Researchers are calling for more investment in medicinal cannabis research. They say that more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of medicinal cannabis. (Source: Marijuana Business Daily, November 25, 2023)

Indeed, researchers are calling for more investment in medicinal cannabis research¹. They believe that more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of medicinal cannabis¹. This call comes at a time when the interest in and use of medicinal cannabis is growing globally¹²³⁴.

The researchers’ call for more investment could potentially lead to increased funding for research into medicinal cannabis, thereby contributing to a better understanding of its therapeutic potential and risks¹²³⁴. However, it’s important to note that conducting research in this field involves navigating complex regulatory environments and ethical considerations¹²³⁴.

For more details, you can refer to the source: Marijuana Business Daily.

Learn more:

1. nihr.ac.uk2. labmanager.com3. news.sky.com4. leafly.com5. nihr.ac.uk

Medical Cannabis Research Regulations: Medical cannabis research is regulated by various laws and guidelines. In the UK, cannabis-based medicines were rescheduled under UK law in 2018, allowing doctors to prescribe these treatments for a wide range of conditions¹. However, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 still classifies Cannabis as a controlled drug, making it illegal for people to possess, supply, produce, or import/export controlled drugs².

In the United States, researchers need to work with the FDA and submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) to conduct clinical research that can lead to an approved new drug, including research using materials from plants such as cannabis³. Federal restrictions on clinical cannabis research result from its legal status as defined by the Controlled Substances Act and international treaties⁴.

Medical Cannabis Research Benefits: Research suggests that THC and other cannabinoids may have potential in the treatment of pain, nausea, epilepsy, obesity, wasting disease, addiction, autoimmune disorders, and other conditions⁵. Some studies show that marijuana may provide relief for patients with a slew of conditions, such as anxiety, chronic pain, and even cancer⁶.

Medical Cannabis Research Risks: The potential harms of cannabis-based medicines may outweigh benefits. Adverse effects were reported in most reviews comparing cannabis with placebo, and in many of the reviews comparing cannabis to active drugs. Minor adverse effects (e.g., drowsiness, dizziness) were common and reported in over half of the reviews. Serious harms were not as common, but were reported in some reviews that reported on adverse effects⁷.

Medical Cannabis Research Future Trends: Cannabis research is expected to continue evolving in the future. Some of the anticipated trends include modern cultivation and production techniques, an increasing focus on the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), minor cannabinoids taking center stage, new and improved delivery systems for cannabis-based medicines, and cannabis research expanding due to changes in the legal landscape⁸.

Learn more:

1. gov.uk2. commonslibrary.parliament.uk3. fda.gov4. academic.oup.com5. nida.nih.gov6. discovermagazine.com7. systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com8. labmanager.com9. openaccessgovernment.org10. dechert.com11. pharmout.net12. arnoldporter.com13. leafly.com14. ourcrowd.com15. globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com16. insights.mjbizdaily.com17. mjbizdaily.com18. mjbizdaily.com19. mjbizdaily.com20. imperial.ac.uk21. cannabisresearchuk.com22. nccih.nih.gov23. news.sky.com24. nccih.nih.gov25. drugscience.org.uk26. nida.nih.gov27. leafly.com28. healtheuropa.com29. weedmaps.com30. thecannabisscientist.com31. bmj.com32. nida.nih.gov33. nhs.uk34. nccih.nih.gov35. natlawreview.com36. doi.org37. ruor.uottawa.ca