Bipartisan Cannabis Bills Advance Through Committees, Leadership Silent

Committee Momentum Meets Leadership Inaction

At least four cannabis-related bills cleared committees with bipartisan majorities or unanimous votes between April and May 2026, but none have been scheduled for floor consideration. The disconnect between committee enthusiasm and leadership silence reflects the persistent gap between rank-and-file support for cannabis reform and reluctance among party leaders to prioritize the issue.

The bills span banking access, research expansion, and medical cannabis protections for veterans. Each passed committee votes with Republican and Democratic support, signaling rare cross-party agreement on an issue that's historically divided along partisan lines.

SAFER Banking Act Clears Senate Banking Committee Again

The SAFER Banking Act passed the Senate Banking Committee on April 17, 2026, by a vote of 16-8, marking the third time the measure has cleared the panel. The bill would prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing financial institutions that serve state-licensed cannabis businesses.

Eight Republicans joined all committee Democrats in support. The measure has passed the House seven times since 2019. It's never received a Senate floor vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hasn't indicated whether he'll bring the bill to the floor this session.

VA Medical Cannabis Research Bill Passes House Veterans' Affairs Unanimously

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee advanced the VA Medical Cannabis Research Act by voice vote on May 8, 2026, with no recorded opposition. The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct clinical trials on cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain, PTSD, and other conditions common among veterans.

Current VA policy prohibits physicians from recommending medical cannabis to patients, even in states where it's legal. The bill doesn't change that prohibition but mandates federally funded research into therapeutic applications.

Hemp Delta-9 THC Definition Bill Advances in House Agriculture

A bill to clarify the 2018 Farm Bill's delta-9 THC limit for hemp passed the House Agriculture Committee on May 15, 2026, by a vote of 32-14. The measure specifies that the 0.3% delta-9 THC threshold applies on a dry-weight basis and doesn't include THCA or other cannabinoids that convert to delta-9 after decarboxylation.

The language aims to close the loophole that allows high-THCA hemp products—which convert to intoxicating delta-9 THC when heated—to be sold as compliant hemp. Twelve Republicans and two Democrats voted against the measure. They cited concerns about restricting state-legal hemp markets.

Senate Judiciary Approves Expungement and Resentencing Framework

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill on May 20, 2026, to establish a federal framework for expunging prior cannabis convictions and resentencing individuals serving federal sentences for non-violent marijuana offenses. The vote was 13-9, with three Republicans joining all Democrats in support.

The bill doesn't mandate expungement but creates a process for individuals to petition federal courts for relief. It applies only to convictions that would not be crimes under current state law in the jurisdiction where the offense occurred.

The bill creates a petition process for relief, not automatic expungement, and applies only where state law has since legalized the conduct.

Leadership Silence Reflects Broader Scheduling Dynamics

Neither House Speaker Mike Johnson nor Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has committed to scheduling floor votes on any of the cannabis bills that have advanced through committees. Schumer has historically supported comprehensive legalization over incremental measures like SAFER Banking, while Johnson hasn't publicly endorsed any cannabis reform legislation.

The lack of scheduling clarity means that even bills with strong bipartisan committee support may not reach a floor vote before the end of the current session. For context, see the CannIntel topic hub on federal cannabis legislation for a timeline of prior stalled efforts.

What This Means for Industry Stakeholders

Cannabis operators, particularly multi-state operators relying on cash transactions due to banking restrictions, face continued uncertainty despite committee-level progress. The SAFER Banking Act would provide legal cover for banks and credit unions to serve state-licensed businesses, reducing operational risk and improving access to capital.

Hemp industry operators remain in legal limbo as enforcement agencies interpret the delta-9 THC limit inconsistently. Clarifying the dry-weight basis and excluding THCA from the calculation would reshape the intoxicating hemp market. Many products would be forced off shelves or into state-licensed cannabis channels.

For veterans seeking medical cannabis, the VA research bill represents incremental progress but doesn't change current prohibition on physician recommendations. Clinical trial results, if the bill becomes law, wouldn't be available for at least two to three years.

What to Watch

The next signal: whether leadership schedules floor votes before the August recess. Historically, cannabis measures have been attached to must-pass bills like the National Defense Authorization Act or omnibus appropriations packages. That path remains possible but uncertain. Expect enforcement to vary across agencies until Congress acts—or doesn't.