{"id":2538203,"date":"2026-01-15T18:11:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T23:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amendment-filed-to-block-doj-from-reclassifying-marijuana-to-schedule-iii\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T18:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T23:12:13","slug":"amendment-filed-to-block-doj-from-reclassifying-marijuana-to-schedule-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amendment-filed-to-block-doj-from-reclassifying-marijuana-to-schedule-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Amendment filed to block DOJ from reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Famendment-filed-to-block-doj-from-reclassifying-marijuana-to-schedule-iii%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2538203&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senators Ted Budd (R\u2011NC) and James Lankford (R\u2011OK) filed an amendment to a three\u2011bill appropriations minibus that woudl bar the Department of Justice from using those funds to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the controlled Substances Act. The amendment&#8217;s language would prohibit any funds in the bill from being used to transfer marijuana to another schedule. The move pushes back on President Trump&#8217;s December executive order directing Attorney General Pam bondi to pursue rescheduling,a change proponents say would lower taxes for cannabis businesses,reduce penalties,and expand research. Budd and Lankford cite concerns about youth use and health risks, and drug\u2011safety group Smart Approaches to Marijuana praised the amendment as a way to block industry gains from rescheduling. A similar House amendment had been proposed but was removed before the final bill.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Lankford and Budd file amendment to block DOJ from reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2474376\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-lankford\/\">James Lankford<\/a>&nbsp;(R-OK) are pushing back against the Trump administration&rsquo;s move to reclassify&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marijuana\/\">marijuana<\/a>&nbsp;from a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3917752\/what-expect-trump-reclassify-marijuana\/\">Schedule I to a Schedule III<\/a>&nbsp;drug.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The two Senators submitted an amendment to the three-bill <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4411756\/house-passes-three-spending-bills-effort-avoid-shutdown\/\">appropriations minibus<\/a> passed by the House on Jan. 8. Their amendment would block the Trump administration from using the bill&rsquo;s appropriations to reschedule marijuana.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4420833\/senate-sends-trump-three-spending-bills-shutdown-deadline\/\">Senate sends Trump three more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-to-gain-house-seat-this-week-with-swearing-in-of-tom-suozzi\/\" title=\"Tom Suozzi&#039;s swearing-in this week will secure a ... seat for the Democrats\">spending bills ahead<\/a> of shutdown deadline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4420082\/thom-tillis-doj-fraud-attorney-general-independence-trump\/\">Thom Tillis questions new DOJ fraud role&#8217;s independence from Trump&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4417151\/cdc-urged-by-senators-combat-rapid-rise-youth-sports-gambling\/\">CDC urged by senators to combat &lsquo;rapid rise&rsquo; in youth sports gambling<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;None of the funds made available by this division may be used to transfer marijuana, as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802), from schedule I of section 202(c) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)) to another schedule of that section,&rdquo; the amendment reads.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3926048\/trump-exeuctive-order-medical-marijuana-restricting-products\/\">signed an executive order<\/a> in December to reschedule cannabis, a move that grouped the drug with substances such as anabolic steroids and ketamine rather than heroin and LSD. Trump tasked Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> with taking &ldquo;all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III&rdquo; in &ldquo;the most expeditious manner.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The rescheduling move is expected to bring tax benefits for cannabis companies, reduce criminal penalties, and expand academic research on marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Senator Lankford is focused on Oklahoma families and kids. He&rsquo;s concerned that youth use has increased since medical marijuana was legalized in Oklahoma, and that reclassification sends the wrong message before the health impacts are fully understood,&rdquo; a spokesperson for Lankford said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Following Trump&rsquo;s executive order, Budd issued a statement condemning the move.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III substance and putting more money in the pockets of marijuana companies is a shortsighted policy decision that will have detrimental effects on the health and safety of Americans, especially our nation&rsquo;s youth. The negative health impacts of marijuana are numerous and well-documented&mdash;increased risk of heart attack, stroke, psychotic disorders, addiction, and hospitalization,&rdquo; Budd said in a December statement.<\/p>\n<p>Budd&rsquo;s amendment would apply to the appropriations bill on Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water; and Interior and Environment. A similar amendment that would have barred the DOJ from using funds to reclassify marijuana was advanced in the House, but <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/us-house-passes-bill-protecting-state-medical-marijuana-laws-and-rejecting-attempt-to-block-trumps-rescheduling-move\/\">shut down<\/a> before making it into the final passed bill.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4420630\/comer-backs-initiative-delay-hemp-ban-going-into-effect-november\/\">COMER BACKS INITIATIVE TO DELAY HEMP BAN FROM GOING INTO EFFECT IN NOVEMBER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Drug safety group Smart Approaches to Marijuana celebrated the amendment to push back on the reclassification in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/learnaboutsam\/status\/2011845659414937757?s=20\">X post<\/a> on Thursday. SAM President and CEO Kevin Sabet said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that their fight against reclassification &ldquo;is far from over.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Dozens of GOP members of Congress sent the President letters opposing rescheduling, and now our allies are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-promises-u-n-climate-summit-i-will-remake-american-economy-to-lead-world-to-net-zero\/\" title=\"Joe Biden Promises U.N Climate Summit: I Will &#039;Remake&#039; American Economy to Lead World to &#039;Net-Zero&#039;\">taking bold action<\/a> to stop this reckless move before it happens.&nbsp;This amendment from Sens. Ted Budd and James Lankford is a key development on that front. It would <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >prevent massive tax relief<\/a> from flowing to the industry and supercharging its efforts to hook a new generation, even if marijuana does move into Schedule III,&rdquo; Sabet said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lankford, Budd push to block marijuana rescheduling<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2538204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/senate-amends-laken-riley-act.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4935,7076,36747,5561,71066],"class_list":["post-2538203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-amendment","tag-doj","tag-drug-policy","tag-marijuana","tag-schedule-iii"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/senate-amends-laken-riley-act.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2538203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2538203"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2538203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2538207,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2538203\/revisions\/2538207"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2538204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2538203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2538203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2538203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}