Data and the medical community recognized the benefits of medical marijuana – and they are making it clear to the federal government.

It has become a major help in millions of patients treatment, but concerns from the federal government has caused concern. Now major institutions rally about medical marijuana to protect those who need it most. It is a strong show of support for medical marijuana protections with more than a dozen prominent respected national organizations urging Congress to maintain federal safeguards for medical marijuana patients. In a recent letter sent to congressional leaders, the groups called on lawmakers to preserve a key amendment which prevents the Department of Justice from prosecuting individuals and providers operating in compliance with state medical cannabis laws.

The letter was submitted as Congress considers the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill, which includes the long-standing Rohrabacher–Blumenauer Amendment (also known as the Medical Marijuana Protections Amendment). First adopted in 2014, the amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to interfere with state medical marijuana programs—a crucial shield for patients, doctors, and providers in 38 states, Washington D.C., and several U.S. territories where medical cannabis is legal.

The organizations behind the letter speak on behalf of patients, healthcare professionals, civil rights advocates, and communities concerned about public health and access to care. They worry stripping the amendment would threaten the health and legal safety of millions of Americans who rely on medical cannabis to treat conditions ranging from chronic pain and PTSD to cancer and epilepsy. While the cannabis industry has long advocated for these protections, the new push from mainstream, non-cannabis organizations signals a broadening consensus that medical marijuana access should be preserved. “For our community, this isn’t a political or commercial issue—it’s a medical one,” said Laura Weidner, Vice President of Government Relations at the Epilepsy Foundation. “We have families who rely on medical cannabis when all other treatments have failed. Removing these protections puts lives and livelihoods in jeopardy.” The letter urges Congress to maintain the amendment in the upcoming Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. It further recommends making these protections permanent, eliminating the uncertainty of yearly renewals and shielding law-abiding patients and providers from sudden legal threats. While 38 states and several U.S. territories have legalized medical marijuana, it remains a Schedule I substance under federal law. The organizations argue that undermining state programs by allowing federal enforcement would not only violate state sovereignty but would also disrupt treatment plans for patients with conditions like cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, and multiple sclerosis. Several of the groups have worked for years on issues like veterans’ health, disability rights, and public health—not on cannabis policy. Their involvement signals that access to medical marijuana has become a mainstream concern among those advocating for vulnerable communities. Full List of Non-Cannabis Organizations Who Signed the LetterAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) American Nurses Association American Osteopathic Association Epilepsy Foundation Human Rights Watch National Organization for Women National Multiple Sclerosis Society National Association of Social Workers Veterans for Common Sense National Disability Rights Network National Health Law Program Center for Disability Rights AIDS United The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Autistic Self Advocacy Networ These organizations have little in common politically or professionally—except a shared concern that vulnerable Americans could lose access to legally sanctioned medical treatments. Their unified voice sends a strong message to Congress: protecting patients is not a niche issue, it’s a national one.

The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis. For more information, visit www.thefreshtoast.com.

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