Every year since 2014, Congress has included a critical appropriations rider — commonly known as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment (and its successors) — that prohibits the Department of Justice from using federal funds to interfere with states that have legalized medical marijuana. This bipartisan protection has been renewed in every major appropriations bill, ensuring that state medical marijuana programs can operate without federal prosecution or interference.
Below is the complete verbatim record of these provisions from the most recent 2026 law back through 2014, including the exact statutory text and Iowa’s congressional delegation voting record on each measure.
Public Law 119-74, § 531, 140 Stat. 5 (January 23, 2026), H.R. 6938
Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Zach Nunn: Yea; Rep. Ashley Hinson: Yea; Rep. Randy Feenstra: Yea; Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: Yea
Sec. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 118-42, § 531, 138 Stat. 25, 174 (March 9, 2024), H.R. 4366
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Zach Nunn: Yea; Rep. Ashley Hinson: Yea; Rep. Randy Feenstra: Yea; Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: Yea
SEC. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 117-328, § 531, 136 STAT. 4459, 4561(December 29, 2022), H.R. 2617, § 531
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Nay; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Nay; Rep. Cindy Axne: Yea; Rep. Ashley Hinson: Nay; Rep. Randy Feenstra: Nay; Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: Nay
SEC. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 117-103, § 531, 136 STAT. 49, 150(March 15, 2022)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Cindy Axne: Yea; Rep. Ashley Hinson: Yea; Rep. Randy Feenstra: Nay; Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: Yea
SEC. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 116-260, § 531, 134 Stat. 1182, 1283(Dec. 27, 2020)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Cindy Axne: Yea; Rep. Abby Finkenauer: Yea; Rep. Steve King: Not Voting; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea
SEC. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 116-93, § 531, 133 Stat. 2317, 2431 (Dec. 20, 2019)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1158)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Cindy Axne: Yea; Rep. Abby Finkenauer: Yea; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea
SEC. 531. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana
Public Law 116-6, § 537, 133 Stat. 13, 138 (Feb. 15, 2019)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J. Res. 31)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Yea; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Yea; Rep. Cindy Axne: Yea; Rep. Abby Finkenauer: Yea; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea
SEC. 537. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 115-141, § 538, 132 Stat. 348, 444 (Mar. 23, 2018)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 1625)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Nay; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Nay; Rep. Rod Blum: Nay; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea; Rep. David Young: Yea
SEC. 538. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 115-31, § 537, 131 Stat. 135, 228 (May 5, 2017)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 244)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Nay; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Nay; Rep. Rod Blum: Nay; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea; Rep. David Young: Yea
SEC. 537. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 114-113, § 542, 129 Stat. 2242, 2332(Dec. 18, 2015)
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2029)
Sen. Joni Ernst: Nay; Sen. Chuck Grassley: Nay; Rep. Rod Blum: Nay; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Yea; Rep. David Young: Nay
SEC. 542. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 113-235, § 538, 128 Stat. 2130, 2217(Dec. 16, 2014)
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83)
Sen. Chuck Grassley: Nay; Sen. Tom Harkin: Nay; Rep. Bruce Braley: Nay; Rep. Steve King: Nay; Rep. Tom Latham: Yea; Rep. Dave Loebsack: Nay
SEC. 538. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
Public Law 119-74, § 531, 140 STAT. 5, 57 (January 239, 2026) Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 6938)
Public Law 118-42, § 531, 138 STAT. 25, 174 (March 9, 2024) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366)
Public Law 117-328, § 531, 136 STAT. 4459, 4561 (December 29, 2022) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617)
Public Law 117-103, § 531, 136 STAT. 49, 150 (March 15, 2022) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471)
Public Law 116-260, § 531, 134 Stat. 1182, 1283 (Dec. 27, 2020) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133)
Public Law 116-93, § 531, 133 Stat. 2317, 2431 (Dec. 20, 2019) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1158)
Public Law 116-6, § 537, 133 Stat. 13, 138 (Feb. 15, 2019) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J. Res. 31)
Public Law 115-141, § 538, 132 Stat. 348, 444 (Mar. 23, 2018) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 1625)
Public Law 115-31, § 537, 131 Stat. 135, 228 (May 5, 2017) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 244)
Public Law 114-113, § 542, 129 Stat. 2242, 2332 (Dec. 18, 2015) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2029)
Public Law 113-235, § 538, 128 Stat. 2130, 2217 (Dec. 16, 2014) Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83)
This rider has been one of the most consistent bipartisan protections for state medical marijuana programs in modern congressional history. As federal rescheduling moves forward, these appropriations safeguards remain a critical backstop for states exercising their own laws. Iowa’s delegation has played a key role in supporting (and sometimes opposing) these measures over the years — a record worth watching as the next appropriations cycle begins.
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