Washington (AFP)
The lower house of the US Congress on Wednesday passed a bill to facilitate medical research into marijuana and its effects, a move hailed by cannabis advocates.
The text, adopted unanimously, allows authorized scientists to have access to flowers and other parts of cannabis plants grown under programs approved by the various states of the country.
Its consumption for medical reasons is legal in 36 of the 50 states, as well as in Washington, and in 15 states and the federal capital for recreational use.
But so far, only the University of Mississippi had a federal license to cultivate and conduct clinical research on marijuana.
However, according to the pro-cannabis organization NORML, the plants are "of poor quality" and "do not reflect the varieties of cannabis available on the market".
For NORML deputy director Paul Armentano, "most high school students have easier access to cannabis than the best scientists in the country."
"Driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any other drug is prohibited anywhere in the United States, but we don't have a good test to (check for) impairment because we don't we cannot study it, ”said Earl Blumenauer, the Oregon Democrat who was responsible for the text during the debate in the House of Representatives.
He recalled that four million Americans had a medical prescription to consume cannabis "and millions more resort to self-medication."
Maryland Republican Andy Harris has pointed out that he, unlike Mr Blumenauer, is fiercely opposed to the legalization of cannabis.
But "we 100% agree that this research needs to be done," he said.
The bill will need to be approved by the Senate to enter into force.
Last week, the House of Representatives also approved a bill to remove cannabis from the federal list of dangerous drugs, a historic step towards its decriminalization in the United States.
© 2020 AFP