This state’s colleges are poised to spearhead marijuana education in America

Through Nicholas Rodriguez

Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) recently created a new type of license that allows universities to purchase or produce their own cannabis for educational purposes. However, because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, and because universities often rely on accepting federal funding, they are reluctant to introduce marijuana-focused courses, degrees, or certificates.

MRA director Andrew Brisbo told MLive he’s been thinking about how the state agency could contribute to cannabis education.

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The license allows schools to source, grow, process, and study cannabis products, but must be approved by the DEA. Brisbo said the MRA is working with the federal agency on the possible registration of post-secondary schools, so long as there is an underlying state license.

Brisbo explained that in this case, cannabis programs would allow students to touch plants, engage with products that are actually available on the market, and help position Michigan as a leader in cannabis education.

“The reason academic institutions tend this way is to avoid a government backlash, which is primarily related to financial aid,” said Benjamin Southwell, assistant professor of bioanalytical chemistry and superior analytics manager at Lake Superior State University. “We don’t want to interfere so that our students can receive grants and loans from the federal government.”

Meanwhile, Brian McNeal, a spokesman for the DEA, said any institution wishing to use cannabis for educational purposes must register with the DEA as an analytical laboratory.

Prof. Southwell noted that most of their programs are working with cannabis with THC concentrations below 3%, at least until the university can get DEA approval, they will focus on hemp.

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“We have students who go to supply centers, gas stations, or anywhere that sells CBD (…) We can buy these now and we do,” Southwell said.

Access to products currently on the market is crucial for scientific research.

A genetic study conducted by a research team from the University of Northern California on samples of “research marijuana” provided by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse found that these cannabis samples differed significantly from most commercially available strains , reported NORML.

Medical Marijuana Research Law

In 2021, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers introduced legislation to remove barriers to marijuana research. The bill will allow scientists access to cannabis from state-legal dispensaries. The Medical Marijuana Research Act filed by Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR] and Rep. Andy Harris [R-MD] would simplify the process by which researchers apply for permits to study cannabis and would give federal agencies timely deadlines to review applications in a timely manner.

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“This legislation would remove barriers to research into cannabis and increase access to a greater supply of high-quality medical cannabis for research purposes,” said Blumenauer.

First DEA-licensed company to harvest cannabis for medical research

In March 2022, York County, PA-based Groff North America became the first company in the US to introduce its cannabis crop for legal medical research. The news comes about 10 months after the DEA announced that it will begin approving applications that allow some marijuana growers to receive federal permission to grow the plant for research purposes.

So far, just one breeder — a farm that’s part of the University of Mississippi — has been the sole legal cannabis source for federal research. The university was licensed back in 1968, making it the sole source of research cannabis in the United States for over 50 years.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.