Senators Introduce the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act
United States Senators Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Grassley, who lead the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, introduced the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to support critical research into the efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD). Unnecessary barriers in the research process would be either be streamlined or removed.
The bill would give the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services a one-year deadline to complete a full analysis on CBD. It would also allow research on CBD under a Schedule II classification. It would streamline the process in part by reducing research barriers and allow research institutions to possess cannabis for the purpose of authorized research.
“Cumbersome research regulations have made it difficult to conduct research on the potential medical benefits of marijuana,” Senator Feinstein stated. “I strongly believe such research is necessary, especially for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana. This bill paves the way for new research to be conducted with greater ease to determine if cannabidiol can be an effective medication for serious illnesses such as intractable epilepsy.”
Few people want CBD research more than the growing body of parents who have seen its anti-epilepsy effects. “The parents of children with severe epilepsy and other conditions are interested in cannabidiol to try to ease their children’s symptoms,” Senator Grassley stated. “I understand their interest. Research is necessary to determine the potential medical value of cannabidiol, and wherever possible, the government should help facilitate the scientific research needed to give these parents the answers they need.”
Although a great deal of research on medical cannabis exist, including CBD, the process can take years and the federal classification hampers progress. The regulatory barriers associated with cannabis research desperately need revision. The bill would force federal agencies to act on the issue which is long overdue.
