“The public remains committed to adult-use legalization and medical cannabis access, and it is our responsibility to galvanize this public opinion and ensure that it prevails in 2026 at state houses and at the ballot box.”
The ATF acknowledges that a change in the federal ban is necessary because there exists a “disconnect” between how federal agencies and the appellate courts are currently interpreting the law.
“These consistent findings provide support for the notion that legal cannabis can serve as a substitute for alcohol among certain individuals, and that legal cannabis markets may, in some instances, disrupt alcohol-dominant marketplaces.”
“Neither past nor current cannabis use should automatically preclude someone from legal protections explicitly provided by the US Constitution.”
NORML worked with union members for nearly two years to assist them in securing the revisions.
“Sensational claims that adult-use legalization laws are linked with greater marijuana use by teens are simply not backed by government data. These findings ought to reassure lawmakers that cannabis access can be legally regulated in a manner that is safe, effective, and that does not inadvertently impact young people’s habits.”
Among the more significant changes, the new law criminalizes possessing marijuana products obtained from out-of-state, including products legally purchased at licensed dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions. No other legalization state imposes such restrictions.
“These facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications.”