Congress sends first weed bill to Biden

November 17, 2022
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Federal
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Passage of the legislation signaled a new era in federal cannabis policy: It’s the first standalone marijuana-related bill approved by both chambers of Congress.

The Senate passed a bill designed to expand medical marijuana research on Wednesday by unanimous consent.

Passage of the legislation, which is sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) in their respective chambers, signaled a new era in federal cannabis policy: It’s the first standalone marijuana-related bill approved by both chambers of Congress. The House passed the bill in July, also by unanimous consent.

The bill, which will make it easier for scientists to conduct medical marijuana research and protect doctors who discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using the drug with patients, now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Key context: Marijuana is categorized on Schedule I on the Controlled Substances Act, the same category as heroin. Schedule I substances are classified as having no medical benefit and a high propensity to addiction. But some research that has been conducted in the last decade, and anecdotes from thousands of patients around the country, suggests that cannabis may have medical usefulness for certain medical conditions. [Read More @ Politico]