See Frequently Asked Questions about Conducting Research with Cannabis (Marijuana and Hemp).
Under the 1961 international Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (PDF, 680KB) (amended in 1972), cannabis is designated a Schedule I substance, and participating countries are required to restrict production, manufacture, possession and distribution of marijuana except for medical and scientific purposes. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates the cultivation of marijuana for research purposes through registration requirements and establishing annual aggregate production quotas under the authority of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which implements the Single Convention. Historically, the DEA has only issued a single registration for the cultivation of marijuana for research, to the University of Mississippi National Center for Natural Product Research, which is funded through a NIDA contract. In December 2020, the DEA finalized this rule which amended 21 Code of Federal Regulations 1318 to facilitate the cultivation of marijuana for research purposes. The DEA has since approved additional bulk manufacturer marijuana growers; a list of DEA-approved growers can be found here.
NIDA has a contract with the University of Mississippi to grow marijuana for use in research studies. The contract was renewed in 2023 under an open solicitation process. The University designates secure facilitieswhere cannabis is cultivated and processed for research use, based on current and expected demand. This cannabis is grown, harvested, stored, and made available as homogenized plant material, cannabis cigarettes, or other purified elements of the cannabis plant to use for research. For more information on the marijuana farm and current supply: See Information on marijuana farm contract.
Cannabis for use in research can be obtained through the NIDA drug supply program. Applicants are encouraged to contact the NIDA Drug Supply Program prior to submitting their application to obtain information on the variety of chemovars (e.g., concentrations of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids) and cannabis products available. All applicants with NIH funding must provide the following documents for a complete request package:
- Cover letter explaining products, amounts requested, NIH grant number, and Project Officer
- Statement to acknowledge the NIDA Drug Supply Program in subsequent publications based on the research
- Study protocol that justifies the quantity of product requested. Calculations are appreciated.
- An approved IACUC for in vivo studies or IRB approval for a clinical trial
- IND number of clinical trial if research includes human subjects
- DEA Schedule 1 license
Request packages that are not funded by NIH are also accepted and reviewed. Researchers will be asked for a redacted protocol to protect any intellectual property because the protocols will be sent to two external reviewers to assess the appropriateness of materials and amounts requested based on the protocol.
Note: While not required in all cases, it is recommended that researchers contact the NIDA Drug Supply Program early in the planning of a study to obtain information on the chemovars and types of products available so that this information can be included in the protocol and IND application.
The cannabis and cannabis products provided by the NIDA Drug Supply Program are for human use. Certificates of Analysis show cannabinoid content, water activity, heavy metals, pesticides, and bioburden (TYMC @ ≤101 cfu/mL, TAMC @ ≤102 cfu/mL, and absence of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria as specified in USP <1111>).
Note: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has supplied cannabis products to researchers through our drug supply program for over 40 years without any known health consequences from contaminants. All plant materials contain mold and yeast, which are naturally occurring in air and soil.
For NIH Funded Projects (for all studies from basic science to human trials):
- Demonstrate scientific validity and ethical soundness through two steps: (1) review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) IND process; (2) review of the research protocol, Data Safety and Monitoring Plan, and dose/amount of cannabis material requested calculations by NIDA Drug Supply Program staff and up to two non-NIH subject matter expert reviewers. This two-step process assures the safety and rights of research participants and the scientific quality of the clinical investigations, and assesses the likelihood that investigations will yield valid scientific results that justify the exposing participants to cannabis.
- A DEA registration for marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.
When the above steps have been completed, investigators contact the NIDA Drug Supply Program to begin the request process. Once all request materials are received and approved, NIDA Drug Supply Program staff will verify that the application is complete and the request will be processed for approval and distribution.
For Non-NIH Funded Human Research Projects:
- Demonstrate scientific validity and ethical soundness through review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) IND process. Research protocols will undergo a scientific review which assures the safety and rights of subjects and the scientific quality of the clinical investigations, and assesses the likelihood that investigations will yield data capable of meeting the statutory standards for drug marketing approval; and
- A DEA registration for marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.
When the above steps have been completed, investigators contact the NIDA Drug Supply Program to place an order for marijuana with specific characteristics with regard to concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. The program official verifies that the application is complete (with all the above-mentioned steps fulfilled), and forwards the order on to the contractor responsible for shipping the marijuana.
For Non-NIH Funded Non-Human/Basic Research Projects: See NIDA Drug Supply Program