‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘can-
nabis’ means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., 
whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin ex-
tracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, 
manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of 
such plant, its seeds, or its resin.’’. 
SEC. 3. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN CANNABIS RE-
SEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of title IV of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.), as amended 
by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 409L. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN CANNABIS RE-
SEARCH. 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of NIH shall 
designate institutions of higher education as Centers 
of Excellence in Cannabis Research for the purpose 
of interdisciplinary research related to cannabis and 
other biomedical, behavioral, and social issues re-
lated to cannabis. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—To be designated as a 
Center of Excellence in Cannabis Research, an insti-
tution of higher education shall submit an applica-
tion to, and receive approval from, the Director of 
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NIH. Such an application shall be submitted in such 
manner and contain such information as the Direc-
tor of NIH may reasonably require. The Director of 
NIH may not approve such an application unless— 
‘‘(A) the application contains or is sup-
ported by reasonable assurances that— 
‘‘(i) the applicant has the experience, 
or capability— 
‘‘(I) to conduct, through bio-
medical, behavioral, social, and related 
disciplines, long-term research on can-
nabis; and 
‘‘(II) to provide coordination of 
such research among such disciplines; 
‘‘(ii) the applicant has available to it 
sufficient personnel and facilities (includ-
ing laboratory, reference, storage, security, 
and data analysis facilities) to carry out 
the research plan required under subpara-
graph (B); 
‘‘(iii) the applicant has the capacity to 
conduct academic courses and train stu-
dents and professionals on appropriate re-
search and knowledge of cannabis; and 
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‘‘(iv) the applicant will secure State 
funds for research related to cannabis to 
complement any Federal funds for such re-
search under this section; and 
‘‘(B) the application contains a detailed 5- 
year plan for research relating to cannabis. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In selecting institutions of 
higher education for designation as Centers of Ex-
cellence in Cannabis Research, the Director of NIH 
shall give priority to such institutions that have 
proven track records in medicinal cannabis research. 
‘‘(4) GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.—The Di-
rector of NIH shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
geographic representation across the United States 
in designating institutions of higher education as 
Centers of Excellence in Cannabis Research. 
‘‘(5) TERM
OF
DESIGNATION.—A designation 
under this section shall be for a period of 5 years, 
so long as the institution of higher education con-
tinues to meet the requirements of paragraph (2). 
An institution of higher education may reapply in 
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2) 
for a subsequent designation under this section. 
‘‘(b) CANNABIS RESEARCH.— 
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‘‘(1) 
GRANTS
OR
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director of NIH 
may make grants to, or enter into cooperative 
agreements with, 10 Centers that have been 
designated under this section to expand the cur-
rent and ongoing interdisciplinary research and 
clinical trials relating to cannabis research. 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—To carry out this paragraph, there is 
authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. 
‘‘(2) RESEARCH
RESULTS.—The Director of 
NIH shall promptly disseminate research results 
under this subsection to relevant governmental, aca-
demic, and research entities. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘cannabis’ means all parts of the 
plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; 
the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part 
of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, 
salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such 
plant, its seeds, or its resin. 
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‘‘(2) The term ‘institution of higher education’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965.’’. 
(b) REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 303 of 
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(m) REGISTRATION OF PRACTITIONERS AT CEN-
TERS OF EXCELLENCE IN CANNABIS RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall 
register under subsection (f) practitioners at Centers 
of Excellence in Cannabis Research designated 
under section 409L of the Public Health Service Act 
to conduct research with marijuana. 
‘‘(2) TESTING OF CONSTITUENTS.—To the ex-
tent a Center of Excellence in Cannabis Research in 
a State tests marijuana products that are lawfully 
available for such testing in such State for 
cannabinoid and noncannabinoid constituents, no 
sanction under this title shall apply to such testing, 
including the acquisition of such products for such 
testing. 
‘‘(3) USE
OF
MARIJUANA
PRODUCTS
UNDER 
STATE
LAW.—No sanction under this title shall 
apply to the acquisition or use of marijuana prod-
ucts for a clinical trial or other research to the ex-
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