Washington D.C. – On September 11, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the withdrawal of numerous pending rulemaking actions, a move that signals a continuation of the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda and introduces fresh uncertainty into the evolving landscape of federal cannabis policy. The decision, formalized in a notice set to be published in the Federal Register, impacts several proposed rules related to marijuana and hemp, including one aimed at expanding research and another concerning hemp analytic testing.
DOJ Cites Deregulation and Shifting Priorities
The Justice Department stated that the cancellation of these pending rules is a deliberate part of the Federal Government’s broader deregulatory initiative. Furthermore, the agency cited “ongoing assessments of agency needs, priorities, and objectives” as justification for rescinding actions that had previously been proposed or announced. This action, effective immediately as of September 11, 2025, withdraws 16 Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRMs), and Supplemental Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRMs), along with 38 other previously announced regulatory actions.
This significant move comes amidst a complex and often contradictory federal approach to cannabis. While states continue to expand legal access, federal policy, particularly under administrations with a more cautious stance on drug reform, often introduces obstacles. The stated rationale of deregulation aligns with a broader push from the Trump administration to reduce regulatory burdens across various sectors.
Historical Stance and Unforeseen Implications
The Trump administration has historically exhibited a complex relationship with cannabis policy. During his previous term, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama-era Cole Memorandum, which had provided federal prosecutors with guidance to limit enforcement in states with robust cannabis regulations. However, President Trump also signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which descheduled certain hemp products. This latest action by the DOJ to cancel pending rules adds another layer to this nuanced history, suggesting a potential leaning away from federal expansion of cannabis-related regulations, even those intended to facilitate research or testing.
The implications of this decision are far-reaching for the trending cannabis industry. The cancellation of a rule designed to expand marijuana research, for instance, could slow down scientific understanding of the plant’s potential medical benefits, a topic that has garnered increasing attention and has been noted by President Trump himself as a complex area with “great things having to do with medical” use. The fate of other pending regulatory adjustments, particularly those affecting testing protocols for hemp-derived products, also remains uncertain.
A Shifting Regulatory Climate Amidst State Progress
This federal development unfolds against a backdrop of continued state-level innovation and reform in the cannabis sector. While the DOJ withdraws pending federal rules, states are actively moving forward. For example, the California Senate recently passed a bill to temporarily halt a tax hike on marijuana products, indicating a commitment to supporting its legal market. Concurrently, a report from the House Appropriations Committee has suggested studying a wider variety of cannabis strains commonly used by consumers, highlighting ongoing legislative interest in advancing cannabis research and accessibility.
The news of the DOJ’s action is significant for anyone tracking the national cannabis news. The conflicting signals from different branches of government—legislative bodies interested in research and states expanding markets, contrasted with executive actions rolling back pending federal rules—underscore the persistent tension between federal prohibition and state-level legalization. The broader impact on businesses, researchers, and consumers will become clearer as the industry navigates this latest federal policy shift.
