President Donald Trump is pushing to eliminate federal protections for state-level medical marijuana programs as part of his proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
In the budget sent to Congress on Friday, Trump is asking lawmakers to remove a federal provision that has, since 2014, prohibited the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. Trump’s request to remove the provision doesn’t necessarily mean he plans to interfere with state cannabis laws, but it is an indication that he wants the federal government to have the authority to do so if they want.
The proposed change is in contrast to former President Joe Biden, who consistently maintained the medical marijuana protections in his own budget proposals. President Barack Obama, however, like Trump, also sought to remove the provision during his time in office.
Despite repeated requests from both parties, Congress has refused to eliminate the rider since it was first enacted, opting to maintain protection for state medical marijuana programs.
During his first term, Trump signed spending bills that included the medical cannabis protections.
