SEC. 2. PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—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 suffi-
cient supply of marijuana for qualified marijuana re-
searchers intended for medical research, shall— 
(A) continue to produce marijuana through 
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 
Drug Supply Program; and 
(B) offer for sale immature marijuana 
plants and the seeds of marijuana— 
(i) to all qualified marijuana research-
ers who submit a request for such plants 
or seeds to engage in research pursuant to 
the section 303(f)(3) of the Controlled 
Substances Act, as amended by section 3; 
and 
(ii) in quantities sufficient to produce 
an adequate supply of marijuana for such 
research; and 
(2) beyond the date specified in paragraph (1), 
may, at the Secretary’s discretion, continue to so 
produce and supply marijuana. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(b) REQUIREMENT TO VERIFY REGISTRATION.—Be-
fore supplying marijuana to any person through the Na-
tional Institute on Drug Abuse Drug Supply Program, 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 pursu-
ant to section 303(f)(3) of the Controlled Substances 
Act, as amended by section 3; and 
(2) not later than 30 days after receipt of such 
documentation, review such documentation and 
verify that the marijuana will be used for such re-
search (and for no other purpose authorized pursu-
ant to this Act). 
(c) GUIDELINES
ON PRODUCTION.—The Commis-
sioner of Food and Drugs, in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, shall— 
(1) not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, issue guidelines on the pro-
duction of marijuana by qualified marijuana re-
searchers pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B); and 
(2) encourage researchers and manufacturers 
that are authorized to produce or manufacture mari-
juana pursuant to section 303 of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823), as amended by this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
Act, to comply with such guidelines to the extent ap-
plicable. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘immature marijuana plant’’ 
means a marijuana plant with no observable flowers 
or buds. 
(2) The term ‘‘qualified medical marijuana re-
searcher’’ means a researcher who is registered to 
conduct research with marijuana under section 
303(f)(3) of the Controlled Substances Act, as 
amended by section 3. 
SEC. 3. FACILITATING MARIJUANA RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(f) of the Controlled 
Substances 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 
inserting ‘‘schedule I, except marijuana,’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(5) by striking ‘‘Article 7’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(4) Article 7’’; and 
(6) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so 
designated, 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 sub-
stances in schedules II, III, IV, and V under the 
laws of the State in which the applicant practices; 
‘‘(ii) the applicant is only using marijuana man-
ufactured by a person registered under subsection 
(l); 
‘‘(iii) the applicant’s research protocol— 
‘‘(I) has been reviewed and allowed by— 
‘‘(aa) the Secretary under section 
505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)); or 
‘‘(bb) the National Institutes of 
Health or another Federal agency that 
funds scientific research; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of nonhuman research 
that is not federally funded, has been volun-
tarily submitted by the applicant to, and ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
proved by, the National Institutes of Health; 
and 
‘‘(iv) the applicant has demonstrated that there 
are effective procedures in place to adequately safe-
guard against diversion of the marijuana from legiti-
mate medical or scientific use, in accordance with 
subparagraph (E). 
‘‘(B) 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. 
‘‘(C) Not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2019, for 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), the National Insti-
tutes of Health shall establish a process that— 
‘‘(i) allows a researcher to voluntarily submit 
the research protocol of the researcher for review 
and approval; and 
‘‘(ii) provides a researcher described in clause 
(i) with a decision not less than 30 days after the 
date on which the research protocol is submitted. 
‘‘(D)(i) Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Attorney General receives a complete applica-
tion 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 
documentation showing that the requirements under sub-
paragraph (A) are satisfied. 
‘‘(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 and a description of any curative steps 
that may be taken for such request to be approved. 
‘‘(E)(i) A researcher registered under this paragraph 
shall store marijuana to be used in research in a securely 
locked, substantially constructed cabinet. 
‘‘(ii) Except as provided in clause (i), any security 
measures required by the Attorney General for practi-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
the applicant shall provide notice to the Attorney General 
not later than 30 days before proceeding on such amended 
or supplemental research or new research protocol, as the 
case may be. 
