Who’s Blocking Cannabis Reform In The Senate? Marijuana Policy Still Divides Democrats And Republicans
As cannabis legalization debates continue to escalate at both the federal and state levels, a comprehensive new report by The Marijuana Herald maps out where all 100 U.S. Senators stand on major reform issues, including recreational legalization, medical use, decriminalization, banking access and rescheduling. The report offers the most detailed snapshot of the upper chamber’s political alignment on marijuana.
Partisan Divide: Familiar Lines, New Fractures
A clear party-line divide remains visible: nearly every Democrat supports all five cannabis reform measures, while most Republicans continue to oppose them, particularly recreational legalization and rescheduling from Schedule I.
Yet there are exceptions. Republican senators like Rand Paul (KY) and Cynthia Lummis (WY) show nuanced or even supportive positions on banking and rescheduling. Paul supports a “state-by-state” approach and has “pushed for marijuana rescheduling and expanded access for veterans,” while Lummis voted for the SAFER Banking Act despite opposing legalization.
Meanwhile, Democrats like Raphael Warnock (GA) have taken more cautious stances on parts of reform. While supporting decriminalization and rescheduling, Warnock voted against the SAFER Banking Act in committee, citing equity concerns but left the door open for support on the floor.