A bipartisan coalition of senators has reintroduced a bill that’s meant to promote research into cannabis.
The Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act, which unanimously passed the Senate in identical form last year, would streamline the application process for researchers who want to study the plant and to encourage the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop cannabis-derived medicines.
It would also clarify that physicians are allowed to discuss the risks and benefits of cannabis with patients and require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report on those potential health benefits, as well one on barriers to cannabis research and how to overcome those obstacles.
“Because of restrictive regulations, we still do not understand exactly how medical cannabis can be used to safely treat a variety of conditions where it may be far more useful than current treatments,” Feinstein said in a press release. “This bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last year, would streamline the research process to allow FDA-approved cannabis-derived medications to be used to treat serious medical conditions. Millions may ultimately benefit from a new, safe treatment for conditions like intractable epilepsy once this bill becomes law.”
Read more at marijuanamoment.net