§ 20-2A-100 — Creation, Composition; Board of Directors; Purposes; Annual Report; Medical Cannabis Research Fund

(a) As used in this section, cannabis, medical cannabis, and use of medical cannabis shall have the same meanings as defined in Section 20-2A-3.
(b) There is established the Consortium for Medical Cannabis Research for the purpose of awarding grants to entities for research relating to cannabis and medical cannabis. The initial member institutions shall consist of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the Southern Research Institute, and public and private four-year colleges and universities within the state designated not later than January 1, 2022, by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Membership in the consortium may be increased or decreased by rules established by the board of directors of the consortium.
(c) The management of the consortium shall be vested in a board of directors, composed of the President of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Research Institute, and the presidents of each member college and university. The board of directors shall determine the overall program and general policies of the consortium in conformance with the purposes set forth in subsection (d). The board may elect or appoint officers as it deems desirable, who may or may not be members of the board, to have responsibilities and to exercise authority as the board may prescribe.
(d) The purposes of the consortium are as follows:
(1) Award grants to public or private entities to conduct rigorous research relating to cannabis, the cannabis industry, medical cannabis, and the use of medical cannabis and its impact.
(2) Monitor research conducted pursuant to grant awards and require accountability by entities awarded grants.
(3) Encourage dialog among interested entities.
(4) Effectively disseminate research findings and outcomes.
(e) By February 15 of each year, the board of directors shall issue a report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Attorney General on research projects, research findings, community outreach initiatives, and future plans for the consortium.
(f) There is created a special account in the State Treasury to be known as the Medical Cannabis Research Fund. Expenditures from the Medical Cannabis Research Fund shall be made to fund grants awarded by the consortium in accordance with this section and to otherwise implement and administer this section. Amounts in the Medical Cannabis Research Fund shall be budgeted and allotted in accordance with Sections 41-4-80 through 41-4-96 and Sections 41-19-1 through 41-19-12.

Legislative History

(Act 2021-450, §4.)