Rohrabacher-Blumenauer medical marijuana protections extended by debt limit deal
Published: Sep 8, 2017, 3:34 pm • Updated: Sep 8, 2017, 4:13 pm
By Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist Staff
Existing federal protections for medical marijuana states are expected to continue through at least Dec. 8.
The $15.3 billion disaster aid package, debt limit increase and government spending extension approved by Congress on Friday includes the existing Rohrabacher-Blumenauer provision, which prevents the Justice Department from using funds to interfere with the 46 states that have legalized some form of medical marijuana.
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The aid bill, which was sent to President Donald Trump, extends the omnibus legislation passed in May and will fund the government through Dec. 8.
The short-term spending fix is also a short-term victory for Rohrabacher-Blumenauer sponsors, which were dealt a blow by the House Rules Committee earlier this week. The legislative committee nixed the amendment from House consideration for the fiscal year 2018 funding bill.
“We have at least three months of certainty now, but the fight isn’t over,” officials for Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, told The Cannabist on Friday.
That fight includes efforts to land the provision in the final spending bill, officials said, noting the language was included in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approved version of the bill.
L-R: Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of California and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon have co-sponsored a budget amendment to protect state medical marijuana programs. (Getty Images photos) Topics: congress, Dana Rohrabacher, Earl Blumenauer, federal, federal legislation, medical marijuana, Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Medical Marijuana Amendment, Rohrabacher-Farr Medical Marijuana Amendment 
Alicia Wallace
Alicia Wallace joined The Cannabist in July 2016, covering national marijuana policy and business. In her 14 years as a business news reporter, her coverage has spanned topics such as the economy, natural foods, airlines, biotech, retail,…
