A coalition of 45 leading health and advocacy organizations, including Americans for Safe Access, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Epilepsy Foundation of America, is urging Congress to maintain federal protections for state medical marijuana programs. These groups sent a letter to House and Senate appropriations leaders, emphasizing that the annual spending bill should continue to shield state-legal medical cannabis activities from federal interference—a safeguard in place since 2014.

The coalition voiced concerns about recent legislative language omitting Nebraska, despite its voter-approved medical cannabis measure, and called for the removal of provisions barring the Justice Department from considering federal rescheduling of marijuana. Advocates argue that medical cannabis is a lifeline for millions and warn that blocking reform could endanger patient access and impede much-needed research.

For a detailed report, see the full story at Marijuana Moment.