Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles have received four grants totalling $7.3 million to support studies into various cannabis issues.
Awarded by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), it’s expected all four funded UCLA studies will kick off this year.
The first project ($2 million funding) will lab-evaluate new and rare cannabinoids to better understand their potential therapeutic benefits and possible side effects; providing insights that could lead to the development of safer, more effective cannabinoid medicines.
The second (also receiving $2 million) looks at California’s notorious illegal cannabis market nearly a decade after state legalization. The study will delve into why consumers continue to purchase cannabis from unregulated sources and test illicit products for contaminants.
Receiving $2.1 million, a controlled clinical study will identify the immediate and long-term health effects of smoked and oral cannabis on the heart.
And the fourth study, a $1.2 million project, will develop a validated reference of terpenes found in cannabis in order to establish scientific standards and evidence-based policies in commercially sold cannabis products. Terpenes are natural, aromatic organic compounds found in plants that are responsible for their distinct smells, flavors, and colors. However, beyond this, it’s thought terpenes may work with the plant’s cannabinoids and other compounds to produce therapeutic effects. This is called the “entourage effect”.
“From the laboratory to real-world market dynamics, our faculty are generating findings that will shape evidence-based regulation that prioritizes public health,” said Ziva Cooper, director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids and professor.
The Department of Cannabis Control awarded nearly $30 million to fund 22 research projects in late December 2025. The Department has awarded nearly $80 million since 2020 to fund 72 research projects. A full list of the 2025 Cannabis Academic Research Grants awarded along with project summaries can be found here.
The UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids evolved out of the University’s Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.
“Our mission is to address the most pressing questions related to the impact of cannabis legalization through rigorous scientific study and discourse across disciplines.”
