There’s a new marijuana bill scheduled to be voted on this week by the U.S. House panel that oversees federal drug enforcement.
The bill would dramatically expand opportunities for research on the benefits of medicinal marijuana. Called the Medical Cannabis Research Act, the federal government would be required to issue more licenses to grow marijuana to be used in scientific studies, among other changes.
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has sponsored the bill as well as 40 bipartisan cosponsors.
“The federal government should not stand in the way of collaboration that can help people live better lives,” Gaetz said in a phone interview with Forbes.
The bill will go before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
According to Gaetz, if enacted, the proposal will “increase the amount of research-grade cannabis available to unlock cures.”
He remarked, “This will be the first time that a cannabis reform bill will make it through the Judiciary Committee during Republican control of the Congress, ever.”
