In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature signed H.F. 100 into law, legalizing the use of cannabis in Minnesota for individuals age 21 and older. This followed legislation establishing the state’s medical cannabis program a decade earlier. As part of the 2023 law, the legislature designated funding to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health to establish a Cannabis Research Center (CRC).

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Mission:

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health Cannabis Research Center (CRC) strives to understand the public health implications of cannabis legalization and be a trusted source of information to guide policy and practice related to cannabis use in Minnesota.

To accomplish this, the CRC:

1. Conducts timely and Minnesota-specific research on both the positive and negative public health effects of cannabis legalization.
2. Studies issues pertaining to equity in cannabis production, sales, marketing, and use.
3. Provides interpretation and contextualization of research findings.
4. Collaborates with state and local agencies, policymakers, and community members to ensure information is responsive to needs and accessible to all Minnesotans.
5. Trains and supports future practitioners and scholars to engage in research related to cannabis policy and its effects on health and health equity.

Values:

The Cannabis Research Center is anchored by a commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Minnesotans. The core values of the CRC that define our work are:

• Collaboration
• Equity and Social Justice
• Integrity
• Responsiveness
• Commitment to Public Health