EDUCATE Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Establishing and Developing University Cannabis Agriculture Techniques and Excellence Act of 2026” or the “EDUCATE Act of 2026”.

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(a) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (in this subtitle referred to as the “Secretary”), shall establish a program under which the Secretary will award, on a competitive basis grants to authorized institutions to conduct research on the cultivation (including agronomic best practices) and processing of marijuana. Such research may include research on the following topics:

(1) The optimization of cultivation and harvesting practices for marijuana crops.

(2) The examination of soil health, water conservation, pest management, and sustainability impacts of marijuana agriculture.

(3) The evaluation of economic development opportunities for minority and disadvantaged farmers in emerging marijuana markets.

(4) Workforce development, training, and extension activities related to marijuana agriculture.

(b) Application.— An authorized institution seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including documentation of the registration of the institution as described in section 1492D(2).

(c) Selection of grantees.— In selecting authorized institutions to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary shall—

(1) give priority to institutions that have partnerships with minority and small-scale farmers or community-based agricultural organizations; and

(2) ensure an equitable distribution of grant funds among such institutions.

(d) Condition.— An authorized institution receiving a grant under this section shall agree, as a condition on receipt of such grant, to coordinate with the Secretary and other Federal agencies to ensure compliance with applicable Federal laws relating to the possession, handling, study, or other research activity involving marijuana.

(e) Funding.—

(1) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(2) Reservation of funds.— Of the funds made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 25 percent to award grants to authorized institutions that are Hispanic-serving institutions.

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall establish a program (to be known as the Marijuana Agriculture Studies Scholarship Program) under which the Secretary will award grants to authorized institutions for purposes of awarding scholarships to individuals who—

(1)

(A) have been accepted for admission at such institution and will be enrolled full-time at such institution in an undergraduate or graduate program in the food and agricultural sciences not later than one year after the date of such acceptance; or

(B) are enrolled full-time at such institution in such an undergraduate or graduate program; and

(2) intend to pursue, or are pursuing a career in marijuana or hemp agriculture, marijuana cultivation, plant science, agricultural technology, agricultural science, or agricultural policy.

(b) Application.— An authorized institution seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including documentation of the registration of the institution as described in section 1492D(2).

(c) Maximum amounts.—

(1) Scholarship amount.— The amount of a scholarship awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed $10,000 per student, per academic year.

(2) Grant amount.— Of the funds made available under subsection (c), the Secretary may use not more than $100,000 to award grants under this subsection for the academic year beginning on July 1, 2027, and each succeeding academic year for which such funds remain available.

(d) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing—

(1) grants awarded under the program established under section 1492;

(2) the outcomes and findings of research conducted pursuant to such section; and

(3) the participation in the scholarship program under section 1492A and outcomes of such program.

(a) No denial of Federal benefit.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an institution of higher education, faculty member, researcher, employee, or student that receives funding under, conducts research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity authorized by, this Act shall not be denied any Federal benefit, grant, or contract, solely because of the cultivation, possession, handling, study, or other research activity involving marijuana conducted in accordance with this Act.

(b) No Federal prosecution or civil penalties for allowed conduct.— An individual or entity who receives funding under, conducts research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity authorized by this Act shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil or administrative penalties under Federal law relating to that receipt of funding, research, or participation so long as the individual or entity, in receiving such funds, conducting such research, or participating in such a program or activity is acting within the scope of the applicable registration under section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) and such other requirements as may be imposed by the Secretary under this Act.

In this Act:

(1) The term 1890 Institution has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).

(2) The term authorized institution means a covered institution that, as of the date on which the institution submits an application under section 1492 or 1492A (as applicable), has a registration in effect under section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) to conduct research with marijuana.

(3) The term marijuana has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).

(4) The term covered institution means—

(A) an 1890 Institution;

(B) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)); and

(C) a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)) that—

(i) is not an 1890 Institution; and

(ii) has an accredited program offering education in the food and agricultural sciences.”.