Recent Congressional Efforts to Address the Cannabis Policy Gap

The Democratic-led House of Representatives recently took another step forward in advancing legislation to support the rapidly growing cannabis industry in the United States. In January, the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce—the oldest continuous standing committee in the US House of Representatives, with some of the broadest jurisdiction in Congress—held a hearing titled "Cannabis Policies for the New Decade." This marked the committee's first ever cannabis-related hearing, setting the stage for potential future federal legislation affecting the cannabis industry. Although the subcommittee did not vote or markup legislation, six bills referred to the committee (described below and in the Appendix) provided the backdrop for robust debate on marijuana research, rescheduling marijuana and the future of medical marijuana.

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