Curbelo criticizes DOJ, Attorney General for interfering with medical marijuana research

U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) thinks a recent federal approval allowing a Canadian company to import two extracted cannabis compounds for medical research into the United States is a bad economic move for the nation.

“With this announcement, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice’s arcane prohibition on researching the effects of cannabis are now complicit in shipping American jobs and dollars abroad,” the congressman said on Sept. 19. His comments followed Tuesday’s announcement that the DOJ’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approved plans at the University of California San Diego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research to import capsules containing cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), two natural compounds found in cannabis plants, from Canadian-based Tilray Inc.

“Allowing a Canadian company to do what American companies are still waiting on the Department of Justice to grant them permission to do is incomprehensible,” Rep. Curbelo said.

University researchers plan to study the effectiveness of CBD and THC as a potential treatment for adults with essential tremor, a nervous system disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic shaking of any part of the body, most notably the hands. It affects an estimated 10 million American adults and is often confused with Parkinson’s disease, according to a Sept. 18 university statement.

The DEA approval was needed for Tilray to import CBD and THC because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level in the United States.

“The United States has countless companies, including several in my home state of Florida, that are well-equipped to provide high-quality cannabis extracts, but they are being roadblocked by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ senseless witch hunt against an entire industry of legal, state-regulated small businesses,” said Rep. Curbelo.

As a steadfast advocate for the Tenth Amendment protections of legal, state-regulated marijuana businesses in his home state and around the country, Rep. Curbelo called on Congress to take action.

Specifically, the lawmaker wants to see the Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018, H.R. 5634, which he cosponsors, to be fast tracked.

“I’m pleased that just last week the House Judiciary Committee passed … H.R. 5634 to require the Justice Department to issue at least two more licenses to U.S. facilities to grow cannabis for research,” said Rep. Curbelo. “I am hopeful that this bill will be considered on the House floor as soon as possible, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage. American jobs are at stake.”

H.R. 5634, introduced on April 26 by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), would increase the number of manufacturers registered under the Controlled Substances Act to manufacture cannabis for legitimate research purposes and authorize healthcare providers of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide recommendations to veterans regarding participation in federally approved cannabis clinical trials, among other purposes, according to the text of the bill.

The bill’s 42 cosponsors of the bipartisan measure also include U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

H.R. 5634 is under consideration in three U.S. House committees: Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; and Veterans’ Affairs.