As the United States prepares for a Republican-controlled Congress and the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025, we take a look at federal marijuana bills that may stand a chance of being enacted into law.
Despite the GOP’s historical reservations about cannabis reform, several bipartisan bills have garnered support and stand a decent chance of enactment. This is especially true when you consider that in the leadup to the election, Trump endorsed legalizing marijuana in Florida, rescheduling marijuana federally and establishing federal marijuana banking reform.
With that said, here are six federal marijuana bills that are the most likely to advance under the forthcoming administration and Congress.
1. SAFE/SAFER Banking Act
The SAFE and SAFER Banking Actswould provide cannabis businesses with access to traditional banking services by establishing federal protections for banks and credit unions. This would address the fact that state-legal marijuana businesses must operate cash-only, and have limited and often times no access to bank loans and lines of credit. The bills have received considerable bipartisan support, with over 130 sponsors in the House of Representatives and 37 in the Senate. If it does not pass during the current lame-duck session, its prospects remain favorable in the new Congress, given the backing from both parties and President Trump’s expressed support for facilitating banking access for state-authorized cannabis companies.
The bill’s prime sponsor in the House, Congressmember Joyce (R-OH), plans to refile the measure in January if it’s not passed this month, his communications director told us recently.
2. States Reform Act
Introduced by Congressmember Nancy Mace (R-SC), the States Reform Act seeks to federally decriminalize marijuana and allow states to set their own cannabis policies without federal interference. This legislation balances states’ rights with federal oversight and has attracted bipartisan co-sponsors. Given President Trump’s endorsement of state-level legalization efforts, such as his support for Florida’s cannabis legalization ballot initiative, the States Reform Act is well-positioned for consideration.
3. Veterans Equal Access Act
This bill would allow Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veterans in states where it is legal, something that is currently prohibited. Recognizing the therapeutic potential of cannabis for conditions like PTSD and chronic pain, the legislation has garnered bipartisan support. With growing support for veterans’ access to alternative treatments, the Veterans Equal Access Act stands a strong chance of passage under the new administration.
4. STATES 2.0 Act
The STATES 2.0 Act would shield state-legal cannabis programs from federal interference while providing a framework for federal descheduling. Similar to the States Reform Act, it emphasizes states’ rights to regulate marijuana without federal overreach. This bipartisan bill balances conservative principles of federalism with progressive calls for cannabis reform, appealing to both sides of the aisle. Its alignment with President Trump’s support for state autonomy in cannabis policies strengthens its chances in the Republican-led Congress. By allowing states to set their own rules while removing marijuana from Schedule I, the STATES 2.0 Act could serve as a unifying approach to federal cannabis reform.
5. HOPE Act
The Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act would provide federal funding to states that expunge past marijuana convictions. Bipartisan sponsors, including Republican Rep. Dave Joyce and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also put this in a good position to garner consideration in the upcoming Congress.
In the current Congress, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has long promised to include the HOPE Act as part of the SAFE Banking Act and put them to a vote of the full Senate. Despite SAFER passing the Senate Banking Committee with bipartisan support well over a year ago, a Senate vote has still not been scheduled.
