Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of H.R. 3797, the Medical Marijuana Research Act introduced by my colleague and friend from Oregon, Representative Blumenauer, my friend from Maryland, Representative Andy Harris, among others. I am sort of surprised we aren't taking this up at 4:20 in the afternoon rather than 2:10, but we will let history deal with that. Mr. Speaker, Federally sanctioned research on marijuana is incredibly challenging. It is a schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that researchers seeking to investigate a drug have to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration to meet certain Federal requirements in order to conduct that research. In addition, international obligations outlined in the United Nations drug control treaties impose requirements that impact the supply of research-grade cannabis. Currently, those conducting federally- sanctioned research can only study marijuana that is sourced through the National Institute on Drug Abuse's single DEA licensee: the University of Mississippi. Unfortunately, that marijuana is chemically distinct from what is commercially available from State-legal dispensaries, such as in my home State of Oregon. What does that mean?…”