Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026

This bill, titled the "Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2026," seeks to streamline the process for institutions of higher education to research marijuana. It amends the Controlled Substances Act to include whether an applicant is an institution of higher education or a state/local government entity as a priority factor for obtaining research licenses. Furthermore, it allows eligible institutions in states or on tribal lands where marijuana is legal to obtain or purchase marijuana from state or tribal regulatory bodies or law enforcement for biological, chemical, agricultural, or public health research, including studying marketplace types, public health considerations, and potential medical benefits.

The legislation provides crucial protections, stipulating that students and researchers will not lose federal aid or funding, nor will their immigration status be impacted, for participating in approved marijuana research in a controlled setting. Similarly, institutions of higher education will not lose federal funds for sponsoring such research. The bill also mandates the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to establish an Office of University Relations to provide technical assistance and improve the application process for researchers, and directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to form a working group to recommend ways to simplify the registration process for marijuana research.

To further support research, the bill establishes two grant programs: one within the National Institute of Drug Abuse for studying marijuana's potential medical benefits, and another through the Secretary of Agriculture for agricultural purposes like conservation, growth techniques, and crop impacts. Both programs authorize $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030, prioritizing institutions in states or tribal lands where marijuana use is legal and minority institutions. Additionally, it clarifies that Article 28 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs should not restrict marijuana research conducted in accordance with this Act.