H.R. 8454 · 117th Congress

Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act

Introduced on Jul 21, 2022 by Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3). 10 cosponsors, 4 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-215.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-215
Introduced
Jul 21, 2022
Cosponsors
10
4 from the other party
Policy area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To expand research on cannabidiol and marijuana, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Alternative treatments
  • Congressional oversight
  • Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
  • Drug therapy
  • Drug trafficking and controlled substances
  • Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
  • Health personnel
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Medical research
  • Public-private cooperation
  • Research administration and funding

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 2, 2022). Public domain.

Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act

This act establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate research on marijuana.

Specifically, the act directs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to follow procedures specified in the act to register (1) practitioners to conduct marijuana research, and (2) manufacturers to supply marijuana for the research.

The act allows certain registered entities (including institutions of higher education, practitioners, and manufacturers) to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess marijuana or cannabidiol (CBD) for the purposes of medical research. Additionally, the act directs the DEA to register manufacturers and distributors of CBD or marijuana for the purpose of commercial production of an approved drug that contains marijuana or its derivative.

Finally, the act includes various other provisions, including provisions that

  • require the DEA to assess whether there is an adequate and uninterrupted supply of marijuana for research purposes;
  • prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from reinstating the interdisciplinary review process for marijuana research;
  • allow physicians to discuss the potential harms and benefits of marijuana and its derivatives (including CBD) with patients; and
  • require HHS, in coordination with the National Institutes of Health and relevant federal agencies, to report on the therapeutic potential of marijuana for various conditions such as epilepsy, as well as the impact on adolescent brains and on the ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3Sponsor

Democrats · 6

Republicans · 4

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
    Jul 26, 2022· House· Passage· Passed 325–95

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Jul 21, 2022Introduced in House
  2. Jul 21, 2022Introduced in House
  3. Jul 21, 2022 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  4. Jul 21, 2022 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  5. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseMr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  6. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7120-7124)
  7. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8454.
  8. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  9. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7145-7146)
  10. Jul 26, 2022Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 325 - 95 (Roll no. 392).(text: CR H7120-7122)House · Roll call 392
  11. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 325 - 95 (Roll no. 392). (text: CR H7120-7122)House · Roll call 392
  12. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  13. Jul 27, 2022 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  14. Nov 16, 2022Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  15. Nov 16, 2022 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6746-6747)
  16. Nov 17, 2022 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  17. Nov 29, 2022Presented to President.
  18. Nov 29, 2022 · HousePresented to President.
  19. Dec 2, 2022Signed by President.
  20. Dec 2, 2022Signed by President.
  21. Dec 2, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-215.
  22. Dec 2, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-215.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 6, 2026 · loaded Oct 6, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.