Congressional Committee Wants Marijuana Studies To Include Strains With More Diverse ‘Variety, Quality And Potency’

A congressional committee has approved a spending bill with an attached
report that says researchers should be studying a broader range of
marijuana products that better represent “the variety, quality and potency
of commonly available cannabis strains” that consumers are actually using.

The House Appropriations Committee report approved on Tuesday covering
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LaborH)
also expresses concerns about the lack of technology to detect impaired
driving from marijuana and increased reported cases of cannabinoid
hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).

One section of the report addresses marijuana research issues, with members
stating that they’re concerned that development of a drug-impairment
standard for marijuana remains unlikely in the near-term” and encouraging
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to “continue supporting a full
range of research on the health effects of marijuana and its components.”

The report also says the committee is “aware that the majority of Federal
research has been limited to marijuana from a single source and encourages
NIH to undertake research that strives to encompass the variety, quality,
and potency of commonly available cannabis strains within the current
constraints of law.”

While historically it has been true that the University of Mississippi has
been the sole federally authorized domestic source of marijuana for
research purposes, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in recent
years has approved additional manufacturers. Still, researchers are unable
to study the actual cannabis products that consumers obtain from
state-licensed dispensaries in a growing number of markets across the
country.

“Marijuana Research.—The Committee is concerned that development of a
drug-impairment standard for marijuana remains unlikely in the near-term
and encourages NIH to continue supporting a full range of research on the
health effects of marijuana and its components, including research to
understand how marijuana policies affect public health issues such as
drug-impaired driving. The Committee is aware that the majority of Federal
research has been limited to marijuana from a single source and encourages
NIH to undertake research that strives to encompass the variety, quality,
and potency of commonly available cannabis strains within the current
constraints of law. Additionally, the Committee continues to support the
development of an objective standard to measure marijuana impairment and a
related objective field sobriety test to ensure highway safety.”

Another section of the report focuses on CHS, a disorder “associated with
prolonged, high-potency cannabis use that leads to severe nausea and
vomiting.”

“With the growth of high-THC vaping products and their increasing use among
adolescents, the Committee believes further study is warranted,” it says,
while directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC),
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to “conduct a study on the
prevalence of CHS among youth and assess any correlations between CHS
incidence and youth use of THC vaping products.”

Under the provision, agencies would be tasked with delivering an interim
report on the issue to the committee within 180 days of enactment and a
final report within a year.

“Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Youth.—The Committee is increasingly
concerned by the rise in reported cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
(CHS)—a condition associated with prolonged, high-potency cannabis use that
leads to severe nausea and vomiting. With the growth of high-THC vaping
products and their increasing use among adolescents, the Committee believes
further study is warranted. The Committee directs the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to
conduct a study on the prevalence of CHS among youth and assess any
correlations between CHS incidence and youth use of THC vaping products.
The Committee requests an interim report within 180 days of enactment and a
final report within one year.”

Meanwhile, the LaborH bill itself contains a provision that prohibits
relevant agencies from advocating for the legalization of Schedule I drugs
such as marijuana.

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The section does contain a carve-out stating that the policy “shall not
apply when there is significant medical evidence of a therapeutic advantage
to the use of such drug or other substance or that federally sponsored
clinical trials are being conducted to determine therapeutic advantage.”

“SEC. 509. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for
any activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or other substance
included in schedule I of the schedules of controlled substances
established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act except for
normal and recognized executive-congressional communications.

(b) The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply when there is
significant medical evidence of a therapeutic advantage to the use of such
drug or other substance or that federally sponsored clinical trials are
being conducted to determine therapeutic advantage.”

The legislation also contains a provision limiting the use of federal funds
for harm reduction efforts like syringe exchange programs and safe
consumptions sites for illegal drugs.

“SEC. 525. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no funds
appropriated in this Act shall be used to purchase sterile needles or
syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug: Provided, That
such limitation does not apply to the use of funds for elements of a
program other than making such purchases if the relevant State or local
health department, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, determines that the State or local jurisdiction, as applicable,
is experiencing, or is at risk for, a significant increase in hepatitis
infections or an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use, and such program
is operating in accordance with State and local law: Provided further, That
none of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used for the operation of
a supervised drug consumption facility that permits the consumption onsite
of any substance listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).”

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) sought to strike the last sentence of the
provision so that funds could be used to support safe consumption sites for
illegal drugs, but her amendment was defeated in a voice vote.

“We need to be using every possible tool in the toolbox to confront the
epidemic” of overdoses, she said. “Overdose prevention centers are
understandably misunderstood. They are facilities where trained personnel
are available to intervene, to prevent and reverse an overdose. They often
provide fentanyl test strips, naloxone and important connections to other
essential services, including connections to treatment, to recovery, to
employment, to housing.”

“People have nowhere else to go and would not otherwise seek treatment,”
Dean said. “Most importantly, overdose prevention centers save lives… “Why
not make sure that if somebody is going to use they have some company, they
have some chance at being revived by Narcan, and also some chance for
somebody to talk to them and say, ‘Are you ready for treatment?'”

LHHS – Dean (PA) #4 https://t.co/26Np3axHon pic.twitter.com/FYLsVIpyxK

— House Appropriations Amendments (@AppropsAmendmts) September 9, 2025

The Appropriations Committee separately approved a spending bill covering
Financial Service and General Government (FSGG) last week. The measure drew
criticism from a Democratic congresswoman over the omission of provisions
to protect banks that work with state-licensed marijuana and hemp businesses
.

The legislation also includes a report directing federal agencies to assess
the “adequacy” of state-level marijuana regulatory models, as well as
longstanding provisions in the bill itself blocking Washington, D.C. from
using its tax dollars to legalize cannabis sales.

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer
(R-KY), is set to take up a series of bills on Wednesday that address D.C.
policies, including one measure that would repeal a local law expanding
expungements for marijuana possession.

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With More Diverse ‘Variety, Quality And Potency’ appeared first on Marijuana
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