A recently published study conducted an analysis of cannabis research funding efforts by states that had legal medical or adult-use cannabis. The researchers analyzed states’ cannabis legalization measures, government websites, state officials, or reference materials for information on scientific funding or research. As of September 2024, the study’s introduction noted, medical cannabis is legal in 38 US states, 24 of the states also have legalized adult-use cannabis, and eight states have legalized low-THC/high-CBD cannabis.
Additionally, the majority of public funding for cannabis research is through the federal government, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Due to various factors including the status of cannabis as a Schedule I drug, gaps in research still exist in areas such as public health effects, consumption data, and individual regulatory frameworks. The study, “State funding for cannabis research: an analysis of funding mechanisms and levels,” was published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in March 2025.