To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, to provide for marijuana agricultural research program at 1890 institutions, and for other purposes.
The EDUCATE Act of 2026 establishes a federal marijuana agricultural research and education program at historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other eligible agricultural schools. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for competitive grants to support research on marijuana cultivation practices, soil health, pest management, economic opportunities for minority farmers, and workforce development in the emerging cannabis industry. It also creates a separate scholarship program with $100,000 in annual funding to support students pursuing degrees in marijuana and hemp agriculture at participating institutions. The legislation includes important protections ensuring that participating institutions, researchers, faculty, and students cannot be denied federal benefits or face federal prosecution for marijuana research activities conducted under proper DEA registration and compliance with the bill's requirements. Annual reporting to Congress on grant awards, research outcomes, and scholarship participation is required beginning one year after enactment.
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