Dr. Bonnie Nagel said this new federal bill will allow scientists to study how people are using pot
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – President Joe Biden’s decision to sign the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act on Dec. 2 is a game changer for scientists whose research has long been held back by federal regulations.
The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate research on marijuana.
It aims to remove red tape and clear obstacles to allow for more research on cannabis.
“I think as scientists, we just want to do good work. And this allows us to do good work,” said Dr. Bonnie Nagel, a professor of psychiatry and the senior associate vice president for research at Oregon Health & Science University.
One way the bill will help scientists to do better research is by granting them more opportunities to study a wider variety of strains and products.
For more than 50 years, the Drug Enforcement Agency had allowed the University of Mississippi to be the only place in the U.S. that could grow marijuana for federally-approved research. The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act changes that by allowing places like higher education institutions, practitioners and manufacturers to become registered to grow and make their own products for medical…
