Debbie Lesko: “My amendment strikes section 316. Under current law, universities are already allowed to conduct research on marijuana…”

“My amendment strikes section 316. Under current law, universities are already allowed to conduct research on marijuana as long as the university gets approval from the Drug Enforcement Agency and buys the marijuana from the University of Mississippi, the DEA's approved provider. Additionally, universities are currently required to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act which prohibits universities from unlawfully manufacturing, distributing and dispensing, or possessing a controlled substance. A violation of this law would result in a loss of Federal funding. Democrats want to change all of this. Section 316 allows universities to skirt these requirements. If universities are allowed to engage in cannabis growing and research without any safeguards, who is to say that this provision would not permit universities to offer a class called Pot Smoking 101, dedicated to smoking pot under the false pretense of research. Pushing for marijuana research in universities also fails to account for the fact that because marijuana is a schedule I drug, Federal law requires certain safeguards, including a limited-access room and a specific storage safe for the drug. My amendment allows for the withholding of Federal funds if universities fail to implement these necessary safeguards. An appropriations package is, quite simply, not the place for debate on a legalization of or looser restrictions for marijuana.…”