More Canadians are using medical marijuana for a wider array of health ailments, but the research hasn’t kept pace. It was a watershed moment for the study of medical marijuana. This past December, Canadian university researchers, federal and provincial officials, patient advocates and industry representatives met in Vancouver to set priorities for evidence-based inquiries into a drug long overshadowed by its reputation as an illegal way to get high. The two-day, invitation-only meeting – convened by the Arthritis Society and partly funded by licensed growers of cannabis for medical purposes – is the latest sign that investigations of medical cannabis are moving into the research mainstream.
So, is the stigma lifting on the potential therapeutic value of a drug that has stirred more than its share of skepticism? Possibly, say established researchers and health advocates, but they also caution that this will only happen if all stakeholders, including federal research granting agencies, commit to removing roadblocks and boosting funding for evidence-based inquiry.
The federal Liberal government’s election promise to legalize marijuana for personal use is viewed by researchers as a separate issue from research into cannabis for medical treatment. Nonetheless, researchers say the government’s commitment is raising public awareness about the need for evidence-based research, too.