This week brought major federal victories in the fight against the normalization and commercialization of marijuana. Congress has released the House FY26 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Bill, and we are seeing clear signs of momentum reversing against Big Marijuana’s lobbying agenda on Capitol Hill.
These wins are not accidental. They are the result of years of strategic pressure, consistent education, and a relentless defense of public health. Here’s a breakdown of what just happened and why it matters.
Harris Rider Returns, Marijuana Banking Blocked — in a Bill Chaired by SAFE Banking’s Author
📄 View the full FY26 FSGG bill (markup draft)
Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), the subcommittee chair of the FSGG bill, is well-known as the chief sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act—a major priority for the marijuana industry that would allow federally illegal marijuana businesses to access the U.S. financial system.
Last Congress, he:
- Inserted SAFE Banking-style language into this same FSGG bill, and
- Stripped the Harris Rider—a long-standing provision preventing the District of Columbia from legalizing recreational marijuana sales.
SAM fought that. And we won.
This year, the FY26 bill is even more of a victory:
- ✅ The Harris Rider is back in the base text—without us having to fight for it again.
- ✅ The marijuana banking language is gone.
That means this bill does not include any SAFE Banking provisions—despite being authored by the man who created the bill.
That’s not just a policy win. That’s a message. Joyce’s decision to exclude these provisions shows that our work is shifting the conversation and re-establishing public health as the priority.
New Language Blocking Pro-Drug Messaging in Federal Ads
We are also proud to report a new federal provision secured by SAM in the House Transportation-HUD (THUD) Appropriations Report.
The new language reads: “Section 141 prohibits any funds provided under this heading to be used to encourage illegal drug or alcohol use in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s impaired driving advertising campaigns.”
Why this matters:
Last year, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) released taxpayer-funded impaired driving ads that trivialized marijuana use—even implying that using marijuana before driving was no big deal. That’s not prevention. That’s promotion.
We requested this exact language to stop the federal government from encouraging drug use in its safety campaigns. And Congress listened.
This is the first time SAM has successfully added this kind of language to a federal report — a major milestone in protecting children and families from federally sponsored normalization of drug use.
📉 SAFE Banking: A Risk, Not a Solution
SAFE Banking may sound reasonable to the casual observer. But it’s a Trojan horse. The bill would hand federally illegal marijuana companies access to the banking system—while offering them none of the regulation, scrutiny, or accountability that applies to legal pharmaceutical or agricultural companies.
Worse, it’s based on a myth.
The marijuana industry claims that SAFE Banking is necessary to reduce crime. But the truth is:
- The biggest marijuana robberies are happening at banked, legal businesses in California, Washington, and Colorado, not in unbanked, “cash-only” states.
- A 2022 audit in California revealed that hundreds of licensed shops were evading taxes and hiding cash operations, even with access to financial services.
- According to the U.S. Department of Justice, allowing marijuana businesses to bank would do little to address the illicit market or violence associated with drug trafficking.
More banking does not mean more safety — it means more legitimacy for an industry still tied to addiction, crime, and youth exposure.
The Science Is on Our Side — and It’s Growing
These policy wins come at a time when the scientific record is rapidly expanding — and pointing in one direction: marijuana is not harmless, and its commercial spread is hurting families and communities across the country.
Here are some important studies we’re sharing on the Hill:
- 2024 Addiction Journal study: High-potency cannabis use at ages 16–18 doubles the likelihood of psychotic experiences by age 24.
- 2024 Australian meta-review: Cannabis use is associated with depression, psychosis, suicide, and cognitive decline—especially in youth.
- 2024 Journal of the American Heart Association: Daily marijuana use increases heart attack risk by 25% and stroke risk by 42%.
- Monitoring the Future (2024): 11.4% of high school seniors reported using Delta-8 THC, showing how legal loopholes are driving youth drug use.
The industry may have talking points. But we have the data.
Standing Against Normalization, One Bill at a Time
The wins in the FY26 FSGG and THUD bills show that common sense still has a place in Congress. Even powerful marijuana advocates are backing down under the pressure of facts, science, and a public health-centered strategy.
Make no mistake: Big Marijuana is watching. So are the psychedelic profiteers, the hemp loophole lobbyists, and every industry trying to normalize drug use in the name of profit.
We will not let them.
These appropriations victories are another step in defending the truth—and in defending families across the country.
Stay tuned: More federal appropriations bills are coming. We will keep fighting—and keep winning.