U.S. House of Representatives Extends Cannabis Protections for Two Weeks

Late Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a stopgap bill, preventing a government shutdown and extending federal protections on cannabis only through December 22. The provision known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment prohibits the U.S. Department of Justice from using federal funds to thwart state medical cannabis programs.

The House approved the measure 235-193, preventing the government from shutdown until December 22. An hour later, the measure was passed in the Senate. On Friday, President Donald Trump signed the measure.

Blumenauer stopped short of celebrating, as the bill was only extended for two weeks.

“While we are pleased that these critical protections will continue, two weeks is not enough certainty for the millions of Americans who rely on medical marijuana for treatment and the businesses who serve them,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer stated in a press release. “As Congress works out a long-term funding bill, it must also include these protections. And ultimately, Congress must act to put an end to the cycle of uncertainty and permanently protect state medical marijuana programs—and adult use—from federal interference. The American people have spoken. It’s past time that Congress catch up.”

On November 29, 66 members of Congress made a plea to extend medical cannabis protections. All signed a letter urging Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi to extend the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment.

John Hudak, drug policy expert from the Brookings Institution told The Cannabist the chances of the amendment’s inclusion in the next omnibus spending bill are “pretty good.”

The Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment’s winding journey through legislation has been closely followed by the cannabis community. Recently the same chain of events occurred last April, and last September, the spending bill was at a dire risk of being omitted. In short, another government shutdown could potentially happen in two weeks when the stopgap bill expires.