SEATTLE — A new group at the University of Washington law school will spend the next academic year studying existing and emerging markets for marijuana.

The project will help inform the state as it prepares to combine the medical and recreational marijuana markets.

The Cannabis Law and Policy Project is funded by an $185,000 grant through the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.

The project will research and estimate the size of both medical and illicit markets for marijuana. The group plans to send a preliminary report to the board by November, and a full report early in 2016, with additions though the rest of the year.