Congress Sends Its First Marijuana Bill , to President Biden.<br />Politico reports that on Nov. 16, the <br />Senate unanimously passed a bill seeking to <br />expand medical marijuana research.<br />The House also unanimously passed the bill in July.<br />It is the first time a standalone cannabis-related bill has been approved <br />by both the House and Senate.<br />Since cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I substance federally, it's difficult for scientists to get approval to conduct studies.<br />Since cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I substance federally, it's difficult for scientists to get approval to conduct studies.<br />This bill aims to make it easier for those scientists while also protecting doctors researching the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis for patients.<br />This bill aims to make it easier for those scientists while also protecting doctors researching the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis for patients.<br />Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who co-sponsored the bill, said, “After working on the issue of cannabis reform for decades, finally the dam is starting to break.”.<br />At a time when more than 155 million Americans reside where adult-use of cannabis is legal at the state or local level and there are four million registered medical marijuana users with many more likely to self-medicate, it is essential that we are able to fully study the impacts of cannabis use, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, via statement.<br />The bill now heads to President Biden's desk, who once said on the campaign trail that cannabis should be easier to study.<br />Politico reports that last month, the president <br />also issued an executive order requiring the <br />Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) <br />to start looking into marijuana research. .<br />The order also instructed HHS to advise the <br />Department of Justice in reclassifying or declassifying<br />cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act
