U.S. Congress: GOP Representative Brian Mast Signs on as Sponsor of Bipartisan Legislation to Reschedule Cannabis

The bill, introduced in August by Representative Gregory Steube (R-FL), would require the Attorney General to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act within 60 days of enactment. Representative David Joyce (R-OH) became the bill’s first cosponsor in September, followed by Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) in October. Mast’s endorsement brings the total number of sponsors to four. Although this is far lower than the 60 sponsors currently signed on to a bill to fully deschedule cannabis, the descheduling proposal has no Republican support.

If enacted, the Marijuana 1-to-3 Act would reclassify marijuana alongside substances such as ketamine and certain anabolic steroids, formally recognizing its medical value and easing barriers for scientific research. While the measure would not legalize marijuana nationwide, moving it to Schedule III would lift tax restrictions currently imposed on state-licensed marijuana businesses under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code.

The legislation has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee. Its progress comes as the Trump Administration is widely expected to advance marijuana rescheduling through administrative action in the near future.