I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3829 
To streamline the process for institutions of higher education to research 
marijuana. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 5, 2023 
Ms. TITUS (for herself and Mr. NEGUSE) 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 the 
Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction 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 Representa-
tives 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 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. MARIJUANA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. 
(a) PRIORITY FACTORS.—Section 303(a) of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(a)) is amended— 
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(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 enti-
ty.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON CERTAIN LICENSES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually 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 pre-
vious year, disaggregated by whether the appli-
cant was a private entity, an institution of high-
er education, or a State or local government en-
tity; 
(B) the status of each application received 
in the previous year; and 
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(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 PUR-
POSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provi-
sion 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 mari-
juana from a State or tribal government marijuana 
regulatory body or obtain marijuana from a State or 
tribal law enforcement agency for the purpose of bio-
logical, chemical, agricultural, or public health re-
search. 
(2) ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PURPOSES.—Mari-
juana 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 
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health considerations of marijuana policies in the 
State, and any potential medical benefits of mari-
juana. 
(3) PROHIBITED RESEARCH PURPOSES.—Mari-
juana 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.—Notwith-
standing 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 be-
cause 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 
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or lose any Federal funds as a result of any sponsor-
ship of research involving marijuana. 
(3) IMPACT
ON
IMMIGRATION
STATUS.—The 
immigration status of a covered student or covered 
researcher who participates in covered research, con-
ducted 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 ‘‘con-
trolled setting’’ means a setting for which the re-
search being conducted was approved by the institu-
tion of higher education’s internal authority for re-
viewing 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 re-
search involving marijuana, but does not include a 
covered student consuming marijuana in any man-
ner. 
(4) COVERED RESEARCHER.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered researcher’’ means an individual employed by a 
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institution of higher education to conduct or assist 
research approved by the institution of higher edu-
cation’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
MARI-
JUANA
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 enforce-
ment agency’’ means an entity authorized by State 
or tribal law to enforce the laws within their juris-
diction. 
SEC. 3. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION LICENSE 
PROCESS TO STUDY MARIJUANA. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Drug Enforce-
ment Administration shall establish an Office of Univer-
sity Relations to— 
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(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 PARTNER-
SHIP. 
(a) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNER-
SHIP.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the National Institutes of Health shall es-
tablish 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 estab-
lished in paragraph (1) shall include: 
(A) 2 appointees from the National Insti-
tutes of Health. 
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(B) 2 appointees from the Food and Drug 
Administration. 
(C) 2 appointees from the Drug Enforce-
ment Administration. 
(D) 2 appointees from two different insti-
tution of higher education, appointed by the in-
dividuals 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 
the Workforce, Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, 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 includ-
ing— 
(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. 
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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 Na-
tional Institute of Drug Abuse to study marijuana for po-
tential medical benefits. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, 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 Di-
rector an application in such form, at such time, and con-
taining such information as the Director determines to be 
appropriate. 
(f) PRIORITY.—In making a grant under the Pro-
gram, the Director shall give priority to an institution of 
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higher education in a State or tribal land where use of 
marijuana for recreational or medical use is legal, account-
ing 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 2023 
to 2027. 
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 re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Program’’) to study marijuana for agri-
culture purposes, including conservation and growth tech-
niques, impacts on other crops, and the impact of different 
strains of marijuana on other crops. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, 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). 
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(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 Sec-
retary an application in such form, at such time, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary determines to 
be appropriate. 
(f) PRIORITY.—In making a grant under the Pro-
gram, 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, ac-
counting for geographic diversity and whether the institu-
tion 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 
2023 to 2027. 
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 addi-
tional restrictions upon, research involving marijuana, or 
the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of marijuana, 
that is conducted in accordance with the Controlled Sub-
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stances 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 High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(2) MINORITY
INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘mi-
nority 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. 
Æ 
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