The Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes a provision protecting state-legal medical marijuana businesses, and the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to approve the bill on June 14. The provision prohibits the Justice Department (DOJ) from interfering with compliant, state-legalized medical marijuana laws and businesses.
The House’s version of the bill which contains similar language also passed, The Hill reports. The newly approved provision is similar to protections under the Cole Memo. Additional protections have also been in place as a budget rider, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, to prevent federal interference with state-legal medical marijuana operations.
Executive Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, Aaron Smith, said, “Once again, members of Congress have signaled that protecting state-legal medical cannabis is no longer a controversial issue.”