Key Definitions

Marijuana: All parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin.

• Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination. (21 U.S. Code § 802)

Manufacture:  The production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or other substance, either directly or indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of such substance or labeling or relabeling of its container; except that such term does not include the preparation, compounding, packaging, or labeling of a drug or other substance in conformity with applicable State or local law by a practitioner as an incident to his administration or dispensing of such drug or substance in the course of his professional practice. The term “manufacturer” means a person who manufactures a drug or other substance. (21 U.S. Code § 802)

Industrial hemp: The plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” There may be different definitions of “industrial hemp” in applicable state laws, and a substance defined as “industrial hemp in the federal Farm Bill may still be defined as “Marihuana” in the federal CSA. (Title 7 U.S. Code §5940)

Marijuana research: Research that involves the growth, production, procurement, possession, distribution, administering, or use of marijuana. It does not refer to observational research or other research (e.g., policy research).

Observational research: Research that does not involve the growth, production, procurement, administration, or use of any cannabis product by the researcher, but may include studies where subjects use marijuana and the researcher does not procure the marijuana and the marijuana is not used/consumed on campus property. Please note that all the usual requisite approvals for research must be obtained (including IRB and/or IACUC review, where applicable, for studies involving human subjects or animals).

• Examples might include: surveying individuals about their use of, and experiences with, cannabis; analyzing public records of arrests for cannabis use or distribution; studying the effects of interventions for individuals who use, but wish to moderate or discontinue their use of cannabis; and obtaining symptom rating diaries from individuals who, on their own, obtain and use cannabis with the hope of alleviating those symptoms.