The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded the University of Mississippi a new five-year contract and a $2 million work order for the cultivation of cannabis and related materials for research. The five-year contract to the University of Mississippi denotes the university’s eligibility to apply for task orders through NIDA. NIDA crafts task orders to provide materials that meet the expected needs of research investigators. By fulfilling this work order, Ole Miss will help NIDA – which is part of the National Institutes of Health – supply quality, contaminant-free cannabis and its extracts and other materials to DEA-licensed researchers.
With the latest contract, UM will maintain its status as a leader in cannabis growth and research, said Donna Strum, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “The university’s new National Center for Cannabis Research and Education and this latest contract with NIDA have positioned our university to play an important role in cannabis research, education, and policy,” Strum said.
Because cannabis remains a Schedule I drug in the U.S., it is not legal for researchers to use federal funding to study the cannabis products that are available to consumers in dispensaries.
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