The marijuana industry – at least the medical sector – apparently has another ally within the Trump administration: U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams.

During a speech to the National Black Caucus of State Legislators’ annual conference in Indianapolis, Adams voiced clear support for further research into the medical benefits of cannabis, according to the CHNI news service.

Adams continued to articulate his opposition to both smoking cannabis and adult-use marijuana, but emphasized, “Marijuana is not one substance. It’s actually over 100 different substances, some which benefit (patients), some of which are harmful.”

Adams also said he had met recently with the commissioner of the FDA “to discuss non-opioid treatments for pain management,” CHNI reported.

Adams was appointed by President Donald Trump to be surgeon general in June and assumed the office in September after being confirmed by the Senate.

Although the Drug Enforcement Administration had pledged in 2016 to issue more permits for marijuana research, such authorization has been essentially blocked by the Department of Justice under the watch of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.