WASHINGTON, D.C.— Due to its incredible medicinal potential, we continue to believe that more research must be done on marijuana rich in cannabidiol (CBD). In late April, CURE signed a group letter addressed to Chuck Rosenberg, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), urging him to remove cannabis from Schedule I in the Controlled Substances Act.
This would eradicate federal barriers to research, paving the way for more progressive research and new treatments. CURE has joined with other organizations in support of the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (CARERS, S. 683, H.R. 1538) which would facilitate safe and legal access to medical cannabis for patients and physicians acting in accordance with state law and lift federal barriers to research. The CARERS Act would also remove low-THC cannabis from the CSA allowing individuals in states that have created protections for low-THC therapies to more easily access this potential treatment option.
Current regulatory hurdles make it difficult for researchers to gain access to marijuana rich in CBD. There is no debate that the hoops through which researchers must jump to acquire marijuana, or any chemical found in it, are hindering scientific advancement—and CURE is committed to helping researchers overcome these obstacles to advance research in this important area.