‘‘(II) If the Attorney General does not object during 
the 30-day period following a notification under subclause 
(I), the applicant may proceed with the amended or sup-
plemental research or new research protocol. 
‘‘(iv) The Attorney General may object to an amend-
ed or supplemental protocol or a new research protocol 
under clause (i) or (iii) only if additional security meas-
ures are needed to safeguard against diversion or abuse. 
‘‘(G) If marijuana or a compound of marijuana is 
listed on a schedule other than schedule I, the provisions 
of paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) that apply to research with 
a controlled substance in the applicable schedule shall 
apply to research with marijuana or that compound, as 
applicable, in lieu of the provisions of subparagraphs (A) 
through (G) of this paragraph.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 102(16) of 
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(16)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or ‘marijuana’ ’’ after ‘‘The term 
‘marihuana’ ’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MARIJUANA 
FOR 
USE 
IN 
LEGITIMATE, 
MEDICAL 
RE-
SEARCH. 
Section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 823), as amended by section 3, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) REGISTRATION OF PERSONS TO MANUFACTURE 
AND DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA FOR USE IN LEGITIMATE, 
MEDICAL RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(1) REGISTRATION OF MANUFACTURERS.—Be-
ginning not later than the day that is 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Medical Marijuana Re-
search Act of 2019, the Attorney General shall reg-
ister an applicant to manufacture marijuana to the 
extent the marijuana will be used exclusively by 
qualified marijuana researchers for research pursu-
ant to subsection (f)(3), unless the Attorney General 
determines that the issuance of such registration is 
inconsistent with the public interest. In determining 
the public interest, the Attorney General shall— 
‘‘(A) take into consideration— 
‘‘(i) maintenance of effective controls 
against diversion of marijuana and any 
controlled substance compounded there-
from into other than legitimate medical, 
scientific, or research channels; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) compliance with applicable State 
and local laws relating to controlled sub-
stance misuse and diversion; and 
‘‘(iii) prior conviction record of the 
applicant under Federal or State laws re-
lating to the manufacture, distribution, or 
dispensing of such substances; and 
‘‘(B) not take into consideration any fac-
tors other than the factors listed in subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(2) REGISTRATION OF DISTRIBUTORS.—Begin-
ning not later than the day that is 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Medical Marijuana Re-
search Act of 2019, the Attorney General shall reg-
ister an applicant to distribute marijuana that is in-
tended to be used exclusively by qualified medical 
marijuana researchers for research pursuant to sub-
section (f)(3), unless the Attorney General deter-
mines that the issuance of such registration is incon-
sistent with the public interest. 
‘‘(3) PUBLIC
INTEREST.—In determining the 
public interest under paragraph (2), the Attorney 
General shall— 
‘‘(A) take into consideration— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) maintenance of effective controls 
against diversion of marijuana and any 
controlled substance compounded there-
from into other than legitimate medical, 
scientific, or research channels; 
‘‘(ii) compliance with applicable State 
and local law; 
‘‘(iii) prior conviction record of the 
applicant under Federal or State laws re-
lating to the manufacture, distribution, or 
dispensing of such substances; and 
‘‘(iv) past experience in the distribu-
tion of controlled substances, and the exist-
ence in the establishment of effective con-
trols against diversion; and 
‘‘(B) not take into consideration any fac-
tors other than the factors listed in subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(4) NO LIMIT ON NUMBER OF MANUFACTUR-
ERS
AND
DISTRIBUTORS.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Attorney General shall 
not impose or implement any limit on the number of 
persons eligible to be registered to manufacture or 
distribute marijuana pursuant to paragraph (1) or 
(2). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENT TO VERIFY USE FOR LE-
GITIMATE, MEDICAL RESEARCH.—As a condition on 
registration under this section to manufacture or 
distribute marijuana, the Attorney General shall re-
quire the registrant— 
‘‘(A) to require any person to whom the 
marijuana will be supplied to submit docu-
mentation demonstrating that the marijuana 
will be used exclusively by qualified medical 
marijuana researchers for research pursuant to 
subsection (f)(3); 
‘‘(B) in the case of distribution, to com-
plete, with respect to that distribution, the 
DEA Controlled substance order form (DEA 
222) (or a successor form) and the DEA Cer-
tificate of Registration (DEA Form 223) (or a 
successor form) and to upload such forms to 
the system used by the Drug Enforcement 
Agency for such distribution; 
‘‘(C) to include in the labeling of any mari-
juana so manufactured or distributed— 
‘‘(i) the following statement: ‘This 
material is for medical and scientific re-
search purposes only.’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) the name of the requestor of the 
marijuana; and 
‘‘(D) not later than 30 days after receipt 
of such documentation, and before supplying 
the marijuana to such person, to review such 
documentation and verify that the marijuana 
will be so used. 
