[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 185 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 2021

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the Medical 
Marijuana Research Act. This legislation would remove barriers for 
research into cannabis and facilitate access to an increased supply of 
higher quality medical grade cannabis for research purposes.
  The cannabis laws in this country are broken, including our laws that 
govern cannabis research. Because cannabis is a Schedule I substance, 
researchers must jump through hoops and comply with onerous 
requirements just to do basic research on the medical potential of the 
plant.
  The Medical Marijuana Research Act amends the Controlled Substances 
Act to establish a new, separate registration process, specific for 
marijuana. The bill would both streamline the often-duplicative 
licensure process for researchers seeking to conduct cannabis research 
and facilitate access to an increased supply of higher quality medical 
grade cannabis for research purposes.
  The Medical Marijuana Research Act will ensure that research on 
cannabis and other potentially beneficial marijuana-derived substances 
is based on sound science and reduce the regulatory barriers associated 
with marijuana research. The legislation requires the Drug Enforcement 
Agency (DEA) to license outside of the National Institute on Drug Abuse 
(NIDA) to ensure that there is an adequate supply of cannabis product 
to study. The legislation also shortens timelines, reduces unnecessary 
security measures, and streamlines approval for researchers.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate 
to enact this legislation and enable research into the medical impacts 
from using cannabis so Americans have adequate access to potentially 
transformative medicines and treatments.

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