Two Democratic members of Congress have filed a new bill aimed at supporting marijuana-focused research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
The Establishing and Developing University Cannabis Agriculture Techniques and Excellence (EDUCATE) Act of 2026, filed last week by Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Dina Titus (D-NV), would award grants to fund cannabis research while also creating a new scholarship program to support students who are pursuing careers in marijuana or hemp.
Under the legislation, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would award grants on a competitive basis to support research on the cultivation and processing of marijuana, including studies focusing on:
The optimization of cultivation and harvesting practices for marijuana crops. The examination of soil health, water conservation, pest management, and sustainability impacts of marijuana agriculture. The evaluation of economic development opportunities for minority and disadvantaged farmers in emerging marijuana markets. Workforce development, training, and extension activities related to marijuana agriculture.
The bill would authorize the allocation of $5 million a year to fund such research grants from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with at least 25 percent earmarked for HSIs, and there would
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