2022: Schweikert Voted To Relax Marijuana Research Registration Requirements And Require Certain Federal Actions To Ensure The Supply Of Marijuana For Research Purposes. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, which would "include various provisions related to marijuana research, including to establish protocols for researcher registration and production of marijuana for research purposes. The bill would establish a process for the Justice Department to register practitioners to conduct research with marijuana if their research protocol has been approved by a federal research agency and they have procedures in place to safeguard against diversion of the controlled substance, including adequate secure storage capacities. It would also establish a process for the department to register individuals to manufacture marijuana for research purposes if they meet certain conditions, including transferring marijuana only to registered researchers with prior approval from the department and obtaining relevant state licenses. Among other provisions, the bill would require the Justice Department, in consultation with the Health and Human Services Department, to assess annually whether there is an inadequate or interrupted supply of marijuana for research purposes and, if there is, to report to Congress on steps it will take to restore the supply. It would require HHS to conduct research and, within one year of enactment, submit a report to Congress on potential therapeutic effects of cannabidiol or marijuana for serious medical conditions; potential effects of marijuana, including on adolescent brain development and human cognitive abilities; and barriers to researching marijuana or cannabidiol in states that have legalized their use.It would also specify that it is not a violation of the Controlled Substances Act for a physician to discuss the potential harms and benefits of marijuana and marijuana derivatives as a medical treatment with a patient." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 325-95, thus the bill was sent to Senate. The Senate passed the bill, sent the bill to President Biden, and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 392, 7/26/22; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8454]
The Legislation Changed How Scientists Can Conduct Marijuana Research By Establishing A New Registration Process For Research And Marijuana Manufacturing For Research Purposes. According to Forbes, "President Joe Biden turns the Medical Marijuana Research Bill into law, changing how American scientists can do research on marijuana. As anticipated by Marijuana Moment last week, the White House announced on Friday that President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, 'which establishes a new registration process for conducting research on marijuana and for manufacturing marijuana products for research purposes and drug development.'" [Forbes, 12/3/22]
The Legislation Eased The Regulations For Scientists Who Want To Study Medical Marijuana, Which Used To Delay Their Research Due To Strict Rules. According to Forbes, "The law significantly eases the lives of scientists who wish to study marijuana for medical purposes, as they had to follow strict regulations that could delay their research." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
The Legislation Removed Federal Restrictions On Medical Marijuana Research, Streamlined The Application Process To Approve Scientific Students, And Ensured An Adequate And Uninterrupted Supply Of Marijuana Available For Medical Marijuana Research. According to Forbes, "The new legislation removes federal restrictions in order to ease research from studying the plant and speeds up the application process to approve marijuana-related scientific studies. Under the new law, the federal government has to ensure an adequate, uninterrupted supply of marijuana available to scientists for studies on medical marijuana." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
Under The Legislation, Universities And Researchers Would Be Able To Seek A License To Grow, Dispense And Possess Marijuana For Research Purposes. According to Forbes, "Universities and research institutions will now be able to acquire U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license to grow, manufacture, distribute, dispense and possess marijuana for research purposes, with guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food And Drug Administration." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
The Legislation Encouraged The FDA To Develop Marijuana-Derived Medications And Instructed The HHS To Determine The Medical Benefits Of CBD As A Drug. According to Forbes, "The legislation also encourages the FDA to develop marijuana-derived medicines and addresses the HHS to determine the potential medical benefits of marijuana or cannabidiol (or CBD) as a drug." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
The Legislation Intervened In The Doctor-Patient Relationships By Permitting Doctors To Discuss The Potential Harms And Benefits Of Marijuana. According to Forbes, "The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act also intervenes in the doctor-patient relationship by allowing physicians to discuss the currently known potential harms and benefits of marijuana cannabinoids, such as CBD, as a treatment or the known possible damages and benefits of marijuana and its compounds." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
The Legislation Did Not Allow Scientists To Acquire Marijuana From State-Run Dispensaries And Kept Marijuana Illegal At The Federal Level As A Schedule I Controlled Substance. According to Forbes, "Nevertheless, the legislation doesn't allow scientists to obtain marijuana from state-run dispensaries and won't reschedule marijuana at the federal level. In fact, marijuana will remain illegal at the federal level under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act." [Forbes, 12/3/22]
2022: Schweikert Voted For The Medical Marijuana Research Act, Which Would Relax Marijuana Research Registration Requirements And Require Certain Federal Actions To Ensure The Supply Of Marijuana For Research Purposes. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Medical Marijuana Research Act, which would "modify marijuana research requirements and require federal actions to ensure the supply of marijuana for research purposes. Among other provisions, it would relax marijuana research registration requirements, including to require the Justice Department to register a research applicant that is already authorized to dispense or research other controlled substances; is compliant with state law; and, in the case of clinical research, has had research protocols authorized by the Health and Human Services Department -- unless approval of the application would be 'inconsistent with the public interest.' It would establish a process for the Justice Department to register applicants to manufacture and distribute marijuana intended for exclusive use by registered researchers. It would require HHS to continue producing marijuana through the National Institute on Drug Abuse Drug Supply Program until there is a sufficient supply for qualified researchers and to implement, along with the Justice Department, a specialized process for manufacturers and distributors to supply researchers with marijuana products." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 343-75, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 108, 4/4/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/4/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5657]
The Bipartisan Bill Would Remove Barriers To Conducting Marijuana Research And Permitting Scientists To Access Cannabis From Legal Dispensaries. According to Forbes, "U.S. House of Representatives passed on Monday, April 4, a bipartisan marijuana research bill that would remove barriers to conducting research on marijuana and allow scientists to access cannabis from dispensaries of legal cannabis states." [Forbes, 4/5/22]
The Bill Would Facilitate The Process For Researchers To Apply For Approval To Study Cannabis By Ensuring Enough Cannabis Supply For Research And Imposing Deadlines On Federal Agencies To Review Their Applications On Time. According to Forbes, "The bill would ease the process by which researchers apply for approval to study cannabis by ensuring a sufficient supply of cannabis intended for research and placing deadlines on federal agencies to consider applications on time." [Forbes, 4/5/22]