News Regulations Legal Regulations Research
U.S. House Of Representatives passes Medical Marijuana Research bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to expand cannabis research possibilities in a bipartisan 343-75 vote.

The Medical Marijuana Research Act was first introduced in October 2021 by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), and was co-sponsored by 11 Representatives, including both Democrats and Republicans.

The bill, which passed in the House on April 4, aims to ease the process by which researchers apply for approval to study cannabis. It establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate medical marijuana research – specifically, it directs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to register practitioners to conduct medical marijuana research, and directs manufacturers and distributors to supply marijuana for such research.

Following the House vote, the next step is for the bill to be taken up by the Senate, but the outcome there is widely considered to be uncertain.

The vote on the medical marijuana research bill comes just days after the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act on April 1, a bill that would end the federal prohibition on cannabis.

Cannabis research in the U.S. remains limited, and the use and possession of cannabis for any purpose is illegal under federal law. However, nineteen U.S. states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana use, and businesses that sell marijuana must have a license from the state to do so.