State Medical Cannabis Programs will be Safe for Six Weeks

Last night, Congress worked overtime as the government shut down for five-and-a-half hours until finally reaching an agreement on a sweeping federal budget deal that will run through March 23. Included in the budget deal was the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, which blocks the United States Department of Justice, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, from cracking down on state medical cannabis programs.

It’s the eighth time the amendment has been extended for a short period of time, according to Marijuana Business Daily.

Just before 2 a.m., the Senate voted in favor of the spending package 71-28. At about 5:30 a.m., the House voted 240-186 in favor of the bill. President Donald Trump signed the bill at 8:40 a.m.

“Without these protections, medical cannabis cultivators and dispensaries exist with a greater threat than normal of federal enforcement of national prohibition, yet the certainty that these protections will be honored have been in doubt throughout the entire Trump administration,” Justin Strekal, NORML political director wrote.

Many have analyzed a recent statement from President Donald Trump in an attempt to predict how he will enforce federal medical cannabis laws. “Division B, section 537 provides that the Department of Justice may not use any funds to prevent implementation of medical marijuana laws by various States and territories. I will treat this provision consistently with my constitutional responsibility to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

Tom Angell, founder of the Marijuana Majority interpreted that remark as saying the federal government reserves the right to do “whatever they want” when it comes to enforcing federal medical cannabis laws.

A larger spending package could be approved on March 23, however, that doesn’t mean the amendment will be included. The amendment remains relatively popular among both Democrats and Republican members of Congress.