Bill · H.R. 9186· House(119-HR-9186)
Controlled Substances Act Clarification in Sciences Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 6/8/2026
- Last activity
- 6/8/2026 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Steve Cohen
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Controlled Substances Act Clarification in Sciences Act of 2026. It was introduced in the House by Mr. Cohen on June 8, 2026. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Controlled Substances Act to better align it with modern medical knowledge, terminology, and practices. It adds several new definitions to the law, such as accepted medical use, dependence liability, physical dependence, psychological dependence, abuse, misuse, and potential benefits to society. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles in drug scheduling by requiring the Attorney General to defer to the Secretary's scientific and medical evaluations.
Yes
Does this put more money into medical research?+6
The legislation explicitly protects and recognizes scientific research uses for substances to advance the understanding of human biology.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill preserves medical access by aligning drug scheduling with modern medical knowledge and recognizing potential benefits to society.
Would students be better off under this?+5
Students and researchers benefit from clearer definitions supporting scientific research and medical advancement.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a) adds a definition for accepted medical use that includes conducting scientific research to advance the understanding of human biology or develop new therapies. This could be considered positive because it explicitly protects and recognizes research uses for substances.
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Section 2(a) adds a definition for potential benefits to society, which covers any medical, scientific, or other use that may improve public health or quality of life. This is positive as it ensures the benefits to the public are officially recognized in relation to drugs and substances.
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Section 2(b) requires the Attorney General to defer to the Secretary's scientific and medical evaluation of a drug and to add or transfer a substance to a schedule only if it preserves access for accepted medical uses and recognizes potential benefits to society. This is a positive change for keeping medical access open for individuals who need it.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no explicit provisions that detail negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+6Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+5
- 6/8/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House