{"id":2618024,"date":"2026-06-23T18:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-appointed-judge-overturns-trump-admin-health-rules-says-food-stamps-can-be-used-for-soda-candy\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:59:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:59:57","slug":"obama-appointed-judge-overturns-trump-admin-health-rules-says-food-stamps-can-be-used-for-soda-candy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-appointed-judge-overturns-trump-admin-health-rules-says-food-stamps-can-be-used-for-soda-candy\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama-Appointed Judge Overturns Trump Admin Health Rules, Says Food Stamps Can Be Used for Soda, Candy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/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%2Fobama-appointed-judge-overturns-trump-admin-health-rules-says-food-stamps-can-be-used-for-soda-candy%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=2618024&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>This content discusses the debate over whether food stamps (SNAP benefits) should be allowed to cover non-nutritive items like candy,soda,and potentially even cannabis edibles. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-dissidents-slam-nominee-for-top-defense-post\/\" title=\"Iranian Dissidents Slam Nominee for Top Defense Post\">federal judge ruled<\/a> that such items cannot be considered &#8220;food&#8221; under the program, reversing prior waivers that permitted their purchase. The decision emphasizes that congress defines what constitutes food and that the law does not support excluding certain items. Advocates for healthier offerings argued that banning unhealthy foods aligns with efforts to combat obesity and improve public health,while opponents,including families with special dietary needs,challenged these restrictions. The ruling underscores the legal limits on modifying SNAP&#8217;s definition and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-star-wars-actress-in-tears-over-judges-recent-ruling-in-disney-lawsuit-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Ex-Star Wars actress &#039;in tears&#039; over judge&#039;s recent ... in Disney lawsuit - Washington Examiner\">highlights ongoing discussions<\/a> about improving nutritional standards for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/here-are-some-of-the-craziest-spending-items-in-the-coronavirus-stimulus-bill\/\" title=\"Here Are Some Of The Craziest Spending ... In The Coronavirus Stimulus Bill\">low-income populations<\/a>.  <\/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\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Why not just allow food stamps to be used on cannabis edibles?<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re food, right? They\u2019re nutritive. They\u2019ve got calories \u2014 a lot, if you\u2019re going for the old-school hash brownie. They\u2019ve got a little bit of a kick to get you through the day, too. Why shouldn\u2019t the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cover them?<\/p>\n<p>You may think that\u2019s a joke, but I\u2019m guessing there\u2019s a good chance U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson might actually buy that. On Monday, the Obama-appointed judge ruled that soda \u2014 not exactly known for delivering nutritive value, unless you consider sugar and caffeine nutrition \u2014 could not be cut out of SNAP benefits, more commonly known as food stamps.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling reverses a number of waivers granted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, which approved a program to \u201camend the statutory definition of \u2018food for purchase\u2019 under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),\u201d as per a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/about-usda\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/12\/10\/secretary-rollins-signs-six-new-state-waivers-make-america-healthy-again-removing-unhealthy-foods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media release<\/a> in December of 2025, which announced a new round of states that were granted waivers.<\/p>\n<p>The move would have barred soda and candy, among other unhealthy items, from being purchased with taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPresident Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose \u2013 nutrition. Under the [Make America Healthy Again]  initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long,\u201d Rollins said in a media release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmerica\u2019s governors are answering that call with courage and innovation, offering solutions that honor the generosity of the taxpayer while helping families live longer, healthier lives. With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President\u2019s promise to Make America Healthy Again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/5781154-snap-recipients-sue-usda-food-restrictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hill<\/a>, five families in five different states sued the USDA for disallowing them \u201cfrom using their benefits on junk foods, sodas, energy drinks or other \u2018non-nutritious items.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One plaintiff, Amanda Johnson of Tennessee \u2014 one of six states granted a waiver in December, making a total of 22 states that have been granted restriction waivers under the Trump administration \u2014 said that her daughter\u2019s avoidant\/restrictive food intake disorder meant that she would no longer be able to purchase non-nutritive foods that her doctors had advised she could eat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause of her daughter\u2019s ARFID, she can safely consume only a very limited number of \u2018safe foods,\u2019\u201d the lawsuit claimed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf she is unable to eat those foods, the only alternative is nutrition through a feeding tube. Her physicians have advised Plaintiff Johnson to provide her daughter with whatever foods she is able to eat in order to avoid nutritional deterioration and invasive medical intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Berman Jackson agreed with the plaintiffs, citing that Congress must determine what nutritive food is.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongress defined what \u2018food\u2019 is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted. It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely,\u201d she wrote in her ruling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt set out clearly the type of experimental projects that could be tested to address the unquestionably serious health issues attributed to the rise of obesity in the population in general and particularly the low-income population.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire \u200bto improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals,\u201d Jackson added, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/us-judge-blocks-trump-administration-snap-restrictions-soda-candy-2026-06-22\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>. \u201cBut what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the \u200cway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s amazing that the side of the judicial aisle that considers the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/icymi-video-ever-wanted-see-hopelessly-outmatched-rep-de-lauro-lose-mind-front-crowd-lee-zeldin-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cmajor questions doctrine\u201d<\/a> to be a joke and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/purple-haired-dem-congresswoman-melts-lee-zeldin-not-right-deny-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">holds the administrative state to be inviolable<\/a> suddenly believes that stuff that clearly isn\u2019t nutritive food that American taxpayers are paying for is somehow protected, even though Reuters reported the ruling did note that waivers could be \u201callowed under U.S. law\u201d for reasons \u201csuch as improving the efficiency of the SNAP program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not allowing your money to be spent on Red Bull and a Snickers would, you would think, qualify under that \u2014 but no, according to Monday\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n<p>The administration said it will continue to push forward with the waiver program, indicating that an appeal is likely.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea that taxpayer funds should not be used to purchase junk food should not be controversial,\u201d said a Department of Agriculture spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUSDA will not be backing down from the fight to Make America Healthy Again, including for \u200bfamilies and communities reliant on \u200bSNAP.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To say that this is the correct battle at the correct time is an understatement: These foods should have never been subsidized with your money, and the fact that they\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >making low-income families unhealthier means<\/a> more of your money will be used to treat them via programs like Medicaid. This is common-sense stuff. If soda, candy, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/disturbing-link-found-energy-drinks-children-dont-let-kids-touch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">energy drinks<\/a> don\u2019t qualify as non-nutritive, it\u2019s not a long leap for my ridiculous cannabis edibles hypothetical to get subsidized, either.<\/p>\n<p>I hesitate to mention it, though. It might give Amy Berman Jackson ideas.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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They&#8217;re food, after all-nutritive with calories and a bit of a boost. Why shouldn&#8217;t SNAP include them?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2618025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Eat-Real-Food-campaign.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[60635,34205,38313,43169,32640],"class_list":["post-2618024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-food-assistance","tag-food-stamps","tag-health-policy","tag-judicial-ruling","tag-trump-administration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Eat-Real-Food-campaign.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618024","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618028,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618024\/revisions\/2618028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2618025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2618024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2618024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}