The Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) sent out a reminder for the May 15 deadline for the Cycle 2 seed funding program, which supports equity-centric research and community action to advance cannabis equity in Illinois.

This program funds research and community action projects across Illinois that advance cannabis equity. Seed funding program priorities were directly informed by ideas shared by interest holders at listening sessions and interviews in 2025. Those who applied for funding in Cycle 1 and were not funded are welcome to apply again in Cycle 2.

Last cycle, CRI received 34 applications and funded 11, for an overall funding rate of 32%. The breakdown of funding rate by application type are:

–Equity-centric research: 22%

–Student-led equity-centric research: 75%

–Community action: 33%

Individuals who were awarded seed funding during Cycle 1 are not eligible to apply for Cycle 2 seed funding.

For frequently asked questions, visit here. CRI also is offering weekly office hour sessions where prospective applicants can join us live to ask questions about the seed funding program and/or their prospective project ideas. Office hour session dates, times, and links to join are:

Friday, May 1, 2026 – 2-3 p.m. via Zoom

Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 12-1 p.m. via Zoom

Friday, May 15, 2026 – 10-11 a.m. via Zoom

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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