Medical Marijuana Laws Protected Under Gov't Spending Bill

The new government spending package includes language barring the Justice Department from blocking state implementation of medical marijuana laws, The Hill reported.

"Medical marijuana patients and the businesses that support them now have a measure of certainty," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., who oversees the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

The Hill noted 29 states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws, while 21 states have decriminalized the drug.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions had voiced concern about the use of medical marijuana, the Washington Examiner noted.

"I think medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much," he had said.

Blumenauer urged Congress to make the marijuana safeguards permanent.

"This annual challenge must end," he said. "We need permanent protections for state-legal medical marijuana programs, as well as adult-use."

• Legal Medical Marijuana Raises Illegal Use
• The Good, Bad and Unknown about Marijuana's Health Effects