Congress
A Political Mystery: The Cannabis Money Pushing to Keep the US Senate Red
The sudden push is puzzling, as cannabis legislation tends to move under House Democrats—and get stalled by Senate Republicans.
House Funding Bill Includes Hemp Pilot Program Extension
Lawmakers, agriculture regulators, and hemp industry stakeholders have been calling for more time to get up to speed with the USDA’s new hemp regulations.
Cannabis in Congress: The MORE Act Vote Will Be Delayed
Supporters of the bill to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act expressed frustration and disappointment.
Key House Committee Advances Cannabis Research Bill
The next step for the bill, which would expand cannabis research in the US, is the full House.
US House to Vote on Cannabis Legalization in September
"I’m pleased to bring the MORE Act to the House Floor next month to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Cannabis Wire.
House Majority Whip Announces House “Will Be Voting Soon” on Cannabis Legalization
While the MORE Act stands a solid chance of passage in the Democrat-controlled House, the Senate is another story.
House Passes Spending Bill with Cannabis Protections
The protections range from expanding banking access to preventing federal interference in states with legal cannabis, but passage in the Senate is uncertain.
Justice Department Whistleblower Testifies on Attorney General Barr’s Cannabis Bias
An official in the Department’s Antitrust Division said during a House Judiciary Committee hearing that cannabis is “unpopular” with Barr, and therefore he influenced investigations.
DOJ Official: Attorney General Bill Barr Pushed Investigations of Cannabis Acquisitions
An official in the Department’s antitrust division will testify before Congress on Wednesday that Barr’s “personal dislike” of cannabis influenced investigations.
House Coronavirus Bill Includes Cannabis Banking Reform
The SAFE Banking Act has been included in the HEROES Act. Whether the language will survive the Senate is another question.
Pressure Mounts to Consider Cannabis Businesses in Next Coronavirus Relief Bill
Two letters—one signed by cannabis trade groups, the other by groups focused on justice—were sent this week pushing Congress for COVID-19 relief for cannabis businesses.
House Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Allow Cannabis Industry Access to Coronavirus Relief
As cannabis remains federally illegal, state-legal cannabis businesses have been left out of COVID-19 relief funds.
Q&A: A Senator Calls for Coronavirus Relief for Cannabis Businesses
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and others argue that now is a good time for the Small Business Administration to pull out of its “time warp” and help these struggling small firms.
Congress Tackles Medical Cannabis for Veterans
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs voted in support of medical cannabis access and research, sending two bills to the full House.
What’s in the US Food and Drug Administration’s CBD Report to Congress?
The FDA is reopening public comment, collaborating with global regulators on how to handle cannabinoids, and backing research on CBD and “dermal penetration.”
First Congressional Hearing on Cannabis in 2020 Focuses on Research Hurdles
DEA says legislation pending White House approval would pave the way for new, federally-approved research-grade cannabis farms.
