Congress Sends Its First Marijuana Bill , to President Biden.
Politico reports that on Nov. 16, the
Senate unanimously passed a bill seeking to
expand medical marijuana research.
The House also unanimously passed the bill in July.
It is the first time a standalone cannabis-related bill has been approved
by both the House and Senate.
Since cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I substance federally, it's difficult for scientists to get approval to conduct studies.
Since cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I substance federally, it's difficult for scientists to get approval to conduct studies.
This bill aims to make it easier for those scientists while also protecting doctors researching the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis for patients.
This bill aims to make it easier for those scientists while also protecting doctors researching the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis for patients.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who co-sponsored the bill, said, “After working on the issue of cannabis reform for decades, finally the dam is starting to break.”.
At a time when more than 155 million Americans reside where adult-use of cannabis is legal at the state or local level and there are four million registered medical marijuana users with many more likely to self-medicate, it is essential that we are able to fully study the impacts of cannabis use, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, via statement.
The bill now heads to President Biden's desk, who once said on the campaign trail that cannabis should be easier to study.
Politico reports that last month, the president
also issued an executive order requiring the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
to start looking into marijuana research. .
The order also instructed HHS to advise the
Department of Justice in reclassifying or declassifying
cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act
