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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8901 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8901
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the designation
of institutions of higher education as Centers of Excellence in
Cannabis Research, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 28, 2024
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Thanedar, and Mrs.
Chavez-DeRemer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the designation
of institutions of higher education as Centers of Excellence in
Cannabis Research, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cannabis Research Act''.
SEC. 2. CANNABIS RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES.
(a) National Cannabis Research Agenda.--Part B of title IV of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``SEC. 409K. NATIONAL CANNABIS RESEARCH AGENDA.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Cannabis Research Act, the Director of NIH, in
collaboration with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Assistant
Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall develop a national
cannabis research agenda that addresses key questions and gaps in
evidence, including with respect to each of the following:
``(1) The safety and efficacy of cannabis in providing
therapeutic benefits for certain priority diseases or
conditions, which may include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis-
related spasticity, chemotherapy-induced pain and discomfort,
using cannabis as an alternative to opioid analgesics for acute
or chronic pain, sleep apnea, Tourette syndrome, anxiety, post-
traumatic stress disorder, and any other disease or condition
determined to be appropriate and of importance by the Director.
``(2) The effect of cannabis on at-risk populations,
including children, older individuals, and pregnant or breast-
feeding women.
``(3) The nontherapeutic impacts of cannabis use in the
short-term and long-term.
``(4) The long-term effects of cannabis use, including
dose-response relationship and the connection between cannabis
use and behavioral health.
``(5) The clinically appropriate dosages and modes of
delivery of cannabis.
``(6) Public safety considerations related to cannabis,
including--
``(A) variation in the potency of cannabis
products;
``(B) youth access to and use of cannabis,
including marketing, packaging, edible formulations,
and flavor options that target youth;
``(C) risk factors for cannabis misuse;
``(D) impaired driving related to cannabis use;
``(E) accidental ingestion of cannabis; and
``(F) relative risk of cannabis as compared to
alcohol and tobacco.
``(b) Definition.--In this section, 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.''.
(b) Surveillance Activities.--Part A of title III of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 310C. SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES ON CANNABIS USE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with
the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the
Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall carry
out surveillance activities to collect population-wide data on cannabis
use.
``(b) Permissible Activities.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out activities under this
section, the Secretary may collect, as appropriate, with
respect to cannabis use--
``(A) data on--
``(i) health outcomes, including biological
data;
``(ii) health care utilization, which shall
include hospitalizations and utilization of
emergency departments related to consumption of
cannabis, including among youth;
``(iii) demographic factors associated with
cannabis use;
``(iv) the variety of products and delivery
modes used; and
``(v) other relevant health information to
improve the understanding of cannabis use in
all age groups and sub-populations; and
``(B) data through public health surveillance
systems, surveys, questionnaires, and databases of
health care records, including, as appropriate, the
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the Youth
Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, the Monitoring the
Future health survey, the National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, or the Healthcare Cost and Utilization
Project (or any successor surveys).
``(2) Privacy.--Any data collected under paragraph (1)
shall be collected in a manner that protects personal privacy
to the extent, at a minimum, that is required under applicable
Federal and State law.
``(c) Definition.--In this section, 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.''.
SEC. 3. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN CANNABIS RESEARCH.
(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 RESEARCH.
``(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 related to cannabis.
``(2) Application.--To be designated as a Center of
Excellence in Cannabis Research, an institution of higher
education shall submit an application to, and receive approval
from, the Director of NIH. Such an application shall be
submitted in such manner and contain such information as the
Director of NIH may reasonably require. The Director of NIH may
not approve such an application unless--
``(A) the application contains or is supported by
reasonable assurances that--
``(i) the applicant has the experience, or
capability--
``(I) to conduct, through
biomedical, behavioral, social, and
related disciplines, long-term research
on cannabis; and
``(II) to provide coordination of
such research among such disciplines;
``(ii) the applicant has available to it
sufficient personnel and facilities (including
laboratory, reference, storage, security, and
data analysis facilities) to carry out the
research plan required under subparagraph (B);
``(iii) the applicant has the capacity to
conduct academic courses and train students and
professionals on appropriate research and
knowledge of cannabis; and
``(iv) the applicant will secure State
funds for research related to cannabis to
complement any Federal funds for such research
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 Excellence 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 Director 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 continues 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.--
``(1) Grants or cooperative agreements.--
``(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 current and ongoing interdisciplinary
research and clinical trials relating to cannabis
research.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--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, academic, 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.
``(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 amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(m) Registration of Practitioners at Centers 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 extent 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 products for a clinical trial or other research to
the extent such clinical trial or other research is conducted--
``(A) to further the goals of the national cannabis
research agenda under section 409K; and
``(B) at a Center of Excellence in Cannabis
Research in a State using marijuana products that are
lawfully available for such purpose under laws of the
State.
``(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `Center of
Excellence in Cannabis Research' means a Center of Excellence
in Cannabis Research for which a designation is in effect under
section 409L(a) of the Public Health Service Act.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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