Congressional Committee Directs DEA To Crack Down On Unregulated Cannabis Products That ‘Threaten Consumer Safety’

A powerful congressional committee is expected to approve a report this week that directs federal officials to take enforcement action against unregulated cannabinoid products that “threaten consumer safety.”

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday is set to take up a Fiscal Year 2027 spending bill covering Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, as well as an attached report that includes the directive.

It calls on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the “proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids.”

“Intoxicating Cannabidiols.—The Committee is concerned by the proliferation of Federally unregulated ingestible, inhalable, and topical products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids. The Committee directs the DEA, in coordination with the FDA Office of Inspections and Investigations, to take appropriate enforcement actions against those whose products threaten consumer safety and fail to meet the statutory definition of section 10113 of Public Law 115–334 and section 781 of Public Law 119–37. The Committee further directs the DEA to report on these efforts and any resources necessary to enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act.”

While the provision doesn’t use the word “hemp,” it cites statutes covering the crop and appears responsive to widespread sales of products derived from it after they became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Congress has since passed, however, and President Donald Trump has signed, new legislation that will broadly recriminalize hemp THC products starting in November.

The new appropriations report, meanwhile, also calls on the Department of Justice to take action against “money laundering schemes” tied to Chinese-connected illegal marijuana grow operations within the U.S.

“Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Money Laundering.—The Committee directs the Department to utilize funds directed to anti-money laundering programs to investigate potential money laundering schemes involving CCP-connected marijuana businesses and entities providing financial services to these businesses.”

Finally, the report notes that funding is being set aside for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to monitor wastewater to detect use of synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs by incarcerated people.

“Wastewater Surveillance Pilot.—The Committee provides $8,500,000 to BOP to carry out a pilot program using a wastewater surveillance system to monitor the prevalence of infectious diseases—including Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis, and respiratory pathogens—as well as the use of covered drugs, including fentanyl, nitazenes, and other synthetic opioids, methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids, and other controlled substances, among the incarcerated population at not fewer than six Federal correctional institutions. Sites will be selected to ensure representation across security classification levels, geographic regions of the United States, and institutional population sizes. Not later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot program, BOP shall submit a report detailing findings regarding the prevalence of infectious diseases and covered drug use at participating institutions, along with recommendations for legislative or administrative action.”

The underlying spending legislation that the report is attached to, meanwhile, contains a provision to block federal officials from taking further steps to reschedule cannabis.

It also includes an updated version of a longstanding rider that since 2014 has protected state medical cannabis programs from federal interference.

The House Appropriations Committee last month approved a separate spending bill and an attached report that expresses concerns about health risks from cannabis-derived products, while also encouraging research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.

The full House also recently passed a Farm Bill with provisions aimed at aiding industrial hemp producers—but without any language to delay or alter the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that’s scheduled to take effect later this year.

The House Rules Committee is considering an amendment this week that would allow military veterans to receive recommendations for medical marijuana through their doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

A new report from the Congressional Research Service details the scope and limitations of the federal marijuana rescheduling move.