US Senate passes cannabis research bill, but House must weigh in

The U.S. Senate gave unanimous approval to a bipartisan bill to “cut the red tape” that stalls scientific research into the medical properties of cannabis and cannabidiols.

According to a news release issued Thursday by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, the Senate approved S. 253 on a voice vote.

The measure – which would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to study cannabis products – now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

The bill was co-sponsored by Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz, who both lauded the bill’s success.

“This bipartisan bill … will empower the FDA to analyze CBD and medical marijuana products in a safe and responsible way so that the American public can decide whether to utilize them in the future based on sound scientific data.”

The Senate measure comes almost a year after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration signaled it might ease its restrictions on marijuana research.