EDUCATE Act of 2026

Economic opportunities for minority farmers: Section 1492(a)(3) evaluates economic development for minority and disadvantaged farmers in marijuana markets.

Educational funding: Section 1492A provides scholarships of up to $10,000 per student per academic year for those studying food and agricultural sciences intending to work in marijuana or hemp agriculture.

Support for Hispanic-serving institutions: Section 1492(e)(2) requires that at least 25 percent of research grant funds be reserved for Hispanic-serving institutions.

Priority for small-scale farmers: Section 1492(c)(1) directs the Secretary to prioritize institutions that partner with community-based agricultural organizations or minority and small-scale farmers.

Legal protections: Section 1492C ensures that participants will not be denied federal benefits or face federal criminal prosecution or civil penalties for activities conducted within the scope of the Act and the Controlled Substances Act.

Limited funding availability: Section 1492A(c)(2) limits the total grant amount for scholarships to no more than $100,000 per academic year, which may limit the number of people who can benefit.

Strict registration requirements: Section 1492D(2) requires an institution to have an existing registration under section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act to be an "authorized institution," which may exclude institutions that do not have this registration.