Heath Scott, owner of 7 Point Farm and Apothecary holds cannabis flower at his business in Mt. Juliet , Tenn., Friday, May 2, 2025.
San Diego, California – California is renewing its commitment to cannabis research with a fresh $30 million in grant funding for public universities, aiming to deepen the state’s understanding of the industry and its far-reaching effects. The state Department of Cannabis Control will accept applications until August 12, continuing an initiative that has already steered $50 million into cannabis research since 2020.
This third round of grants arrives at a pivotal moment, as cannabis continues to move from the margins to the mainstream. From the economic collapse of traditional cultivation communities to the genetic heritage of legacy cannabis plants, researchers have documented both the industry’s promise and its challenges. Earlier rounds funded studies that traced the fragile economic ecosystem in North Coast counties, where some cultivators have been forced to leave fields fallow in the face of rising costs and a regulatory burden that, despite recent tax relief, has not proved transformative.
Other projects focused on preserving cannabis’s botanical legacy. A UC Berkeley initiative has been working with growers to catalog and analyze the genetics of cannabis varieties passed down through generations, building a community-driven resource that honors the culture and knowledge of small-scale cultivators. The goal is to capture the rich biodiversity of the crop before economic pressures or corporate consolidation erase it.
California’s $30 million grant program is funded by cannabis taxes established under Proposition 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2016. The grants, according to the Department of Cannabis Control, are intended to help researchers address critical questions about cannabis and its impact on everything from public health to environmental sustainability. At a time when federal support for cannabis research remains limited, California’s investment signals a willingness to lead.
In addition to understanding consumer preferences and market behavior, research proposals can examine educational approaches to improve public health, study enforcement strategies, and explore the effects of cannabis use on the human body. Grants may also support collaborations with other legalized states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, reinforcing a cross-state dialogue as legalization expands nationally.
The Department of Cannabis Control expects this round of funding to build on lessons learned since the program’s launch, creating more precise, policy-relevant findings. By making all research findings publicly accessible, the department hopes to contribute not only to the state’s cannabis policy but to the broader national conversation around cannabis regulation, public health, and economic opportunity.
As California cements its place at the forefront of cannabis policy and research, its investment underscores the complex, unfinished work of transforming a once-illicit market into a stable, regulated industry.
