The U.S. House of Representatives debated a bipartisan marijuana research bill on Tuesday and passed it on a voice vote—but formal approval is delayed until later in the evening because a member requested a roll call.
Once the House vote is finalized, the Senate is expected to follow suit in the coming days—an action that would make the legislation the first standalone cannabis reform proposal to ever reach the president’s desk.
The “Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act” was considered on the House floor under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, which is generally reserved for non-controversial measures and means no amendments were allowed and debate was limited. The process requires a supermajority of two-thirds support to pass a bill.
Members on both sides of the aisle spoke in favor of the legislation, sponsored by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Andy Harris (R-MD), and none rose to oppose it.
“This bill makes it easier to do the necessary, rigorous medical research—just like is done for any other drug that has a claim of efficacy in this country,” Harris, who opposes legalization but favors expanded studies, said on the floor. “The American public deserves to know what medical
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