Although 40 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 states have legalized it for recreational use, federal law continues to impose significant barriers that limit meaningful research. Cannabis remains subject to restrictive federal controls that dictate who can conduct research, what products can be studied, and how studies are designed. Researchers are often limited to federally authorized cannabis that does not reflect the potency or diversity available in state-legal markets. Compounding these challenges, researchers must navigate strict compliance requirements and uncertainty regarding legal liability. These barriers have delayed clinical trials, constrained understanding of long-term health effects, and left critical gaps in knowledge.
“It makes no sense for the federal government to impede this research when millions of Americans are already using marijuana, whether for medical purposes or recreationally,” Congresswoman Titus said.
The Higher Education Marijuana Research Act is supported by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the National Cannabis Industry Association, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute.
“This legislation is more necessary than ever before as the states continue to move towards allowing cannabis for medical and adult use purposes. Even if cannabis is federally reclassified in the near future, significant barriers will remain for scientists hoping to add to the existing body of research, especially when it comes to conducting clinical trials on health effects and studying the state-regulated products that cannabis consumers and patients are actually using. We applaud Rep. Titus for putting this bill forward again, and urge Congress to take action on it immediately to facilitate research, develop new medical treatments, inform evidence-based policies, and help consumers make educated choices,” said Morgan Fox, Political Director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
“The American public has made clear that it wants access to safe, regulated, and tested cannabis products, and state-legal markets continue to evolve to meet that demand. However, federal barriers have long limited the ability of researchers to study cannabis in a way that reflects real-world conditions. The Higher Education Marijuana Research Act is a practical step toward expanding credible, real-world research by providing colleges and universities with the clarity and protections they need to participate. NCIA is proud to support this legislation, which will help strengthen the scientific foundation of the industry and better inform policymakers, regulators, and consumers alike,” said Brooke Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer, National Cannabis Industry Association.
“The Higher Education Marijuana Research Act is commonsense legislation that will help researchers better understand the types of cannabis being produced in state-regulated markets. The bill will lift a major roadblock that currently prevents scientists from learning more about state-regulated cannabis and its public health implications. Increasing the body of scientific evidence with better informed research is something anyone who favors evidence-based drug policy should support,” said Cat Packer, Drug Policy Alliance’s Director of Drug Markets and Legal Regulation.
“Everyone, from members of both sides of the aisle in Congress to the science community to the current and previous presidential administration, have expressed that cannabis research is necessary and important. This is practically the only issue that everyone can coalesce around these days, but there is not a lot of progress being made in reducing current barriers to cannabis research. Congresswoman Titus’s bill is a smart response to the current barriers in cannabis research and since she has always been an advocate for common sense cannabis reform, it is fitting that she would lead the charge now. The UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute applauds her efforts and hopes that others will put in the necessary work to reduce the current barriers to cannabis research, which only serve to maintain outdated prohibition era policies,” said Riana Durrett, Director, UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute.