2024 Fundraiser

Your donation will support our research center in these ways:

1. Student Roles - Post Doc, Grad Researchers, Undergrad Researchers

Primary funding will be used for student employment. 

This year undergraduate and graduate students reached out to us with questions and ideas about how to study cannabis and share this information with the world. 

We want to nurture their academic growth and involve them in our work. Since 2017 we have employed Post Doctoral researchers such as Michael Polson who is now our Director of Research!

2. Professional Roles - Communications, Data Analytics, Policy, Law

Our primary source of funding are grants from the Department of Cannabis Control and the Resources Legacy Fund, your donation will support professional experts as staff or with honoraria.

3. Public Education Events 

Since 2020, we have held 3 public virtual Research Briefings, published 10 Research Summaries, held 1 Virtual Town Hall and produced 18 Webinars with diverse subject matter experts! Your donation can help us to provide more public events such a conference or live workshop series.

Our Story:

In 2016 a small group of environmental scientists started talking about the social and environmental dimensions of cannabis agriculture and production and presented their initial findings to Humboldt County Supervisors. Today, our team of a dozen researchers has produced nearly 40 publications and over 30 multimedia resources that are accessible to the public such as science briefs and live discussions with cannabis experts on YouTube and now, TikTok! 

As scientists, we are tasked with informing policy with research & communicating new information back to the public. 

Our researchers engage directly with cannabis farmers, local communities, and government agencies to bolster public dialogue, inform policies and programs on the local and state level. 

Our conversations with researchers, government staff, industry representatives, growers, and community groups over the past several years have been stimulating, meaningful and led to a deeper understanding of cannabis producing communities.

Professor Ted Grantham presenting to parents and students at 2023 Homecoming Weekend.

Our Mission: As California experiences rapid shifts in cannabis markets and policies, our research group delivers timely and relevant information to government agencies, industry, cannabis-producing communities, and the general public. 

With independence and objectivity, our research focuses on:

• Pursuing innovative research and applied scholarship through scientific studies and peer-reviewed publication.

• Intellectual exchange among researchers through regular meetings, retreats, symposiums and conferences.

• Public outreach to share our findings, learn from diverse voices, and encourage constructive dialogue via briefings, workshops, webinars, and panel discussions.

• Building awareness and support for our Center to spur collaborative research and inform equitable approaches to cannabis policy.

Community-based Researcher Laura Herrera presenting at the 2023 Research Briefing.

Lead Undergraduate Student Researcher Nicole Gonzalez, presenting at the SURG’s Spring 2023 Research Symposium.

Third year PhD Candidate Seth LaRosa managing a cannabis cultivation site in early 2000's.

Recent PhD graduate Phoebe Parker-Shames setting up outdoor cameras on the perimeter of a cannabis cultivation site to track wildlife activity in 2021. 

We collectively aim to answer fundamental questions about cannabis, shape a future supportive of prosperous, equitable communities and healthy environments and foster a new generation of scholars.