Fewer Than One-Third of Legal Cannabis States Have Appropriated Funding for Marijuana Research

Less than one-third of states that regulate marijuana for either medical or adult use have allocated funding for cannabis-related research, according to an analysis published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

A team of investigators headed by the University of California reviewed state-level funding opportunities for cannabis-related research. They reported that 17 states have adopted legislation providing funding mechanisms for research. However, to date, only 12 states have allocated funding for marijuana-related research protocols.

“Without federal participation or support, states are carrying the bulk of responsibility for regulatory oversight of cannabis,” the study’s authors wrote. “This lack of investment is a missed opportunity for states to foster research about the impact of legalization and to increase understanding of the risks and benefits of cannabis use within their state. There is also a missed opportunity for collaborations between researchers and cannabis regulators to inform legislative discussion and develop future evidence-based cannabis laws.”

While federal grants remain the largest source of marijuana research funding, federal appropriations for cannabis-related research are well below those allocated for alcohol and tobacco. “The amount of federal funding allocated to cannabis research is considerably less than the funding provided for other research areas that have similar public health and public policy importance,” researchers wrote. They also acknowledged that federally funded research projects tend to focus on potential marijuana-related harms and adverse effects.

The study’s authors concluded: “Though cannabis products are legal in 39 states for medical use and 24 states for non-medical adult use, only 12 states have provided direct funding for cannabis research. … States have much to gain from greater scientific understanding of cannabis and the impacts of legalization, and lawmakers should consider adopting mechanisms that would support research in parallel with legalization. This funding is important for investing in state infrastructure needed to support public agencies and academic institutions alike over time.”

Full text of the study, “State funding for cannabis research: An analysis of funding mechanisms and levels,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Article from NORML