IB 
Union Calendar No. 508 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3797 
[Report No. 116–619, Part I] 
To amend the Controlled Substances Act to make marijuana accessible for 
use by qualified marijuana researchers for medical purposes, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 17, 2019 
Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself, Mr. HARRIS, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. GRIFFITH, 
Mr. BISHOP of Utah, and Mrs. DINGELL) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
DECEMBER 7, 2020 
Additional sponsors: Mr. GAETZ, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. STEW-
ART, Ms. NORTON, Ms. TITUS, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Mr. CORREA, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. WALDEN, Mr. SMUCKER, Mr. CAR-
TER of Georgia, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. CURTIS, Mr. STEIL, and 
Mr. CASTEN of Illinois 
DECEMBER 7, 2020 
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
DECEMBER 7, 2020 
Committee on the Judiciary discharged; committed to the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 17, 2019] 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medical Marijuana Re-
search Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FACILITATING MARIJUANA RESEARCH. 
(a) PRODUCTION
AND SUPPLY.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services— 
(1) until the date on which the Secretary deter-
mines that manufacturers and distributors (other 
than the Federal Government) can ensure a sufficient 
supply of marijuana (as defined in section 102 of the 
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802), as amend-
ed by section 8) intended for medical research for 
qualified marijuana researchers registered pursuant 
to paragraph (3) of section 303(f) of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(f)), as added by sec-
tion 3, shall— 
(A) continue, through grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements, to produce marijuana 
through the National Institute on Drug Abuse 
Drug Supply Program; and 
(B) offer to qualified marijuana researchers 
marijuana products available through State au-
thorized marijuana programs that are consistent 
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with the guidance issued under subsection (c); 
and 
(2) beyond the date specified in paragraph (1), 
may, at the Secretary’s discretion, continue through 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, to so 
produce and supply marijuana. 
(b) REQUIREMENT TO VERIFY REGISTRATION.—Before 
supplying marijuana to any person through the National 
Institute on Drug Abuse Drug Supply Program or from 
State authorized marijuana programs, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) require the person to submit documentation 
demonstrating that the person is a qualified mari-
juana researcher seeking to conduct research pursuant 
to section 303(f)(3) of the Controlled Substances Act, 
as added by subsection (e) of this section; and 
(2) not later than 60 days after receipt of such 
documentation, review such documentation and verify 
that the marijuana will be used for such research 
(and for no other purpose authorized pursuant to this 
Act). 
(c) GUIDANCE ON USE OF STATE AUTHORIZED MARI-
JUANA PROGRAMS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall issue guidance related to the use of 
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marijuana from State authorized marijuana programs, in-
cluding necessary quality or production standards for 
marijuana intended for use in medical research. 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, acting through the Commis-
sioner of Food and Drugs, shall ensure that a qualified 
marijuana researcher is in compliance with guidance issued 
by the Food and Drug Administration related to botanical 
drug development. 
(e) RESEARCH.—Section 303(f) of the Controlled Sub-
stances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(f)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) 
as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; 
(2) by striking ‘‘(f) The Attorney General’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(f)(1) The Attorney General’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘Registration applications’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) Registration applications’’; 
(4) in paragraph (2), as so designated, by strik-
ing ‘‘schedule I’’ each place that term appears and in-
serting ‘‘schedule I, except marijuana,’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘Article 7’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) Article 7’’; and 
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(6) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so des-
ignated, the following: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Attorney General shall register a practi-
tioner to conduct research with marijuana if— 
‘‘(i) the applicant is authorized to dispense, or 
conduct research with respect to, controlled substances 
in schedules II, III, IV, and V under the laws of the 
State in which the applicant practices; 
‘‘(ii) the applicant’s research protocol has been 
reviewed and approved by the Secretary under section 
505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the Secretary has determined the applicant 
is qualified to conduct bona fide research. 
A practitioner so registered shall be referred to in this Act 
as a ‘qualified marijuana researcher’. 
‘‘(B)(i) Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
the Attorney General receives a complete application for 
registration under this paragraph, the Attorney General 
shall approve or deny the application. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of clause (i), an application shall 
be deemed complete when the applicant has submitted docu-
mentation showing that the requirements under subpara-
graph (A) are satisfied. 
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‘‘(iii) In the case of a denial under clause (i), the At-
torney General shall provide a written explanation of the 
basis for the denial. 
‘‘(C) The Attorney General shall grant an application 
for registration under this paragraph unless the Attorney 
General determines that the issuance of the registration 
would be inconsistent with the public interest. In deter-
mining the public interest, the following factors shall be 
considered: 
‘‘(i) The applicant’s experience in dispensing, or 
conducting research with respect to, controlled sub-
stances. 
‘‘(ii) The applicant’s conviction record under 
Federal or State laws relating to the manufacture, 
distribution, or dispensing of controlled substances. 
‘‘(iii) Compliance with applicable State or local 
laws relating to controlled substance misuse or diver-
sion. 
‘‘(D)(i) A qualified marijuana researcher shall store 
marijuana to be used in research in a securely locked, sub-
stantially constructed cabinet. 
‘‘(ii) Except as provided in clause (i), any security 
measures required by the Attorney General for practitioners 
conducting research with marijuana pursuant to a registra-
tion under this paragraph shall be consistent with the secu-
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