R3CR

08/20/2026

Did you know researchers can legally source clinical materials from medical cannabis companies under DEA rescheduling if they meet FDA IND standards?

▶️ Ole Miss researchers at NCCRE are leveraging this exact pathway for a new study on CBD and sleep: https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/08/10/ole-miss-researchers-launch-study-examining-cbds-impact-sleep/

Need help navigating FDA IND requirements or sourcing study-grade materials for your own research? Explore resources from the Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR) at https://r3cr.org/resource-repository/.

If you’ve ever struggled to get a good night’s sleep, you may have heard about CBD as a possible solution. Now, researchers at the University of Mississippi are putting that claim to the test.

08/18/2026

$50,000 Seed Funding Available! Overcome regulatory and logistical hurdles in cannabis research!
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The Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR) has launched a Seed Funding RFA to support non-research activities that are critical for advancing cannabis science.

SEP 1 WEBINAR DETAILS:
• Topic: R3CR Seed Funding Informational Session
• Date: Tues, Sep 1 (US and Canada)
• Time: 11am PDT/2pm EDT
• Location: Virtual via Zoom (visit r3cr.org/funding-opportunity for Zoom access info; session will be recorded)

SEED FUNDING RFA DETAILS:
• Funding Amount: Up to $50,000 in total costs
• Project Duration: Up to one year
• Number of Awards: Up to eight awards will be funded this year
• Anticipated Award Date: First quarter 2027
• Award Type: Subcontract in the form of a fixed-amount award

Maximum award is $50,000 total costs for projects up to one year. This opportunity is intended to position investigators for competitive NIH funding by addressing the barriers that limit progress.

Important Dates:
• Webinar Info Session: September 1, 2026
• Letter of Intent Due: September 14, 2026
• Full Application Due: November 2, 2026
• View full RFA details at https://r3cr.org/funding-opportunity/seed-funding-rfa/



cc: WSU Pullman The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss U.S. Pharmacopeia

08/13/2026

When it comes to regulating minor phytocannabinoids, policymakers are increasingly looking to the scientific community for data-driven answers.

Navigating the oversight of emerging cannabinoids requires moving past assumptions and grounding policy in validated analytical methods, accurate product characterization, and sound toxicology.

Our latest blog post breaks down how researchers and regulatory bodies are addressing these critical questions: 📌 What data is needed to evaluate safety profiles across different minor cannabinoids? 📌 How standardized testing helps resolve issues like potency variance and contamination? 📌 Why evidence-based oversight is essential for both public health and advancing scientific research.

Read the complete breakdown over on our website:
👉 https://r3cr.org/2026/06/22/phytocannabinoids-regulators-turn-to-science/

Regulators turn to molecular profiling and scientific data to redefine h**p and clarify the shifting regulatory status of phytocannabinoids.

08/11/2026

We are excited to announce an upcoming collaboration with the Cannabis and Health Research Initiative (CHRI) - a project developed by Johns Hopkins University and Realm of Caring!

CHRI is dedicated to informing clinical decision-making, product development, and policy through open data and research tools. To kick off this partnership, we want to spotlight one of their standout tools for investigators: the CHRI Research Library.

If you are drafting a protocol, preparing a grant, or conducting a literature review, this searchable database lets you filter published scientific literature by:

📌 Health conditions & indications
📌 Study methodology (clinical, observational, case studies)
📌 In vivo vs. in vitro research
📌 Human vs. animal models

Combining CHRI’s evidence library with R3CR’s regulatory guidance and quality standards resources helps ensure that new studies are backed by solid science from day one.

▶️ Check out the Research Library here: https://www.cannabisandhealth.org/research-library/

CHRI will curate and manage a searchable library of published scientific articles related to the health effects of cannabis.

08/06/2026

The DEA’s ongoing administrative hearings on rescheduling cannabis mark a major turning point for the field, but what does it mean for day-to-day research operations?

Moving from Schedule I to Schedule III could ease some of the DEA protocol and storage hurdles that investigators currently face. However, it won't change the need for strict FDA oversight or high-quality, reproducible research materials.

At R3CR, we are following these policy developments step-by-step. Our goal is to make sure scientists, university administrators, and research teams have clear, practical guidance on how regulatory updates affect their active studies and future grant proposals.

Read a detailed summary of the hearing's opening proceedings over at the Systematically Testing the Evidence on Ma*****na Site (STEM) site:

👉 https://www.cannabisevidence.org/dea-kicks-off-historic-hearing-on-cannabis-rescheduling-proposal/

The Drug Enforcement Administration kicks off its hearing on a proposal to reclassify recreational cannabis under federal drug laws. Scheduled to run from June 29 through July 15, the hearing is designed to review the agency’s May 21 proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I of the federal Control...

08/04/2026

Solving the longstanding challenges in cannabis research takes a team effort.

That is why we are proud to be a partner of the Association of Cannabis Research Centers (ACRC) - a collaborative network connecting universities and research hubs across the country.

What does the ACRC do?
🔬 Identifies Research Gaps: Pinpoints critical health-related questions that require rigorous scientific study.
🤝 Fosters Collaboration: Brings academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and policy analysts together through quarterly scientific discussions.
📢 Shares Knowledge: Translates complex research developments so the broader scientific and medical communities stay informed.

