DCC Awards $30 Million in Cannabis Research Grants

CA DCC Announcements

Published December 26th, 2025

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) awarded nearly $30 million in research grants to nine academic institutions for 22 projects. This funding, derived from cannabis tax revenues, supports research on economic dynamics, public health, and environmental impacts related to cannabis.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced the award of nearly $30 million in research grants to nine academic institutions on December 26, 2025. This marks the third round of funding for the Cannabis Academic Research Grant program, bringing the total awarded since 2020 to nearly $80 million. The grants will fund 22 research projects focusing on topics such as the economic dynamics of the cannabis industry, preventing public health harms, and environmental impacts.

While this action primarily involves the distribution of funds and does not impose new obligations on regulated entities, the research findings will be made publicly available. The program is funded by cannabis tax revenues generated under Proposition 64. Regulated entities, particularly those involved in cannabis cultivation and sales, may benefit from the publicly accessible research findings which could inform future operational practices and policy considerations.

Source document (simplified)

DCC awards nearly $30 million in academic research grants

On December 26, 2025, the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) awarded nearly $30 million in competitive research grants to nine academic institutions for 22 research projects. This marks the third round of grant funding, totaling nearly $80 million since 2020 to support cannabis-related research, with topics ranging from the industry’s economic dynamics to preventing cannabis-related harm to public health and the environment.

All research findings will be made available at no cost to the public to support broad access to rigorous, science-backed research while contributing to the national understanding of cannabis.

DCC received 149 proposals. Funding decisions were based on researchers demonstrating strong scientific methodologies, the potential of their research to improve public understanding of cannabis and its effects, and to inform future policymaking.

The Cannabis Academic Research Grant program is funded by cannabis tax revenues established under Proposition 64 (2016), which legalized adult-use cannabis, decriminalized personal possession, and began addressing the harms caused by cannabis prohibition.

View the 2025 Cannabis Academic Research Grant awardees Last updated on January 5th, 2026