Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the term authorized medical research means medical research that is— (A)investigational use research conducted in accordance with section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) or otherwise permitted by the Department of Health and Human Services to determine the potential medical benefits of marihuana or cannabidiol as a drug; (B)conducted in a State that allows the manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, or possession of, or research with respect to, marihuana or cannabidiol under the laws of the State; and (C)conducted by a covered institution of higher education or registered manufacturer that is appropriately registered under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.); (2)the term cannabidiol means the nonpsychoactive substance, cannabidiol, as derived from marihuana or the synthetic formulation; (3)the terms controlled substance, dispense, distribute, marihuana, and manufacture have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802); (4)the term covered institution of higher education means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that— (A)(i)has highest or higher research activity, as defined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; or (ii)is an accredited medical school or an accredited school of osteopathic medicine; and (B)is appropriately registered under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.); (5)the term drug has the meaning given the term in section 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)); (6)the term registered manufacturer means an individual or entity who is appropriately registered to manufacture controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), including an individual or entity appropriately registered to manufacture controlled substances as part of research; and (7)the term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory of the United States.

Proceedings for control of cannabidiol

(a)

Scientific and medical evaluations

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall each complete the scientific and medical evaluation described in section 201(b) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811(b)) as to cannabidiol, which shall take into consideration the factors described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (c) of section 201 of that Act (21 U.S.C. 811(c)). (b)

Proceedings To control cannabidiol

After taking into consideration the evaluation described in subsection (a), if the Attorney General determines that the evaluations, recommendations, and all other relevant data warrant control of cannabidiol, the Attorney General shall initiate proceedings for control under section 201(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811(a)).

Research protocols

The Attorney General shall amend section 1301.18 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the following:

(c)In the event that the registrant desires to increase the quantity of a controlled substance used for an approved research project, he/she shall submit a request to the Registration Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration, by registered mail, return receipt requested. See the Table of DEA Mailing Addresses in § 1321.01 of this chapter for the current mailing address. The request shall contain the following information: DEA registration number; name of the controlled substance or substances and the quantity of each authorized in the approved protocol; and the additional quantity of each desired. Upon return of the receipt, the registrant shall be authorized to purchase and use the additional quantity of the controlled substance or substances specified in the request. (d)In the event the registrant desires to conduct research beyond the variations provided in the registrant's approved protocol (excluding any increase in the quantity of the controlled substance requested for his/her research project as outlined in subsection (c) of this section), he/she shall submit three copies by registered mail, with a return receipt requested, of a supplemental protocol in accordance with subsection (a) of this section describing the new research and omitting information in the supplemental protocol which has been stated in the original protocol. Unless explicitly denied, supplemental protocols shall be considered approved 30 days after the date on which the return receipt is returned.

Medical research on cannabidiol

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any provision of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), chapter 81 of title 41, United States Code, or any other Federal law, a covered institution of higher education or a registered manufacturer may manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess marihuana or cannabidiol if the marihuana or cannabidiol is manufactured, distributed, dispensed, or possessed, respectively, for purposes of authorized medical research. (b)

Registration for research involving cannabidiol

(1)

Initial period

During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the Attorney General makes a determination regarding control of cannabidiol, an individual or entity engaged in authorized medical research may distribute, dispense, or possess cannabidiol for purposes of the authorized medical research if the individual or entity is registered under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) to engage in such activity with a controlled substance in schedule II in section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)). (2)

Completion of ongoing research

If, as a result of the determination and proceedings described in section 3, cannabidiol is a controlled substance in schedule I in section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)), an individual or entity engaged in authorized medical research may continue to distribute, dispense, or possess cannabidiol for purposes of completing the authorized medical research if the individual or entity— (A)was engaged in the authorized medical research in accordance with paragraph (1) on or before the date on which the proceedings are completed; and (B)is registered under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) to engage in such activity with a controlled substance in schedule II in section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)). (c)

Timely processing of registration applications

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the Attorney General receives an application for registration under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess controlled substances, the Attorney General shall— (A)grant or deny the application; or (B)request supplemental information. (2)

Additional information

Not later than 30 days after the Attorney General receives supplemental information as described in paragraph (1)(B) in connection with an application described in paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall grant or deny the application. (d)

Information regarding denials

If an application described in subsection (c)(1) is denied, the Attorney General shall provide a written explanation of the basis of denial to the applicant.

Importation of cannabidiol for research purposes

The Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) is amended— (1)in section 1002(a) (21 U.S.C. 952(a))— (A)in paragraph (1), by striking and at the end; (B)in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting and after uses,; and (C)inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (2)(C) the following:

(3)such amounts of marihuana or cannabidiol as approved for authorized medical research (as such terms are defined in section 2 of the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act).

; and

(2)in section 1007 (21 U.S.C. 957), by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person may— (A)import into the customs territory of the United States from any place outside thereof (but within the United States), or import into the United States from any place outside thereof, any controlled substance or list I chemical, or (B)export from the United States any controlled substance or list I chemical,

unless there is in effect with respect to such person a registration issued by the Attorney General under section 1008, or unless such person is exempt from registration under subsection (b).

(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the import or export of marihuana or cannabidiol that has been approved for authorized medical research authorized under section 5 of the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act.

Safe harbor

(a)

Definitions

In this section— (1)the term adult means an individual who is not less than 18 years of age; (2)the term child means an individual who is not more than 17 years of age; (3)the term intractable epilepsy means an epileptic seizure disorder for which standard medical treatment— (A)does not prevent or significantly ameliorate recurring, uncontrollable seizures; or (B)results in harmful side effects; and (4)the term neurologist means an allopathic or osteopathic physician board-certified in neurology in good standing and licensed in the State in which the physician practices neurology. (b)

Safe harbor

Notwithstanding the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or any other Federal law, it shall not be unlawful for— (1)a legal guardian to possess or transport cannabidiol or any other nonpsychoactive component of marihuana for purposes of dispensing the cannabidiol or other nonpsychoactive component to a child of the legal guardian if— (A)the child has been treated by a neurologist for intractable epilepsy for not less than 6 months; (B)the child’s neurologist certifies that other treatment options have been ineffective; (C)the child’s neurologist certifies that the benefits of using the cannabidiol or other nonpsychoactive component of marihuana reasonably outweigh the potential risks for the child; and (D)the legal guardian provides documentation for the requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C); (2)an adult to possess or transport cannabidiol or any other nonpsychoactive component of marihuana if— (A)the adult has been treated by a neurologist for intractable epilepsy for not less than 6 months; (B)the adult's neurologist certifies that other treatment options have been ineffective; (C)the adult's neurologist certifies that the benefits of using the cannabidiol or other nonpsychoactive component of marihuana reasonably outweigh the potential risks for the adult; and (D)the adult provides documentation for the requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C); or (3)a physician who is licensed under State law to discuss the potential harms and benefits of cannabidiol or any other nonpsychoactive component of marihuana as a treatment with a patient of the physician, or the legal guardian of the patient if the patient is a child. (c)

Sunset

This section shall cease to have force or effect on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.