House Committee Challenges Biden Administration on Cannabis Rescheduling

The GOP-led House committee is pressing the Biden administration to clarify its decision to reschedule cannabis and express concerns about cannabis-impaired driving and intoxicating hemp-based cannabinoids. Reports attached to the 2025 Fiscal Year spending bills, discussed by the House Appropriations Committee, address cannabis-related issues, including the Justice Department’s proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Rescheduling Concerns

Just a day after blocking DOJ funds from rescheduling cannabis, the committee reviewed bills addressing cannabis and psychedelics. One report, in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (Ag/FDA) appropriations bill, directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) inspector general to explain FDA’s 2023 cannabis review, focusing on deviations from historical processes and mental health implications of high-potency THC.

Senate Opposition

GOP senators have separately attempted to block rescheduling cannabis, and the committee also addresses impaired driving, urging NIH to promote research on cannabis effects and develop standards for drug-impaired driving. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill emphasizes the need for reliable tools to assess cannabis-related intoxication.

Research and Safety Evaluation

Additionally, the committee calls for FDA to evaluate the safety of cannabis products and improve data sharing between state and federal authorities, while recognizing the need for research into psychedelics and plant-based therapies.

In conclusion, the House committee’s challenge to the Biden administration underscores the ongoing debates and concerns surrounding the rescheduling of cannabis and its implications on public health and safety.