The Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) recently announced updates on the Cycle 2 timeline for the CRI seed funding program, which supports equity-centric research and community action to advance cannabis equity in Illinois.

CRI is seeking applications for research projects that advance equity related to cannabis in Illinois, including community action projects, graduate student-led equity-centric research projects, and equity-centric research. The Cycle 2 timeline has been moved up slightly and is now as follows:

—  April 6, 2026: RFPs released and applications open

—  May 15, 2026, 11:59 pm CST: Project proposals due

—  June 15, 2026: Funding decisions announced

—  By end of June 2026: Cycle 2 of seed funding begins

—  By end of June 2027: Cycle 2 of seed funding ends

While the RFP documents are not currently published publicly to allow for minor changes to the documents between Cycles 1 and 2, the call and requirements will remain the same. Please send CRI an email for a copy of the draft RFP document to begin working on cycle 2 applications, with consideration that there may be slight changes to the Round 2 RFP documents before Cycle 2 officially opens.

Please also note that those who applied for funding in Cycle 1 and were not funded are welcome to apply again in Cycle 2. If an applicant applied for funding during Cycle 1 and was awarded funding, CRI is unsure at this time if it will be able to fund a second application during Cycle 2. The final decision about this will be included in the Cycle 2 RFP documents. For frequently asked questions, visit here.

Through CRI, Community Health and Cannabis Collaborative (CHeCC) will fund multiple research projects up to $50,000 for non-graduate student-led projects for one year. Equity-centric research (ECR) project seed funding for non-graduate student-led projects is open to academic and research institutions that are interested in researching topics related to cannabis equity in Illinois. Projects may not be led by a graduate student for this RFP. Applicants are required to partner with a community organizer or community-based organization on those projects; however, CRI welcomes applications from applicants who do not yet have a community partner.

CRI defines community-based organizations as community-serving entities (non-profit or grassroots organizations; some government entities and social enterprises may also be community-based organizations) that provide resources to those most in need to enhance the well-being of community members, promote social justice, and foster sustainable development. Click the links below to view the online applications.

Community action projects

Graduate student-led equity-centric research

Equity-centric research

CRI is an academic research institute at the University of Illinois that conducts nonpartisan, unbiased research on cannabis and hemp spanning agriculture, health education, and policy. CRI’s work is grounded in community input, scientific rigor, and attends to the inequitable impacts of the ongoing war on drugs. CRI is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for a three-year period beginning in 2024. The funding centers community input and prioritizes equity, defined as the state in which no one is disadvantaged from achieving their full potential because of social position or any other socially defined circumstance. Applied to this seed funding program, CRI aims to fund projects that identify and address the inequities that marginalized groups may experience related to cannabis in Illinois.

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