Congressional Committee Wants To Prevent Cannabis Rescheduling
A Republican-controlled congressional committee presented a spending bill containing a provision to block cannabis rescheduling, writes Marijuana Moment.
The section in question would prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using its funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis. This comes about six weeks after President Biden announced cannabis is to be removed from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) followed by the DOJ's announcement that Attorney General Merrick Garland has formally initiated the rescheduling process with the submission of a legal review.
"SEC. 623. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to reschedule marijuana (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)) or to remove marijuana from the schedules established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812)," reads the section.
The provision would also amend a rider protecting medical marijuana states from federal interference, with new language allowing higher penalties for sales close to schools and parks.
USDA Funds Hemp Group Under Regional Ag Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)funded The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) with $740,000 under its Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the funding that aims to boost American food and farm exports in promising ...