As part of our mission at R3CR - backed by our team at the University of Mississippi, Washington State University, and US Pharmacopeia - we work closely with the ACRC to share updated regulatory guidance, quality metrics, and investigator resources across member centers.

When researchers share tools and standards, the entire scientific community moves forward faster.

▶️ Check out the full list of ACRC member centers: https://www.cannabisevidence.org/for-researchers/acrc/

Connect with R3CR resources: https://r3cr.org/

07/30/2026

Planning a new cannabis or cannabinoid study? Understanding which regulatory agencies oversee your project is the first step toward building a compliant timeline.

Here is a breakdown of how regulatory requirements shift based on your study design and material source:

🔬 Non-Clinical & Analytical Studies
• Controlled Materials: Require a DEA C-III Researcher or Analytical registration. No FDA IND needed.
• Hemp-Derived Materials: Fall under USDA/State h**p regulations. No FDA IND needed.

👩🏻‍🔬 Clinical-Interventional Studies
• Controlled Materials: Require a DEA C-III Researcher registration AND an FDA IND application (unless exempt).
• Hemp-Derived Materials: Governed by State regulation AND require an FDA IND application (unless exempt). Note: The FDA applies the same test article standards to interventional clinical studies regardless of whether the material is a controlled substance or h**p-derived.

📊 Clinical-Observational Studies
• Neither DEA registration nor FDA IND applications are required for observational designs, regardless of material source.

Translating State Programs to Federal Standards State Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP) entities—from cultivators and processors to testing labs and research facilities—map directly to federal DEA categories (Manufacturer, Distributor, Dispenser, Analytical, and Researcher). Navigating these intersections requires clear strategies for quality standards, material acquisition, and protocol approval.

The Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR) was established by the University of Mississippi, US Pharmacopeia, and Washington State University to help scientists overcome these exact barriers.

▶️ Learn more about our guidance tools and educational resources: https://r3cr.org/

07/28/2026

Understanding how federal scheduling changes impact active research protocols can save your team months of administrative delay.

Whether working under Schedule I (C-I) or preparing for potential Schedule III (C-III) requirements, here is how the regulatory touchpoints compare:

✅ Protocols & Agency Reviews
• C-I: Requires a detailed DEA protocol covering security, procedures, and researcher qualifications, which undergoes administrative review by DEA HQ and protocol review by FDA/CDER.
•C-III: Bypasses the DEA protocol review, but interventional clinical studies still require an FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) application.

✅ Material Handling & Procurement
• C-I: Demands DEA Form 222 for all acquisitions, transfers, and lab testing, along with completely segregated storage and inventory.
• C-III: Eliminates Form 222 requirements and allows storage and record-keeping alongside other C-III through C-V substances.

🔬 Research Scope vs. Product Scale-Up: Extracting plant material or isolating cannabinoids for an active study falls within a standard DEA Researcher registration. However, moving into commercial product development or scale-up requires shifting to a DEA Manufacturing registration and navigating extensive FDA pathways.

Have questions about maintaining compliance for your cannabis or cannabinoid study? R3CR provides researchers with direct regulatory clarity and quality standards resources.

🔗 Explore our resource repository: https://r3cr.org/resource-repository/

07/23/2026

What do recent regulatory shifts mean for the future of rigorous cannabis science?

The R3CR has published the Executive Summary from our May 2026 stakeholder forum. As a collaborative hub uniting the University of Mississippi, the US Pharmacopeia, and Washington State University, our core objective is to dismantle the historical roadblocks to valid, reproducible scientific studies.

The newly released summary outlines key breakthroughs and ongoing challenges discussed across our main sessions:

• The 2026 Seed Funding Cohort: Summaries of the seven awarded projects designed to build infrastructure, streamline compliance, and stabilize research materials.
• IND Application Nuances: Strategic guidance from agency staff on preparing robust protocols amidst complex regulatory environments.
• Quality Control Priorities: Actionable steps compiled by our Research Standards Core to combat potency inflation and navigate diverse chemical matrices.
• Supply Infrastructure: Next steps for our upcoming peer-to-peer material exchange network and collaborations with DEA-approved bulk manufacturers.

▶️ Review the full details and download a PDF copy of the brief on our website: https://r3cr.org/2026-stakeholder-meeting-executive-summary/

07/21/2026

How do we efficiently overcome the logistical and regulatory barriers currently facing cannabis research?

We recently brought together agency officials, academic investigators, and industry professionals to map out the future of cannabis and cannabinoid science. The official 2026 R3CR Stakeholder Meeting Summary is now live on our website.

The report provides deep dives into:
• Federal and state regulatory updates, including insights on the Schedule III transition
• Public health databases and tool development from our latest seed funding awardees
• Standardizing analytical methods to combat issues like potency inflation

As a collaborative initiative between the University of Mississippi, the US Pharmacopeia, and Washington State University, we are committed to building the infrastructure researchers need to generate high-quality, reproducible data.

▶️ Access the full summary and download the PDF here: https://r3cr.org/2026-stakeholder-meeting-summary/