Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, says it’s “high time” to allow research into the medical benefits of marijuana.
In a speech laden with puns before the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Hatch introduced a new bill that would remove barriers to research into the drug’s potential use for patients.
“It would surprise no one that I am strongly against the use of recreational marijuana," said Hatch. "I worry, however, that in our zeal to enforce the law, we too often blind ourselves to the medicinal benefits of natural substances like cannabis.”
Hatch’s comments come as a Utah group is collecting signatures to put medical marijuana legalization on the ballot next year. A total of 29 states have approved medicinal cannabis in some form.
Watch speech here: