Cannabis research has advanced considerably since the days of prohibition; however, many barriers still remain.
One major hurdle is access to high-grade research cannabis; at present, NIDA's Drug Supply Program is the only reliable source.
In the next section, we will outline several areas which could advance cannabis research.
1. Cultivation
As legal cannabis https://westcoastbud.io/ research expands, so does interest in cultivation. A number of research initiatives are currently under way regarding precision irrigation methods, biologically-derived pesticide products and energy efficiency; as well as closed-loop extraction systems to minimize environmental impact of industry operations.
Cultivation researchers also emphasize the need for standards, including Good Agricultural Practices and quality assurance testing. For instance, University of Mississippi has long been used as the sole source for U.S. cannabis research; however, that product does not always correspond with what patients can find at dispensaries.
Consumers in countries where cannabis is legal for recreational use will seek out innovative and exciting ways to consume it, driving demand for new consumption devices and accessories that may be integrated into delivery systems and packaging options. Expect machine learning, automation and blockchain innovations to emerge within this sector as well as childproof packaging becoming more widespread.
2. Delivery
Cannabis research is vital to progress in science, agriculture, medicine and society; yet researchers often face challenges accessing cannabis for study purposes. New York State cannabis law now seeks to remove this barrier for researchers by offering them access to Cannabis Research Licenses that enable them to conduct investigations on the chemical composition, cultivation methods, consumer use and therapeutic properties of the plant.
To develop a comprehensive cannabis research agenda, standard methods for data collection must be established. A key aspect of this is identifying how people use cannabis and what its consequences are on their health; Kritikos' dissertation utilized seed-to-sale data analysis to identify patterns in consumer buying behavior, then used this to quantify average doses of THC per consumer. Such research can provide invaluable insights for clinicians and public health professionals when making treatment strategies, patient care practices or insurance coverage policies that incorporate THC; it will also give federal agencies more accurate data needed for surveillance reporting purposes.
3. Consumption
Since the lifting of cannabis research prohibition, researchers have amassed considerable evidence on its potential harms and benefits. Unfortunately, marijuana's Schedule I classification impedes research efforts, such as accessing funding or materials needed for study. Without directly addressing or finding creative workarounds for these barriers, creating an inclusive national cannabis research agenda may prove challenging.
While federal restrictions restrict the number of investigators working with cannabis research, state and local health departments have the power to expand resources available for cannabis-related studies. They could do this by adding cannabis use questions into existing public health surveys like Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, or adapting standard reporting tools specifically tailored towards this field of inquiry.
As more consumers feel secure partaking of their newly legal rights, they will search for innovative and enjoyable ways to consume cannabis, spurring inventors to develop new gadgets and devices. This trend will encourage consumer innovation and fuel inventors to come up with even more creative and imaginative ways of using cannabis.
4. Health
As with any new drug, public health professionals require an in-depth understanding of cannabis's effects on the body in order to make informed decisions. With increasing cannabis-related studies emerging worldwide, so too will demand for reliable data regarding its wide ranging impacts increase significantly.
RTI's expertise in cannabis science, agronomy and its relationships with cannabis farmers, distributors and retailers make us uniquely qualified to meet this need.
One way is to create a robust nationwide surveillance system to track trends in cannabis-related products and usage. This requires creating guidelines for data collection, setting standards for research design and reporting, as well as standardizing terminology. Once implemented, this would allow scientists to measure how cannabis use impacts high-priority health outcomes -- such as understanding its relationship to self-reported cannabis use by pregnant women leading to unfavorable maternal outcomes like premature births -- more precisely.