Less Than Half of Legal Cannabis States Fund Research | Research

The takeaway

Of 38 US states that have legalized some form of cannabis, only 17 have legislation specifying research funding, and only 12 have actually distributed any money.

State legislators, cannabis regulators, research advocates, policy analysts

Only 12 of 38 legal cannabis states have distributed research funding

What the researchers found

Only 17 of 38 states with medical or adult-use cannabis laws include a funding mechanism for research. Of those 17, just 12 have allocated any funding. Six states distributed funds directly to academic institutions, five routed them through state agencies, and California used both approaches. Funding amounts varied significantly across states.

Why it matters

States are making cannabis policy decisions without federal guidance, yet most are not investing in the research needed to inform those decisions. This creates a gap between the pace of legalization and the evidence available to regulators.

The numbers in context

38 states have legalized some form of cannabis. 17 have research funding legislation. 12 have actually allocated funds. 6 fund academic institutions directly. 5 route through state agencies. 1 (California) uses both approaches.

How the study worked

Review of legalization legislation text from all 38 states with medical or adult-use cannabis laws, supplemented by state government websites, reference materials, and direct contact with state officials to identify research funding provisions and mechanisms.

What this study cannot tell us

Focused on legislative provisions rather than actual research output. Funding amounts were not always publicly available. Does not assess the quality or impact of funded research.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: comprehensive review of state legislation with direct verification, but limited to funding provisions without assessing research outcomes

When this study was published

Published in 2025

The bigger picture

The disconnect between rapid state-level legalization and minimal research investment means that cannabis regulations are being written and revised with limited local evidence. States that do fund research could serve as models for others.

Questions still open

Which state funding models produce the most useful research? How does state-funded cannabis research compare to federally funded research in scope and quality?

Common questions

Why don't more states fund cannabis research?

The study found that while 38 states have legalized cannabis in some form, only 17 included research funding in their legislation. The gap between legalization and research investment represents a missed opportunity to inform evidence-based policy.

How do states distribute cannabis research funding?

Of the 12 states that have allocated funding, six distribute directly to academic institutions, five route through state agencies, and California uses both approaches. The amount of funding varies significantly across states.

Read the original research

State funding for cannabis research: an analysis of funding mechanisms and levels.

Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 15

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Balla, Agnes; Boyle, Raymond G; Dempsey, Christina. (2025). State funding for cannabis research: an analysis of funding mechanisms and levels.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00264-0