PIXABAY, CHEIFYCThe US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has rebuffed a request by governors to downgrade marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug, which would have eased restrictions on researchers who study the plant. However, the agency is announcing its plans to allow for additional facilities to grow pot.

“It will create a supply of research-grade marijuana that is diverse, but more importantly, it will be competitive and you will have growers motivated to meet the demand of researchers,” John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The New York Times.

Up until now, marijuana growing was only permitted at the University of Mississippi. According to a policy statement on the Federal Register, “persons may become registered with DEA to grow marijuana not only to supply federally funded or other academic researchers, but also for strictly commercial endeavors funded by the private sector and...