State lawmakers in Arizona are pushing for the Department of Health Services to spend more money on researching the effects and benefits of marijuana. A bill is moving through the Senate to require the agency to provide $5 million competitive grants annually for five years to study the drug. Despite a previous mandate to do so, the health department has only given out $5 million since the law was passed four years ago, frustrating supporters of medical marijuana.
Advocates argue that there is anecdotal evidence supporting the effectiveness of marijuana in treating various conditions, but a lack of scientific research hinders progress. Concerns have been raised about whether there will be enough funding to cover the entire $25 million mandate, as revenues from medical marijuana fees are not expected to keep up with demand. Changes in state laws, including permitting recreational marijuana use, have also impacted the availability of funds for research.
The bill aims to require the health department to allocate funds for research on medical marijuana, but concerns remain about the sustainability of the funding. Senator Kevin Payne, the bill’s sponsor, is considering options like implementing a stop-loss mechanism to ensure funds are available for research in the future.
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