Matt Gaetz: “I thank the gentleman from the Sunshine State of Florida for yielding, and I am so grateful that we have been able to…”

“I thank the gentleman from the Sunshine State of Florida for yielding, and I am so grateful that we have been able to find some areas of common ground in this Congress on the issue of cannabis reform. I am very proud, Mr. Speaker, to announce that, in the coming days, I will be joining the Judiciary chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), in introducing legislation that enjoys support from across the ideological spectrum, and it will do several important things: First, it will increase the number of people who are growing medical- grade cannabis for research purposes. Second, it will end the gag rule at the VA that precludes physicians from being able to consult and speak with their patients about the laws in their particular States. Third, it will create a safe harbor so that some of the finest medical institutions and universities in this great country will be able to research and partner with private sector entities to determine the potential that medical cannabis can have to improve people's quality of life. And finally, this legislation will end the prohibition from having commercial, for-profit entities working in concert, in collaboration with some of those very universities and medical institutions.…”