Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026

Section 303(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5), by striking; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(3) by adding the following:

(7) whether the applicant is an institution of higher education or a State or local government entity.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General, acting through the Drug Enforcement Administration, shall submit a report to Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, including—

(A) the number of applications for licenses under section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) it has received for the previous year, disaggregated by whether the applicant was a private entity, an institution of higher education, or a State or local government entity;

(B) the status of each application received in the previous year; and

(C) if applicable, the reason an application was denied.

With the consent of the applicant, the Attorney General, acting through the Drug Enforcement Administration, may submit in the report under subparagraph (A) the name of the applicant.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), or any other Federal law, an institution of higher education located in a State or on tribal land where marijuana sale or use is lawful may obtain or purchase marijuana from a State or tribal government marijuana regulatory body or obtain marijuana from a State or tribal law enforcement agency for the purpose of biological, chemical, agricultural, or public health research.

Marijuana obtained by an institution of higher education pursuant to paragraph (1) may be used to study the type of marijuana in a State’s marketplace, public health considerations of marijuana policies in the State, and any potential medical benefits of marijuana.

Marijuana obtained by an institution of higher education from a State or tribal law enforcement agency shall not be administered to individuals.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), or any other Federal law, a covered student or covered researcher shall not be ineligible or lose any Federal student aid or other Federal funding because of participation in covered research, conducted by an institution of higher education in a controlled setting, involving marijuana.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), or any other Federal law, an institution of higher education shall not be ineligible or lose any Federal funds as a result of any sponsorship of research involving marijuana.

The immigration status of a covered student or covered researcher who participates in covered research, conducted by an institution of higher education in a controlled setting, involving marijuana shall not be impacted by such participation.

In this section:

The term controlled setting means a setting for which the research being conducted was approved by the institution of higher education’s internal authority for reviewing research.

The term covered student means an individual enrolled part-time or full-time at an institution of higher education for undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate study.

The term covered research includes the administration of any research involving marijuana, but does not include a covered student consuming marijuana in any manner.

The term covered researcher means an individual employed by a institution of higher education to conduct or assist research approved by the institution of higher education’s internal authority for reviewing research.

The term Indian tribe shall have the meaning given such term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).

The term State or tribal government marijuana regulatory body means the entity approved by State or tribal law with overseeing marijuana licensing in such State or Indian tribe.

The term State or tribal law enforcement agency means an entity authorized by State or tribal law to enforce the laws within their jurisdiction.

(1) provide technical assistance to a researcher or institution of higher education seeking to register for the manufacture, distribution, or dispensation of a controlled substance under part C of title II of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 821 et seq.); and

(2) develop any technology necessary to provide the opportunity for a researcher or institution of higher education to amend an application prior to submission.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall establish working group to produce recommendations on how to simplify and streamline the registration process for studying marijuana at institutions of higher education.

The working group established in paragraph (1) shall include:

(A) 2 appointees from the National Institutes of Health.

(B) 2 appointees from the Food and Drug Administration.

(C) 2 appointees from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

(D) 2 appointees from two different institution of higher education, appointed by the individuals under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) based on their prior study of marijuana.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the working group established under paragraph (1) shall submit a report to the Committee on Education and Workforce, Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate including—

(A) a summary of the status of marijuana research at institutions of higher education in the United States; and

(B) a list of recommendations to improve the academic study of marijuana.

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall establish a program (in this section referred to as the Program) within the National Institute of Drug Abuse to study marijuana for potential medical benefits.

In carrying out the Program, the Director may award a grant on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.

The Director may award a grant under the Program to an institution of higher education determined by the Director to have the authority and capability to carry out a project described in subsection (d).

Grant funds awarded under the Program may only be used to study marijuana for medical or public health purposes.

To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Director an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Director determines to be appropriate.

In making a grant under the Program, the Director shall give priority to an institution of higher education in a State or tribal land where use of marijuana for recreational or medical use is legal, accounting for geographic diversity and whether the institution of higher education is a minority institution.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program (in this section referred to as the Program) to study marijuana for agriculture purposes, including conservation and growth techniques, impacts on other crops, and the impact of different strains of marijuana on other crops.

In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may award a grant on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.

The Secretary may award a grant under the Program to an institution of higher education determined by the Secretary to have the authority and capability to carry out a project described in subsection (d).

Grant funds awarded under the Program may only be used to study marijuana for agriculture purposes.

To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

In making a grant under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to an institution of higher education in a State or tribal land where use of marijuana for recreational or medical use is legal, accounting for geographic diversity and whether the institution of higher education is a minority institution.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

The term institution of higher education shall have the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

The term minority institution shall have the meaning given such term in section 365 of the Higher Education act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k).

The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory of the United States.