Attorney general Jeff Sessions said he want to see “more competition” among medical cannabis growers who supply the plant to researchers, in a testimony on Wednesday morning.

“I think it would be healthy to have some more competition in the supply but I’m sure we don’t need 26 new suppliers,” Sessions said.

His statement responded to a question from Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah.

“I believe that scientists need to study the potential benefits and risks of marijuana,” Hatch said, clarifying that he remained opposed to the “broad legalization” of cannabis.

Hatch’s concern comes as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Justice Department “are at odds” over granting additional application to pursue cannabis research. In August, the DOJ was not willing to provide a sign off to move forward on 25 applications.

Moreover, the DEA announced last year private companies would be able to grow or obtain cannabis for study; prior to the ruling, the University of Mississippi was the only facility to allow to grow cannabis for studies. But at the same time, the DEA filed documents outlining its denial of petitions to reschedule the drug. The Schedule I status creates impediments to further study the substance.

Earlier last month, Hatch co-sponsored the MEDS act, to improve the process for conducting scientific research on cannabis as a safe and effective treatment; Session, however, said today he does not want the Justice Department to greenlight all 26 applications.

“Each one of those has to be supervised by the DEA, and I have raised questions about how many and let’s be sure we’re doing this in the right way because it costs a lot of money to supervise these,” Sessions said.