On April 29, 2025, Representatives Dina Titus and Ilhan Omar introduced the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act of 2025. The legislation seeks to amend longstanding restrictions that prevent the ONDCP from advocating for the legalization of any Schedule I substances, including cannabis. Under current law, the ONDCP is required to oppose any efforts toward legalization, regardless of scientific evidence or state-level reforms.
The bill proposes to lift these prohibitions, allowing the ONDCP to consider empirical data and public health research when making drug policy recommendations. Titus and Omar argue that removing these barriers would enable a more rational and modern approach to federal drug governance.
Advocating for Evidence-Based Policy
Representative Titus emphasized that federal policy should be driven by science, not outdated mandates rooted in stigma. She pointed out that the ONDCP’s current legal obligations are incompatible with the evolving landscape, where the majority of U.S. states have legalized cannabis for either medical or recreational use.
Similarly, Representative Omar highlighted that effective governance requires agencies like the ONDCP to engage with emerging research. She noted that the blanket requirement to oppose cannabis legalization prevents the federal government from fully understanding the real-world impacts of regulated cannabis markets across various states.
The lawmakers stressed that allowing ONDCP to engage in unbiased research could provide lawmakers with better information as Congress continues to debate broader cannabis reform measures.
Broader Implications for Federal Drug Policy
If passed, the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act would mark a significant departure from decades of prohibitionist federal drug policy. Allowing the ONDCP to support cannabis research could not only influence internal federal recommendations but also build momentum for changes such as cannabis rescheduling or full legalization at the national level.
Additionally, empowering the ONDCP to embrace an evidence-based framework would improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies. This alignment is seen as crucial for addressing issues like public health impacts, social equity concerns, and regulatory best practices in the emerging legal cannabis industry.
The bill also symbolizes a broader shift away from punitive drug policies toward a health-centered approach that prioritizes research, education, and harm reduction.
Next Steps and Industry Response
The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act will now proceed through the committee review process in the House of Representatives. While it faces challenges in a divided Congress, supporters argue that growing public support for cannabis reform could help advance the measure.
Stakeholders in the cannabis industry, as well as public health advocates, have expressed optimism about the bill’s introduction. Many view it as a necessary first step toward modernizing federal drug policy and aligning it with contemporary scientific understanding.
With more states legalizing cannabis and public opinion shifting rapidly in favor of reform, measures like the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Act could play a crucial role in reshaping how the federal government approaches cannabis in the years ahead.
