As the 119th Congress continues into 2026, marijuana policy remains an active area of federal legislation, with proposals ranging from full descheduling and tax reform to narrower changes affecting veterans, hemp products and federal planning.
While none of the measures below have been fully enacted, every bill and resolution introduced during the 2025–2026 session remains procedurally alive throughout 2026.
With that in mind, below is every cannabis-related bill currently alive in the U.S. Congress.
Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025 (H.R. 3082)
This legislation would repeal the requirement that the Office of National Drug Control Policy oppose marijuana legalization as a matter of law. By removing that mandate, the bill would allow federal drug policy positions to be guided by scientific research and public health data rather than statutory prohibition language. The bill currently has two sponsors.
Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act
The HEMP Act would revise the federal definition of legal hemp by adjusting THC thresholds and updating testing standards that currently result in frequent crop failures. It also proposes national labeling and product consistency rules aimed at stabilizing the hemp supply chain. The bill currently has a single sponsor.
Marijuana 1-to-3 Act
This bill would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. With three sponsors, this bill is unlikely to gain additional traction in 2026 given that President Trump recently signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to quickly reschedule cannabis.
Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 5068)
The MORE Act would fully remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, ending federal prohibition altogether. It also establishes automatic expungement for certain federal marijuana offenses, creates a new federal excise tax on marijuana products and directs revenue toward community reinvestment and small business programs. With 61 sponsors, it remains the most widely supported cannabis bill in Congress.
No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act
Rather than loosening federal tax restrictions, this bill would explicitly preserve Section 280E, which bars marijuana businesses from claiming standard business deductions. The measure reinforces the existing tax framework for Schedule I and II substances and has 11 House sponsors and two Senate sponsors.
PREPARE Act
The PREPARE Act directs federal agencies to begin planning for a potential post-prohibition marijuana framework. It calls for analysis of regulatory models, tax structures and public health considerations that would arise if marijuana were descheduled, without directly changing marijuana’s legal status.
RESPECT Resolution
Introduced in December 2025, the RESPECT Resolution encourages state and local governments to adopt equity-focused cannabis policies. Rather than changing federal law directly, it promotes expanded access to business opportunities, capital and economic participation for communities disproportionately impacted by past marijuana enforcement, with an emphasis on long-term reparative approaches.
STATES 2.0 Act (H.R. 2934)
The STATES 2.0 Act would prohibit federal enforcement actions against individuals and businesses operating in compliance with state or tribal marijuana laws. It authorizes interstate commerce between legal jurisdictions, removes marijuana businesses from the reach of Section 280E and outlines a federal regulatory structure with relatively low tax rates. The bill has bipartisan support and eight total sponsors.
Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act (H.R. 966)
This measure would bar the Department of Veterans Affairs from denying benefits solely based on a veteran’s participation in a state-legal medical marijuana program. It also directs VA providers to discuss marijuana use with patients and include it in treatment planning. The bill has two sponsors.
Veterans Equal Access Act (H.R. 1384)
The Veterans Equal Access Act would allow VA doctors to discuss medical marijuana with patients and complete state-required certification forms where medical marijuana is legal. The bill addresses long-standing federal restrictions that prevent VA clinicians from formally acknowledging medical marijuana use and currently has two sponsors.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald can be found below.
