Dept of Justice release – Monday, August 26, 2019
The Drug Enforcement Administration today announced that it is moving forward to facilitate and expand scientific and medical research for marijuana in the United States. The DEA is providing notice of pending applications from entities applying to be registered to manufacture marijuana for researchers. DEA anticipates that registering additional qualified marijuana growers will increase the variety of marijuana available for these purposes.
Over the last two years, the total number of individuals registered by DEA to conduct research with marijuana, marijuana extracts, derivatives and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has increased by more than 40 percent from 384 in January 2017 to 542 in January 2019. Similarly, in the last two years, DEA has more than doubled the production quota for marijuana each year based on increased usage projections for federally approved research projects.
“I am pleased that DEA is moving forward with its review of applications for those who seek to grow marijuana legally to support research,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to work with our colleagues at the Department of Health and Human Services and across the Administration to improve research opportunities wherever we can.”
“DEA is making progress in the program to register additional marijuana growers for federally authorized research, and will work with other relevant federal agencies to expedite the necessary next steps,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “We support additional research into marijuana and its components, and we believe registering more growers will result in researchers having access to a wider variety for study.”
This notice also announces that, as the result of a recent amendment to federal law, certain forms of cannabis no longer require DEA registration to grow or manufacture. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2018, changed the definition of marijuana to exclude “hemp”—plant material that contains 0.3 percent or less delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Accordingly, hemp, including hemp plants and cannabidiol (CBD) preparations at or below the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC threshold, is not a controlled substance, and a DEA registration is not required to grow or research it.
Before making decisions on these pending applications, DEA intends to propose new regulations that will govern the marijuana growers program for scientific and medical research. The new rules will help ensure DEA can evaluate the applications under the applicable legal standard and conform the program to relevant laws. To ensure transparency and public participation, this process will provide applicants and the general public with an opportunity to comment on the regulations that should govern the program of growing marijuana for scientific and medical research.
The Notice of Application is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current
Get On The List: The 2020 growing season will come fast. Michigan Hemp Industries holds network meetings to help those from farmers to processors to retailers make connections to better their understanding and social reach in the hemp markets. Fill Out The Form Here to Get On The Mailing List For Future Hemp Networking Events.
- Rescheduling Marijuana Would Be a Huge Threat to Public Health
- Industrial Cannabis Sativa Hemp Plastic-Updates
- Federal Court says Gun Ban For Cannabis Consumers Is Unconstitutional
- Edibles recalled in MI containing 200 mg of THC per serving
- Is Growing Hemp in Michigan Legal?
Tags
2020 acts Canada cannabis CBD DEA education Epilepsy events FAQ farmers FDA Federal florida Hemp Hemp Farming Hemp General Info Hemp Law Michigan Hemp Laws USA hemp news hemp products Hemp Research Hemp Science Hemp Seeds HIA insurance LARA laws legal legalization mail marijuana MDARD medical marijuana michigan michigan hemp industries michigan news MSU News Past Events Regulations THC usa usa news usda
