H.R. 9344: Establishing and Developing University Cannabis Agriculture Techniques and Excellence Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal program to support marijuana agriculture research and education at certain colleges and universities, with a focus on institutions that historically serve Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented students.

What the bill would do

• Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to set up a competitive grant program for eligible institutions to study marijuana cultivation and processing.
• Allows research to cover topics such as:
  • better ways to grow and harvest marijuana,
  • soil health, water use, pest control, and environmental impacts,
  • economic opportunities for minority and small-scale farmers in marijuana markets, and
  • job training, workforce development, and extension activities related to marijuana agriculture.
• Limits participation to institutions that already have federal registration to conduct marijuana research under the Controlled Substances Act.
• Gives priority to schools that partner with minority, small-scale, or community-based farming organizations, and seeks to spread grant money fairly among eligible institutions.
• Requires grant recipients to coordinate with federal agencies to comply with federal laws on possession, handling, and research involving marijuana.

Scholarships

• Creates a scholarship program for students at eligible institutions who are studying food and agricultural sciences and plan to work in marijuana or hemp agriculture, marijuana cultivation, plant science, agricultural technology, agricultural science, or agricultural policy.
• Scholarships could be up to $10,000 per student per academic year.
• The bill also authorizes grants to institutions to run the scholarship program.

Funding

• Authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the research grant program.
• Requires at least 25% of those funds each year to go to Hispanic-serving institutions.
• Authorizes $100,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the scholarship program.

Reporting and legal protections

• Requires USDA to report to Congress within one year of enactment and then annually on grants awarded, research results, and scholarship participation.
• Says institutions, faculty, researchers, employees, and students involved in authorized activities cannot be denied federal benefits, grants, or contracts solely because of lawful marijuana research under this program.
• Also says they should not face federal criminal, civil, or administrative penalties for activities carried out within the scope of the required marijuana research registration and other agency rules.

Relevant Companies

None found