More good news for Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Last week, the Colorado General Assembly Joint Budget Committee voted to award the university $1.8 million for its Institute of Cannabis Research.

That's double the amount the Legislature granted the university last year for its innovative research center. The money will be included in the Long Bill, the spending state budget bill that the Legislature votes on each year.

"(The JBC) sees the value of research," said Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace. "There is great opportunity and the local community has helped the program."

The county has given the institute $270,000 and will give another $50,000 when the sales tax money rules for recreational marijuana are finally ironed out by the Legislature or the courts.

The institute is conducting marijuana community impact studies and medical marijuana research. Many questions remain about the impact on society of legalizing marijuana, as are there questions about the medical and other applications of marijuana itself.

"Even though we realize it is still early in the (legislative) session, CSU-Pueblo thanks the Legislature for this investment in the university and for their confidence in the mission of the Institute of Cannabis Research," said Lesley Di Mare, the president of the school.

We're excited that the university's innovative program is receiving even more funding than in the past. Its work is important as we all strive to better understand the relatively and ever-expanding new industry of legal marijuana in our community.