US (PA): Jefferson University opens medical marijuana center
“Jefferson is a leader in innovation, and the creation of the CMCER signals the institution’s dedication to embrace the ever-evolving nature of healthcare,” said Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. “Understanding and researching new cutting-edge methods for the treatment of disease is a fundamental goal, and Jefferson is proud to be among the first of its kind to offer resources and support for the revolutionary expansion for medical marijuana.”
The mission of the CMCER, which will be led by Charles V. Pollack Jr., MA, M.D., FACEP, FAAEM, FESC, FAHA, FCPP, is to advance the scientific basis, collaborative research efforts, and educational opportunities associated with the clinical use of cannabis-derived therapies, while also influencing social innovation and patient experience. Academic and scientific leadership will be provided by a multidisciplinary Steering Committee comprised of leading national and international experts in the field of medical cannabis.
“The ratio of hype and advocacy to scientific knowledge in the field of medical marijuana is far too high. Patients and their caregivers want new approaches to illness management and pain relief but their exposure to under-tested and un-validated treatments should be limited and carefully managed and monitored while a stronger evidence base is developed,” said Dr. Pollack. “In addition to serving a robust educational mission, the Steering Committee of the CMCER will for the first time promulgate a comprehensive research agenda for medical cannabis, identifying what we need to learn and how we should learn it. Jefferson is taking an extraordinary leadership position in this challenging and controversial area of healthcare.”
Education will have a significant emphasis in the Center’s agenda. In the form of online courses for physicians and pharmacists, CMCER will offer accredited professional education about the potential clinical uses of medical cannabis that is required of medical professionals before recommending cannabis to patients. Furthermore, science-informed content will target specific stakeholder groups such as law enforcement, nurses, case managers, dispensary personnel, and the public, and will address common misconceptions and support appropriate expectation management regarding the clinical use of cannabis.
The research focus of the Center will entail collaboration with other research institutions, both domestic and international, and a prioritized research agenda established by the Steering Committee that will serve as a guide to researchers and funders. Using a web-based platform, a longitudinal registry will be developed to capture both physician-entered and patient-entered data on the indication, use, efficacy, and adverse effects of medical cannabis. There will also be eventual opportunity for grant funding through the Center as approved by the Steering Committee.
Donald Abrams, M.D., Chief of Hematology-Oncology at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and a member of the CMCER Steering Committee, commented on the new center by saying, “Jefferson’s Center will fill the gap and provide much needed comprehensive institutional leadership in medical cannabis education and clinical research. I am pleased to be part of the effort.”
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed the Medical Marijuana Act into law on April 17th, making Pennsylvania the 24th state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana. This legislation establishes a program for use of medical marijuana by patients with a “serious medical condition,” defined as conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and glaucoma, among others.
For more information:
Jefferson.edu/IEHP/CannabisResearch