Study finds marijuana flower offers more pain relief than other cannabis-based products

One of the last signs that the federal government recognizes the reality of the ongoing success of the marijuana legalization movement has been published by a reputable health organization, which has published a comprehensive list of cannabis-related research goals that it hoped to see. finance.

The announcement, released Wednesday, highlights the rapid evolution of marijuana policies in the US and around the world, "far beyond the knowledge needed to determine and minimize the effects of these changes on public health" .

"A growing number of states have relaxed restrictions on cannabis, including those on sale and consumption, by enacting marijuana laws for medical purposes or by making cannabis legal for adult recreational use, and in some cases, the states have done both, "said the National Institute on Drug. Abuse (NIDA) wrote.

He also referred to a 2018 report from a Cannabis Policy Working Group, which identified "the areas of cannabis policy research with the highest levels of cannabis". Emergency and likely to have an impact.

Obviously, there are quite a few areas that fit this description, since NIDA has listed 13 research objectives of "programmatic interest". And although the agency has previously requested studies on several areas mentioned in the opinion, there are others that report NIDA is evolving in its understanding of research needs as more and more states opt for legalization.

For example, NIDA does not simply focus on providing grants to explore the health risks of cannabis use, but also wants to know more about the "reasons for initiation and continued use of marijuana in Canada. therapeutic purposes, "as well as" cannabis industry practices, including research on marketing, taxes and prices, the use of impact and health outcomes. "

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Public Health Research on Cannabis https://t.co/c04DIcmdAI

– NIH Funding (@NIHFunding) August 14, 2019

The agency also wants to fund studies that examine the differences between marijuana regulatory systems in various jurisdictions to "understand which combinations or components minimize public health harm."

Among the other research objectives described by NIDA include the study of the impact of cannabis use during pregnancy and the development of roadside testing instruments to help prevent the spread of cannabis. Identify drivers with THC, as well as standards for measuring the dosage of marijuana.

Here is the complete list of research objectives:

– Develop standards for measuring the dose, intoxication and alteration of cannabis (including hemp and hemp products).

– improve existing epidemiological research to study trends in cannabis use and CUD; including new products, modes of use and the reasons for use in different populations.

-Characterize the composition / potency of cannabis, the methods of administration, cannabis extracts / concentrates and cannabis of various constituents (eg, cannabinoids or terpenes content), as well as the impact of these factors on physical and mental health.

-Determine the history of use of physical and mental health, as well as the results of use.

-Explores the impact of multiple substance use on health outcomes, including interactions (substitution / supplementation) with alcohol, tobacco, and prescription and over-the-counter opioids.

-Examine the reasons for the initiation and continued use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes.

– Study the effects of different patterns of cannabis use on brain development, level of education and transition to work and adult roles.

-Identify the effects of maternal cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

-Develop effective roadside testing for cannabis impairments that can be practically deployed by law enforcement.

-Determine the prevalence of traffic accidents related to cannabis and other types of injury or property damage.

– Investigate the practices of the cannabis industry, including research on marketing, taxes and prices, the impact on use and health outcomes (for example, l & rsquo; Impact of different price factors on consumption patterns at different levels of use).

-Determine the impact of federal, state and local policies on marijuana and their implementation on use and health outcomes.

-Explore the heterogeneity of regulatory systems (for example, models for the retail distribution of cannabis) to understand which combinations or components minimize the damage to public health.

A number of federal health organizations have published several notices regarding marijuana-related research opportunities in recent months. One of the issues that received particular attention came from NIDA in May, when he said that applications were open for what is essentially a professional-grade marijuana research and analysis position.

While NIDA said the research was not following the speedy reform movement, its director also acknowledged in April that the federal drug programming system, which regards cannabis as a strictly regulated Schedule I drug , had inhibited this research by making the task difficult for scientists. access to marijuana.

Legislators from across the United States hold marijuana conference and tour clinic

Photo of Aphiwat Chuangchoem.