Political Quotes

“The bottom line is that there is scientific evidence about the danger of marijuana. It is largely unstudied, and anyone, Madam Chair, who understands how research is conducted here should realize that the roadblock is not in HHS. It is not in the jurisdiction of this bill. It is with the DEA. This does nothing to remove the scheduling with regard to how the DEA views marijuana. Dr. Volkow, one of the world's experts on addiction, it was brought up that maybe we can treat addiction with marijuana, and she says absolutely not. This drug causes addiction. One-seventh of the people who are addicted to opioids started with marijuana. It is a gateway drug. It is dangerous. This amendment does nothing to deal with promoting research because the problem is not in HHS. The problem is in DEA. Madam Chair, I have tried to deal with this problem. I have cosponsored a bill that promotes research with a broader approach, to involve all the Federal agencies that could hinder research in any way. This amendment does nothing to do that. This sends a bad signal. As the gentleman from Pennsylvania suggested, this isn't about marijuana, it is about every schedule I drug, and there are very dangerous schedule I drugs. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.”