Illinois Establishes Cannabis Research Institute to Advance Industry Understanding

LOS ANGELES- The State of Illinois, in collaboration with the City of Chicago, has inaugurated the Cannabis Research Institute (CRI), a joint initiative between the University of Illinois and the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI). This endeavor aims to enhance research and data collection on cannabis, informing future industry developments and public policy.

Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the institute’s role in transforming previous cannabis policies into mechanisms for community revitalization. He stated, “At the time I was elected, we were allowing people to be held criminally liable—and inequitably so—for consuming cannabis. Just five years later, we have one of the most orderly and successful cannabis industries, and we are launching a research institute—funded by the legal sale of that same plant—that will accelerate the transformation of that old, unfair, unjust system into a vehicle for community revitalization.”

The CRI, housed within DPI, was initially announced in 2022. In July 2024, it secured $7 million in funding over three years from the Illinois Department of Human Services. This funding is designated to support research, education, and a deeper understanding of cannabis’s impacts on individuals and communities.

Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton highlighted Illinois’s leadership in cannabis reform, stating, “Illinois continues to be at the forefront of cutting-edge practices and programs surrounding cannabis. Holistic reform is part of our administration’s vision for transforming the state’s justice system toward more healing-centered practices.”

The CRI’s research agenda includes studies on agricultural crop management, health and medicinal effects, and social equity impacts of cannabis. Community engagement events are planned to inform research priorities, ensuring that the institute’s work aligns with public needs and concerns.

This initiative reflects Illinois’s commitment to advancing the cannabis industry through evidence-based research and policy development, aiming to balance economic growth with consumer protection and social equity.