Movement On CMRE Act And MORE Act On Capitol Hill

On Thursday, March 24, 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the CMRE Act (Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act) and House leadership scheduled the MORE Act (Marijuana Opportunity and Expungement Act) for a floor vote this week.

The current version of the CMRE Act would streamline the application process for researchers who want to study the plant and push the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to encourage and promote the development of cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals. Under the CMRE Act, accredited medical and osteopathic schools, practitioners, research institutions and manufacturers with a Schedule I registration could cultivate cannabis for research purposes. The Drug Enforcement Administration would have approval rights over applications for manufacturers of cannabis-derived, FDA-approved drugs under the bill. The CMRE Act would also require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prepare a report on the potential health benefits