northern California
Mary Lynn Mathre, RN, President, Patients Out of Time
ADDITIONAL SIGNATORIES:
Drug Policy Alliance
Dr. Felecia Dawson
Michigan NORML (MiNORML)
Amie Carter, Parent Caregiver
Thomas Lavigne JD, Cannabis Counsel® Law Firm
Robin Schneider, Executive Director, Michigan Cannabis Industry Association
Dr. Felecia Dawson
Cassin Coleman, Scientist Advocate, Cassin Consulting
Leslie Wingard, Caregiver & Executive Director, Joe Place
Gia Moron, CEO GVM Comms Inc
April Morton, Community Advocate
Donna Murray, Patient Activist
Susan Feldmeth, ACNA
Kam Sprague, RN
Scott Rusczyk, Territory Manager
Jack Varnell, CHC
Tiana Woodruff, CEO/ board member, MCBA
Rose LaChance, Caregiver
Dr. Felecia Dawson
For Organization sign-on: www.safeaccessnow.org/cjs_sign_on
Individuals sign below:
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