Federal Policy

A Florida hemp business owned by an ex-Marine was denied its service-disabled veteran-owned small business designation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs over concerns that its recognition might amount to a federal agency endorsing a federally illegal drug.

A YouGov poll found that 45% of Americans think cannabis should be federally legalized with 21% believing the decision should be left to the states, and 20% opposed.

The Biden Administration’s Department of Justice has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to not take up a question relating to company compensations for their workers’ doctor-prescribed medical cannabis.

Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D) blames the supply chain crisis on the federal zero-tolerance policy for cannabis consumption by commercial drivers, which disqualifies huge sections of the workforce.

A defendant accused of illegally cultivating cannabis was denied access to medically prescribed cannabis while out on bail.

Senators from both sides of the aisle are in support of adding the SAFE Banking Act to a separate bill, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, aimed at easing manufacturing and supply chain issues.

Major consumer goods companies like Kellogg Company and PepsiCo, Inc. appealed to Congress to stop the proliferation of cannabis products mimicking their brand.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland reiterated his thoughts that enforcing federal cannabis possession laws is “not an efficient use” of government resources.

While a recent DEA letter appeared to suggest that cannabis material containing less than 0.3% THC is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, legal experts still caution against sending seeds, clones, and other byproducts by mail.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) filed a lawsuit to remove a question about medical cannabis and gun ownership from a federal form required to purchase a gun.

Ben & Jerry’s is partnering with the ACLU to urge fans to take action for cannabis reform this April 20.

Senate Democrats are set to introduce a federal legalization bill in August; the proposal would remove cannabis from the federal controlled substances list and includes an emphasis on criminal justice reforms and public health.

The cannabis “amnesty boxes” in Chicago airports are hardly used.

The U.S. House approved a bipartisan cannabis research bill this week that would expand research possibilities and let researchers study cannabis products acquired through state-legal markets.

The White House has not clarified whether or not President Biden would sign the House-approved MORE Act, which seeks to end federal cannabis prohibition.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the MORE Act to federally legalize cannabis in a bipartisan vote.

The U.S. House scheduled a vote this week for the MORE Act, which would federally legalize cannabis.

A bipartisan federal bill would instruct the U.N. to deschedule cannabis, arguing the war on drugs has negatively affected human rights, health, security, and development on a global scale.

The U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board declined to register a hemp CBD company’s trademark, citing the federal prohibition of CBD and saying the product meets the definition of a drug but has not been approved by the FDA.

The California Senate is considering a bill to allow cannabis sales between states that have also approved such reforms.

The Chief Equity Strategist for Wells Fargo suggested recently that the U.S. supply chain issues and a trucker labor shortage are due to drug testing policies under the ongoing federal prohibition of cannabis.

A U.S. House proposal is seeking to reform the 2018 Farm Bill by increasing THC limits in hemp products, removing DEA lab testing requirements, and eliminating drug-related licensing restrictions.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the SAFE Banking Act for the sixth time as an amendment to the China competition bill.