Joint Association Letter on Industrial Hemp

COGR, the Association of American Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities sent this letter to congressional leaders to advocate for the inclusion of Senate provisions in the final 2018 Farm Bill that would remove federal regulatory barriers to industrial hemp research. Specifically, they request explicit federal guidance allowing university researchers to obtain, grow, and study industrial hemp—including all plant derivatives—without requiring DEA Schedule I registration, facilitating interstate transfer among legalized programs, and redefining hemp under federal law. The letter underscores that the proposed Senate measures would significantly enhance the ability of the research community to investigate hemp and its derivatives, and it calls for adoption of these reforms while noting ongoing concerns about broader cannabis research restrictions.