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- Federal law has stopped ONDCP from studying or backing marijuana changes.
- The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act would let the drug czar support cannabis legalization.
- Federal rules have slowed government study on health benefits of cannabis.
- 70% of Americans—including most Republicans—support federal marijuana changes.
- Main groups that support causes back the bill. They want cannabis rules to match science and what people think.
A new plan in Congress could change how people talk about marijuana across the country. It would change who can even have the talk in the first place. The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act wants to fix an old federal rule.
This rule stops the White House drug czar from pushing for marijuana legalization and backing drug policy based on science. This could mean big changes for federal marijuana rules, public health studies, and criminal justice across the U.S.
The Rule That's Been Stopping Progress
For decades, the federal government could not do much about cannabis changes. This was mostly because of just one line in a law. The 1998 update of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) law says that the ONDCP boss “shall ensure that no Federal funds... shall be used for any study or contract relating to the legalization of a substance listed in Schedule I.” In simple terms, this means the ONDCP cannot legally speak for—or even check out—marijuana legalization plans.
This rule that stops talk causes a real problem at the top level of national drug policy. Rep. Dina Titus explained: “They have to actively oppose the legalization of any substance that is Schedule I and not approved by the FDA”. This includes cannabis. It doesn't matter how many states legalize it or how much scientists are interested in studying it.
Such federal opposition makes things confusing. A lot of the country now supports legal marijuana in some way. But the main federal drug policy office cannot look into its possible uses or even say it is legal in some states. The result? People do not know enough. This keeps old ideas alive, hurts studies, and slows down needed changes.
Spotlight on the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act
The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act wants to free the ONDCP from the law that stops it from dealing with cannabis rules. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) put the bill forward. It is meant to bring federal oversight of substances up to date—starting with marijuana.
The bill would end the language in Section 704(b)(12). This would let the ONDCP:
- Do and pay for studies on marijuana rules.
- Talk openly about changing drug laws.
- Suggest changes based on full information.
“Our nation’s drug policies have been shaped by stigma,” said Rep. Omar when she spoke for the law. Her point is key. For decades, federal cannabis rules have been driven more by fear and politics than by science and what is best for public health.
This change would be a big move. It would move away from making policy based on ideas. Instead, it would use facts, proof, and what happens in the real world. These are the things needed for a good national plan.
Why the Drug Czar’s Support Would Be a Game Changer
The ONDCP isn’t a small office—it’s the main center for federal drug plans. The person in charge is called the "drug czar." The ONDCP works with police groups, public health groups, partners in other countries, and the White House itself.
If the ONDCP can publicly support marijuana legalization, it sends a strong message to many parts of the government. The current person in charge, Sara Carter, has already said good things about cannabis. She called it a “fantastic” way to help people. But the current law makes her office keep fighting all legalization plans. This is true even if she thinks differently or sees strong proof.
Ending the rule would let the ONDCP leader:
- Work with the Department of Health and Human Services to look again at if marijuana should be Schedule I.
- Give advice to Congress, not based on having to be against something, but based on knowing the facts or even being for it.
- Set up studies that check out both the good and bad parts of cannabis rules.
In short, if the ONDCP changes direction, federal cannabis rules could line up with what is already happening in states across the U.S. In these states, marijuana is watched, taxed, and seen as more normal.
A New Era of Drug Czar Change
And allowing ONDCP to engage freely also shows a larger move to change the drug czar job. For a long time, the job of the drug czar was mostly about policing and stopping drugs. The name "drug czar" itself brings to mind the War on Drugs. Many people say this fight led to too many people going to jail, treated different groups unfairly, and did not help public health.
Changing the drug czar job means thinking about what the ONDCP should really do. This means changing its main job. It should stop focusing on catching criminals so much. And instead, it should focus on reducing harm, helping people with mental health, and making things fair for everyone. People are calling for big changes to the office. They want it to treat addiction and substance use as health issues, not crime issues.
Taking away the rule that says they must be against Schedule I substances would be a big change. It would let the ONDCP:
- Treat marijuana with the careful thought it needs.
- Pay for studies on how to stop overdoses.
- Help people get equal access to help for substance abuse.
- Push for helping people instead of putting them in jail.
These changes would not just help with cannabis. They would also help the country deal better with the opioid problem and other drug crises. These problems come from other federal rules that are too strict.
The STATES 2.0 Act: A Policy Power Duo
The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act isn’t working alone. It is part of a bigger push in Congress to protect states and let them do more with cannabis rules. The STATES 2.0 Act is a main player in this. Rep. Dina Titus and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) are supporting it.
The STATES 2.0 Act is meant to make the laws clearer between state and federal marijuana rules. It would:
- Protect state cannabis programs that follow the law from federal trouble.
- Stop the Department of Justice from going after people or businesses that follow state laws.
- Let banks, money services, and business between states happen in the cannabis area.
“We want to be sure that [DOJ] can’t undo things,” said Rep. Titus. In other words, it is not just about moving forward. It is about stopping things from going backward.
The STATES 2.0 Act works well with the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act. It helps make state power stronger. And it gives real protection to shoppers, businesses, and local governments trying to work in the unclear area of current rules.
