US Senate advances multiple federal cannabis reform bills

During the 2025‑2026 congressional session, lawmakers introduced more than two dozen cannabis‑related proposals, including the CLAIM Act to protect insurers, the SAFE Banking Act to grant financial institutions access to state‑legal marijuana businesses, and the EDUCATE Act to fund cannabis agriculture research at minority‑serving colleges.

Senate Democrats reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, co‑sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, Chuck Schumer, John Fetterman and others. The bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, shift regulatory oversight to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, impose a federal excise tax, and create standards for production, distribution and retail. It also proposes automatic expungement of non‑violent federal cannabis convictions, grants for research and veteran‑focused clinical trials, and new safety rules for cannabis‑impaired driving.

Collectively, the legislation aims to create a nationwide regulatory framework, improve banking access, support scientific study, and address criminal‑justice impacts of past prohibition.