The federal government – which has not yet legalized cannabis on a federal level – is behind this breakthrough in funding. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is providing several funding opportunities in the form of researcher-led studies, with the goal of learning more about the benefits and risks of cannabis use in cancer patients.
One of the catalysts behind the funding announcement is that while cancer patients report using weed to manage nausea and pain, there’s little to no research regarding the long-term effects of weed usage on cancer patients. Whether it’s good or bad.
Some examples of upcoming studies include: How cannabis affects tumors; How cannabis affects the development of treatment resistance; Potential disparities in gender and/or ethnicity as to how cannabis affects cancer biology and treatment.
This is exciting news, particularly for the medical community. Scientists have been very vocal as of late as to how heavy cannabis regulations have hindered medical research. Some researchers have even gone as far as to say that this research is urgent, and that the laws need to change now in order for any progress to be made.
So expect to see these types of funding opportunities grow in number and in variety. Within the last few months, there’s even been funding for research into different types of cannabis regulatory models, since all of the states in which some form of cannabis is legal all have their own sets of rules and regulations.
Also expect to see more private foundations, and especially venture backed startups begin to fund this type of research. Where there is money, you can be certain to see the tech industry make their presence known.
Sources: NIH, Marijuana Moment, National Institute on Drug Abuse