Why Cannabis Science Needs a Voice
Maybe the most ridiculous thing about the ONDCP rule is that it stops the agency from even paying for or ordering studies. It cannot study how marijuana affects health or society. As Rep. Titus said, “[ONDCP] is not allowed to sponsor any research on Schedule I drugs... to show you how ridiculous it is”.
This stop sign hurts new ideas. It means health officials and lawmakers do not have the good information they need. Without good study:
- Doctors cannot get the right facts on how much to give or how drugs mix.
- People making rules cannot check the real effect on public safety.
- Lawmakers cannot make smart laws based on facts.
Ending the ban would let federal money be used for many health and social science studies. This would quickly make us understand more about how well marijuana works for pain, PTSD, epilepsy, and more.
In addition, people trust the government more when rules are made using real science that experts have checked. Trust is not built on rumors or old ideas.
Who's Pushing for Reform?
The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act hasn’t gone unnoticed. Big groups that support causes have come out for the bill. They want a smarter way to handle federal marijuana rules. Some groups supporting it are:
- Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)
- National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
- NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
- Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
Cat Packer, who works on Drug Markets & Legal Regulation at the DPA, summed up what is at stake. She said, “ONDCP must be free to study the full range of public policy approaches—including the impacts of cannabis policy changes such as legalization and regulation”.
Support from these groups is more than just a sign. It shows the work of scientists, patients, legal experts, and community helpers who have long fought for a place in the talk about drug rules. When these groups are involved, the talk stays open to many people. It stays fair. And it is shaped by what people have lived through, along with facts.
What Americans Really Think
People are quickly losing their doubts about changing marijuana rules. A CNN poll from 2025 found:
- 70% of Americans support changing marijuana's status.
- 67% of Republicans agree with this change.
- Most people think states should have the power to make and carry out their own cannabis laws.
So many people supporting this, from both main parties, shows how much federal marijuana rules are behind the times. Old stories—like marijuana being a drug that leads to harder drugs, or being bad for society—do not make sense to voters anymore. These voters see the good things about rules and taxes firsthand.
As states legalize more, what voters care about is changing. They care more about shoppers being safe, products being the same every time, and fixing the harm done to people by old drug laws.
Political Realities and Problems
Even though most people support it, marijuana legalization still hits political problems. Republicans and Democrats often agree that states should have power. But they disagree on rules that focus on fairness. These include clearing past records, putting money back into areas that were hurt by old drug laws, and how cannabis taxes should work.
Some conservatives also keep bringing up health worries. Terrance Cole, who might lead the DEA, has pointed to links between marijuana use and mental health issues like suicide or losing touch with reality. People still argue about these claims. Often, scientists do not agree on them. But they do affect decisions about changing marijuana's status. And they make making new laws harder.
In a year when people vote, big issues like marijuana legalization often get pulled into bigger fights. These are fights about crime, being free to do what you want, and what power states should have. So, even plans that many people support can stop moving forward if politics do not line up right.
State-Led Progress Keeps Going
Even though things are stuck in D.C., the move to legalize cannabis has kept going steadily in states. California, Oregon, Colorado, New York, and more than 30 other states have made cannabis legal for fun or for health—or for both.
These states have:
- Made money from taxes and created jobs.
- Lowered how often doctors prescribe opioid pain pills.
- Started programs to fix harm from the War on Drugs.
But without help from the federal government, many of their plans are still at risk. Cannabis businesses still face:
- Not being able to use regular banks.
- High costs for safety because they have to work with only cash.
- Risk of federal police actions or legal trouble.
Titus’ message is clear: “Let the federal government get out of the way... States are moving ahead”.
If changes like the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act pass, businesses, shoppers, and lawmakers will be better able to make steady, sensible rules that work in many different areas. And then, if the federal government accepts cannabis, it could bring big changes to the growing cannabis business world. Ending the ONDCP rule would:
- Make cannabis study bigger and let the FDA approve cannabis medicines.
- Make it easier to sell cannabis between states and set up the same rules everywhere.
- Bring in new money. And it would help teach shoppers more.
Companies like Purple Rose Supply show what new cannabis business owners are like. These businesses are based on culture, using products safely, and coming up with new ideas for products. Legal rules without unfair blocks let these businesses grow in a good way. They can work together with companies in other states. And they can serve shoppers openly and with pride.
As federal marijuana rules change, so will the tools, technology, and ways people use it legally.
New Ideas Meet People Working for Change
Good rules are not just about what is legal. They help make way for creativity and make sure everyone can be part of things. Businesses like Purple Rose Supply do well in a setting where product quality and shopper education matter. And where improving how things are done helps push for political change.
Good rules cause good things to happen:
- Better laws mean better study.
- Better study means better products.
- Better products mean a safer, longer-lasting cannabis culture.
Conclusion: From Stigmatized to Sensible
For too long, cannabis has been seen as something bad. It has been hurt by not knowing enough and by the rules from the time when alcohol was banned. The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act is a real first step to a future. In this future, marijuana rules are made with the same honesty and science as rules for any other health issue.
The bill would let the ONDCP do more. It would change the ONDCP from just making rules to helping people. This puts federal cannabis changes back in the discussion. You might use cannabis sometimes, own a business, work for health, or just vote. No matter who you are, you can help with this changing movement.
Stay informed. Call your lawmakers. Speak up for smarter federal marijuana rules.
