Privacy Policy

Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR)

Effective Date: November 4, 2026 | Last Reviewed & Updated: November 4, 2026 | NIH Award U24AT013161

1. Purpose and Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to the website located at https://r3cr.org, managed by R3CR across its collaborative academic and clinical institutions. It outlines the protocols governing data collection, management, security, and dissemination across all public-facing and researcher-facing digital services.
By accessing, browsing, or interacting with the Site, you acknowledge the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide educational and research resources, administer peer-to-peer collaboration, and improve our services to the scientific community.

A. Information You Voluntarily Provide

We collect personal and professional details when you voluntarily submit them through our forms, portals, or email communications:

• Direct Inquiries: When you contact us via info@r3cr.org or site forms, we collect your name, email address, institutional affiliation, and the contents of your message.
• Peer-to-Peer Network & Portal Submissions: When researchers offer or seek excess research materials, we collect investigator names, academic/institutional affiliations, lab contact information, and DEA/regulatory compliance verifications.
• Surveys & Stakeholder Feedback: When participating in stakeholder evaluations (such as the Research Standards Core survey), we collect survey responses and optional contact details.
• Blog Contributions & Editorial Submissions: If you submit guest commentaries or pitches for the R3CR Blog, we collect author names, institutional bios (50–75 words), headshots, and contact details.

B. Information Collected Automatically (Log Data)

When you navigate through the Site, our web servers automatically generate standard digital access records, including:

• Technical Log Files: Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, operating system, referring/exit pages, access timestamps, and page click-through sequences.
• Internal Search Queries: Search terms entered into our internal site search bar are logged anonymously to analyze resource demand and optimize site architecture.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files placed on your computer or mobile device to enhance website navigation and provide analytical insight.

• Essential & Functional Cookies: Necessary for core site navigation, form authentication, and accessibility settings.
• Analytics (Google Analytics): We utilize Google Analytics to understand site traffic patterns, audience demographics, and resource engagement. Google Analytics deploys cookies that collect anonymous usage data and IP addresses, which are transmitted to and stored on Google servers.
• Managing Your Cookie Preferences: You can configure your browser to block or alert you about cookies. To opt out of Google Analytics data collection across all websites, visit the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout).

4. How We Use Your Information

R3CR processes personal and usage information strictly for legitimate academic, educational, and operational purposes, including:

• Resource Delivery: Operating, maintaining, and improving the R3CR digital infrastructure, analytical tools, and knowledge repositories.
• Research Facilitation: Managing investigator inquiries, coordinating peer-to-peer research material exchanges, and organizing educational workshops.
• Impact Evaluation & Reporting: Aggregating non-identifying site metrics to evaluate stakeholder engagement and report milestones to institutional review boards and federal grant partners.
• System Security: Detecting, preventing, and addressing technical defects, unauthorized access, or fraudulent activity.
• Non-Commercial Commitment: R3CR does not sell, rent, lease, trade, or monetize personal information to commercial advertisers, marketing brokers, or third parties for promotional purposes.

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not share your personal information with external parties, except under the following specific circumstances:

• Authorized Technical Service Providers: Trusted third-party contractors and hosting partners who maintain our web infrastructure, databases, and survey systems under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Partner Academic Institutions: Because R3CR operates under a collaborative governance model across academic centers, communications regarding collaborative research or material exchanges may be reviewed by designated core personnel across partner institutions.
• Legal and Regulatory Obligations: We may disclose information if required to comply with applicable federal, state, or institutional legal requirements, court orders, or subpoenas.

6. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content

The Site contains links to external web resources (such as federal regulatory agency databases, NIDA portals, and scientific journals) and may feature embedded media or tools.

Embedded content from external websites behaves in the exact same manner as if the visitor visited the third-party website directly. R3CR is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or data collection mechanisms of external sites.

7. Data Security and Retention

We employ industry-standard administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect personal information against accidental loss, unauthorized access, alteration, and disclosure.

However, no digital data transmission over the internet or electronic storage infrastructure can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Visitors transmit information at their own risk.

We retain collected personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the operational, educational, and reporting purposes specified in this policy, or to comply with applicable legal and grant retention standards.

8. Children’s Privacy

The R3CR website is an academic and clinical research portal intended for adult researchers, healthcare practitioners, and community stakeholders. The Site is not directed to individuals under thirteen (13) years of age, and we do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from children.

9. Your Rights and Data Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction and applicable data protection regulations, you may possess specific rights regarding your personal information:

• Access and Correction: You may request verification of what personal contact records we maintain and request correction of inaccurate data.
• Opt-Out and Deletion: You may request that we remove your contact information from our mailing lists or purge your correspondence records by emailing us.
• Exercising Rights: To submit an inquiry or exercise any data rights, please contact info@r3cr.org.

10. Updates to This Privacy Policy

R3CR reserves the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy periodically to align with evolving institutional policies, legal standards, or technical enhancements. Any revisions will be published directly on this page with an updated “Last Updated” timestamp. We encourage users to check this page periodically.

11. Contact Information

For inquiries, questions, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our website data practices, please contact:

• Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR)
• Website: https://r3cr.org
• Email: info@r3cr.org
• Administrative Inquiries: R3CR Core Administration