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US Representative Steve Cohen introduced the Public Health and Research Reforms in Controlled Substances Act in Congress on 29 October 2026. The bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely and overhaul how federal drug policy is set.
Key points
- The bill would take cannabis out of the Controlled Substances Act, not just move it to a lower schedule.
- It would end mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences and shift some DEA duties to HHS.
- Passage is uncertain: it needs Congress, and no chamber bill number had been assigned at announcement.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the bill on 29 October 2026, according to The Marijuana Herald. It would remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act altogether, rather than simply moving it to a less restrictive schedule.
Cohen described the text as the most complete overhaul of the Act since it was enacted more than fifty years ago. The law dates from 1970.
What the bill would change
Beyond cannabis, the proposal would scrap mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences, reports Cannabis Aficionado. It would also create new criteria for classifying drugs.
The model would use two axes: one for abuse risk and one for therapeutic value. Some regulatory responsibilities would move from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Titus backs a federal catch-up
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, supported the move. She said Congress should modernise federal law to reflect how cannabis is used across the country and to recognise a legitimate emerging industry and the plant’s medical benefits, according to The Marijuana Herald.
In her view, Washington has to catch up with the states. Titus also backs the MORE Act, which likewise aims to remove cannabis from federal drug schedules.
Cohen calls the drug war a failure
Cohen argued that most Americans see the war on drugs as a failure. He pointed to harsh mandatory minimums for minor offences, which he said fell largely on minorities and which most people no longer regard as crimes, per The Marijuana Herald.
Safeguards would remain in place
The text would keep existing powers under federal food, drug and public health laws. HHS could also continue to include cannabis in drug testing programmes for federal employees, according to Cannabis Aficionado.
Rescheduling track runs in parallel
Federal authorities are separately working on a rescheduling process that would consider moving cannabis to Schedule III rather than removing it from the Act. For background, see our report on the DEA and rescheduling.
The Congressional Cannabis Caucus is bipartisan. It has pushed for changes on banking, research, medical access and states’ rights.
What happens next
The proposal now goes to Congress. Next steps would include referral to committees, hearings and any revised text. Its chances remain unclear, since it needs congressional approval, and no chamber bill number had been assigned when it was announced.
Ce que ça change pour toi
This is a US federal proposal, so it would not change the rules for buying or using products in Europe. Laws on cannabis and CBD here are set nationally and at EU level, and they differ by country.
If you follow the topic, the bill would mainly signal where the American debate is heading. For a primer on cannabis products, our guide to what edibles are explains the basics. You can also browse the full Spliff range.
Every Spliff product is lab-tested: THC content below 0.3% (0% for vapes and pods). The lab analysis of each batch is available on request from customer service.
FAQ
What does the Cohen bill propose for cannabis?
It would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely, instead of moving it to a lower schedule. It would also end mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences.
Would the DEA lose its role?
Some regulatory responsibilities would move from the DEA to HHS, according to Cannabis Aficionado. Authorities under federal food, drug and public health laws would be preserved.
Is the bill likely to pass?
That is unclear. It needs approval from Congress, and no chamber bill number had been assigned when it was announced.
Sources
- The Marijuana Herald — Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Dina Titus Backs New Bill to Deschedule Marijuana and Overhaul Federal Drug Laws in Exclusive Statement
- Cannabis Aficionado — Cohen Cannabis Bill Proposes Descheduling and Research Reform
