The Drug Enforcement Administration has announced it is moving forward to facilitate the expansion of U.S.-based marijuana research. After a delay that lasted years, the DEA is now moving forward to allow U.S. cultivators to grow a larger amount of research-grade cannabis domestically, but it may take a while.
The DEA announced that it is providing notice to the pending applications that have amassed over the past two years since it originally put out the call for more marijuana growers and anticipate finding even more qualified candidates now that the ball is rolling. The agency also expects adding those additional growers will only further diversify the pool of research-grade marijuana, definitely a good thing.
In the press release on the announcement, the DEA notes that over the last two years the number of individuals registered with it to conduct research with marijuana in all its appropriate forms has jumped by more than 40%.
In January of 2017, there were 384 people in the U.S. approved to handle marijuana for research purposes. By January 2019 that number had jumped to 542. In light of the increase over the past two years, the DEA has doubled the production quota annually to keep pace.
“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.”