Thanks to legislation signed May 7 by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, studies on the pros of health treatments using marijuana will have one less bit of red tape to deal with.

A ripe and healthy cannabis plant. New legislation by the Arizona government will allow college and university campuses to possess the drug for legitimate research purposes. Cannabis Training University, Wikimedia Commons

The measure, which will come into effect later in 2013, will allow university and college campuses in Arizona to possess the drug for research purposes. However, the research must be approved by the FDA, the DEA or the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and a ban on possession for other purposes on campuses will remain in place.

The legislation is good news for researchers like University of Arizona physician Sue Sisley, a specialist in psychiatry and internal medicine.

"It proves that science is not going to be trumped by politics,'' she told Capitol Media Services, adding that the new measure will ensure the post-secondary system remains "a sanctuary for research that might be considered controversial.''

Some were not impressed by the legislature, as a number of House Republicans voted against it, citing fears the measure may result in "trivial" studies.

• With files from Ahwatukee Foothills News and Capitol Media Services