GOP Senators File Amendment To Block Trump From Rescheduling Marijuana

OG article by Tom Angell

January 15, 2026

Republican Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and James Lankford (R-OK) filed an amendment blocking the Justice Department from using Fiscal Year 2026 funds to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, targeting President Trump's executive order to expedite the process. They previously led opposition letters arguing rescheduling undermines anti-drug priorities and economic goals. Similar House efforts and GOP attorneys general criticized it as improper for a drug with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. Trump has dismissed pushback, citing public support and benefits. The Biden-era rescheduling to Schedule III remains pending. Past GOP blocks failed to advance. If passed, the amendment halts administrative changes, preserving current federal status amid ongoing appeals.