‘‘(6) TIMING.—Not later than 30 days after re-
ceipt of a request for registration under this sub-
section to manufacture or distribute marijuana, the 
Attorney General shall— 
‘‘(A) grant or deny the request; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a denial, provide a 
written explanation of the basis for the denial 
and a description of any curative steps that 
may be taken for such request to be approved. 
‘‘(7) DEEMED
APPROVAL.—If the Attorney 
General fails to grant or deny a request for registra-
tion under this subsection to manufacture or dis-
tribute marijuana within the 30-day period referred 
to in paragraph (5), such request is deemed ap-
proved. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘qualified medical marijuana re-
searcher’ means a researcher who is registered to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
conduct research with marijuana under subsection 
(f)(3).’’. 
SEC. 5. TERMINATION OF INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEW 
PROCESS FOR NON-NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH-
ERS. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may 
not— 
(1) reinstate the Public Health Service inter-
disciplinary review process described in the guidance 
entitled ‘‘Guidance on Procedures for the Provision 
of Marijuana for Medical Research’’ (issued on May 
21, 1999); or 
(2) create an additional review of scientific pro-
tocols that is only conducted for research on mari-
juana other than the review of research protocols 
performed at the request of a researcher conducting 
nonhuman research that is not federally funded, in 
accordance with section 303(f)(3)(A)(ii)(II) of the 
Controlled 
Substances 
Act 
(21 
U.S.C. 
823(f)(3)(A)(ii)(II)), as amended by section 3. 
SEC. 6. CONSIDERATION OF RESULTS OF RESEARCH. 
Immediately upon the approval by the Food and 
Drug Administration of an application for a marijuana- 
based drug under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355), and (irrespective of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
whether any such approval is granted) not later than the 
date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) conduct a review of existing medical and 
other research with respect to marijuana; 
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the re-
sults of such review; and 
(3) include in such report whether, taking into 
consideration the factors listed in section 201(c) of 
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811(c)), 
as well as any potential for medical benefits, any 
gaps in research, and any impacts of Federal restric-
tions and policy on research, marijuana should be 
transferred to a schedule other than schedule I (if 
marijuana has not been so transferred already). 
SEC. 7. NO PRODUCTION QUOTAS FOR MARIJUANA GROWN 
FOR LEGITIMATE, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 
Section 306 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 826) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) The Attorney General may only establish a quota 
for production of marijuana that is manufactured and dis-
tributed in accordance with the Medical Marijuana Re-
search Act of 2019 that meets the changing medical, sci-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
entific, and industrial needs for marijuana (as defined by 
the National Institute on Drug Abuse).’’. 
SEC. 8. ARTICLE 28 OF THE SINGLE CONVENTION ON NAR-
COTIC 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-
stances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), this Act, and the 
amendments made by this Act. 
SEC. 9. NO INTERFERENCE BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
The Attorney General of the United States, and any 
officer or employee of the Department of Justice, shall not 
interfere with the production, distribution, and sale of 
marijuana in accordance with this Act and the amend-
ments made by this Act. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘marijuana’’ has the meaning 
given to the term ‘‘marihuana’’ in section 102 of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:50 Jul 31, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3797.IH
H3797
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS