2025 Cannabis Academic Research Grants

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is offering a grant opportunity under its Cannabis Academic Research Grants program. This initiative is grounded in Proposition 64, the 2016 ballot measure that legalized cannabis for adult use in California and created a tax structure to support public initiatives. A portion of these tax revenues—specifically $10 million annually—is allocated to California public universities for the purpose of researching and evaluating the impacts of cannabis legalization. DCC is responsible for administering these funds, with an eye toward fostering data-driven public policy and contributing to a growing body of academic research on cannabis. The purpose of this funding is to expand academic knowledge around cannabis, explore how legalization policies affect communities and equity outcomes, and support fact-based decision-making by government officials. The research is expected to have local, national, and international relevance. A total of up to $30 million in funding will be awarded during this grant cycle, and eligibility is limited to researchers at California public universities. Priority will be given to research proposals that either build on existing work or make use of inter-state resources to strengthen broader knowledge. The DCC has identified several key research priorities, including development of crop yield models for cannabis cultivators, consumer behavior in response to labeling and packaging, educational approaches to promote public health and safety, policy analyses on access equity, human physiological responses to cannabinoids, environmental sustainability practices, and comparative enforcement strategies. However, all proposals that fall under the scope of California Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019 and aim to increase public understanding of cannabis legalization will be considered. Applicants are required to submit several documents: a cover sheet, a completed application form, and an institutional cover letter signed by the university's authorized official. These materials must be submitted via email to AcademicResearchGrants@cannabis.ca.gov. The application window opens on June 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 8, 2025. Questions about the grant can be submitted until July 3, 2025, and answers will be posted publicly by July 14, 2025. Technical assistance will be available until 4:00 p.m. on the closing date. Evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed in the announcement, but priority will be given to projects aligned with the stated research topics. The grant does not indicate any matching requirement. Past rounds of this grant program have provided substantial support to academic researchers, with $30 million awarded in 2020 and nearly $20 million in 2022 after the DCC absorbed the former Bureau of Cannabis Control. For further information or specific inquiries, applicants are encouraged to email AcademicResearchGrants@cannabis.ca.gov. For media-related questions, press inquiries should be directed to press@cannabis.ca.gov. Interested parties should consult the Request for Proposals and the Q&A documents for complete guidance. If additional accommodations are needed, ADA-compliant versions of all application documents can be requested via info@cannabis.ca.gov.