H.R. 8394

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8394 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8394

To streamline the process for institutions of higher education to 
research marijuana.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 20, 2026

Ms. Titus (for herself and Ms. Omar) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Education 
and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To streamline the process for institutions of higher education to 
research marijuana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Marijuana Research 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. MARIJUANA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES.

(a) Priority Factors.--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.''.
(b) Report on Certain Licenses.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Name with consent.--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.
(c) Obtaining Marijuana for Research Purposes.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Additional research purposes.--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.
(3) Prohibited research purposes.--Marijuana obtained by an 
institution of higher education from a State or tribal law 
enforcement agency shall not be administered to individuals.
(d) Participation in Research.--
(1) Student participation.--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.
(2) Institution of higher education.--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.
(3) Impact on immigration status.--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.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Controlled setting.--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.
(2) Covered student.--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.
(3) Covered research.--The term ``covered research'' 
includes the administration of any research involving 
marijuana, but does not include a covered student consuming 
marijuana in any manner.
(4) Covered researcher.--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.
(5) Indian tribe.--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)).
(6) State or tribal government marijuana regulatory body.--
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.
(7) State or tribal law enforcement agency.--The term 
``State or tribal law enforcement agency'' means an entity 
authorized by State or tribal law to enforce the laws within 
their jurisdiction.

SEC. 3. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION LICENSE PROCESS TO STUDY 
MARIJUANA.

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration shall 
establish an Office of University Relations to--
(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.

SEC. 4. INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.

(a) Institution of Higher Education Partnership.--
(1) Establishment.--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.
(2) Participants.--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.
(3) Responsibilities.--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.

SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY MARIJUANA.

(a) Establishment.--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.
(b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Director may 
award a grant on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.
(c) Eligible Recipients.--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).
(d) Eligible Projects.--Grant funds awarded under the Program may 
only be used to study marijuana for medical or public health purposes.
(e) Applications.--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.
(f) Priority.--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.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--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.

SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY MARIJUANA FOR 
AGRICULTURE PURPOSES.

(a) Establishment.--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.
(b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
may award a grant on a competitive basis in accordance with this 
section.
(c) Eligible Recipients.--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).
(d) Eligible Projects.--Grant funds awarded under the Program may 
only be used to study marijuana for agriculture purposes.
(e) Applications.--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.
(f) Priority.--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.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--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.

SEC. 7. ARTICLE 28 OF SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS.

Article 28 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs shall not be 
construed to prohibit, or impose additional restrictions upon, research 
involving marijuana, or the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of 
marijuana, that is conducted in accordance with the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), this Act, and the amendments 
made by this Act.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Institution of higher education.--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).
(2) Minority institution.--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).
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory of 
the United States.
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