Researchers associated with the Prohibition group Smart Approaches to Marijuana SAM are urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer D-NY to advance a bill that would expand scientific cannabis research as quickly as possible, according to Marijuana Moment.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a revised version of the bipartisan Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act in July from Reps. Earl Blumenauer D-OR and Andy Harris R-MD in a 325 -- 95 vote.
The Senate hasn't taken any action on it so far.
The bill that lawmakers have turned their attention to is a package of incremental cannabis reforms related to banking policy change. Despite bipartisan and bicameral talks, their efforts resulted in SAFE Plus nearing completion, according to Sen. Jeff Merkley D-OR.
The legislation will include a cannabis research component, as well as provisions to protect banks that work with state-legal cannabis businesses as well as capital components to raise the support of legislators who have resisted broader change centered on social justice.
The Bill Has Enough Support To Pass Congress
The group of researchers with SAM, which is vociferously opposed to cannabis, is pushing for passage of the standalone science bill.
The letter to Schumer signed by twelve members of the SAM Scientific Advisory Board said that the bill would streamline the process for research necessary to improve our understanding of marijuana and its effects on the human brain and body. There are many potential harms and benefits to marijuana and its various compounds, as already shown by the research. We need to have a better understanding of how marijuana affects its consumers. With more Americans using marijuana today than ever before, it is important that we streamline the process for research, according to Sabet, who said that the measure is the only marijuana reform legislation that has enough support to pass Congress. The Senate passed a piece of legislation that focused on marijuana research in March. The application process for researchers wanting to study cannabis is simplified by the Dianne Feinstein D-CA Brian Schatz D-HI and Chuck Grassley R-IA the Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act. It will encourage the Food and Drug Administration FDA to develop cannabis-derived medicines.
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