GB Sciences (OTCQB: GBLX) has said that it is one of just 33 companies that have applied to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to become registered under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to grow marijuana in order to supply DEA-registered researchers in the U.S.

Last week, after a three-year delay and following pressure by Congress, patients and researchers, the DEA decided to move forward with creating revised regulations and with reviewing the applications.

“We are well-positioned to meet and exceed the DEA’s criteria, and we intend to aggressively pursue federal licensure,” stated Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, chief science officer and director of GB Sciences. “The sophistication of our facilities, our team’s deep scientific experience, and our groundbreaking cannabinoid therapies are unparalleled in the United States.”

The company’s 28,000-square-foot facility in Las Vegas, Nev., features one of the only pharmaceutical-grade “cleanroom-type” grows in the U.S. The company’s groundbreaking research program, led by Dr. Small-Howard, has created a patent portfolio of cannabis-based therapies that cover over 60 disease and health conditions including Parkinson’s disease, neuropathic pain, and cardiac hypertrophy.

In a letter to the applicants, the DEA said that it is looking to facilitate research, advance scientific understanding about the effects of marijuana, and potentially support the development of safe and effective drug products that may be approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration.