WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation that would allow authorized scientists access to state-approved dried flower and other cannabis products, for the purpose of research.
HR 3797: Medical Marijuana Research Act, sponsored by Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chair Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), was the second cannabis law reform bill voted on by the House during its lame duck session. Passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act came last week on December 4.
“The cannabis laws in this country are broken, especially those that deal with research. It’s illegal everywhere in America to drive under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any other substance. But we do not have a good test for impairment because we can’t study it… This is insane and we need to change it,” Blumenauer said today on the House floor.
A press release from Blumenauer’s office said the Medical Marijuana Research Act will address research limitations by:
- Providing a pathway for researchers to study the cannabis products consumers are using from state-legal programs.
- Streamlining the burdensome and often duplicative license process for researchers seeking to conduct marijuana research, while still maintaining all necessary safeguards against misuse and abuse.
- Addressing the woefully inadequate, both in quantity and quality, supply of medical-grade marijuana available for use in such research.
- Requiring a report by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the status and results of new research on marijuana benefits.
“At a time when there are four million registered medical cannabis patients, and many more likely self-medicate, when there are 91 percent of Americans supporting medical cannabis, it’s time to change the system. Our bill will do precisely that,” Blumenauer added.
