A new study investigated the ethical challenges and systematic barriers facing scientists who conduct cannabis research funded by the for-profit cannabis industry. The study was published in Social Science and Medicine.
Cannabis is regulated as a drug under Canadian law, meaning that researchers seeking to conduct clinical cannabis research with human participants must use cannabis products that are produced according to pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). This means that they must either purchase prohibitively expensive or difficult-to-source research-grade cannabis, or rely on some form of industry sponsorship which can compromise the independence of their research.
“Cannabis researchers are deeply committed to conducting meaningful work that advances knowledge and improves lives. However, we found that cannabis researchers perceive that the structural barriers and the regulatory context place them in a difficult position where they are concerned about scientific integrity, agenda bias, and conflicts of interest,” said Dr. Daniel Buchman, a scientist in Education Research at the Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH) in Canada, in a press release.
For the present study, the researchers conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with academic researchers, peer researchers and clinicians from all Canadian provinces with relevent perspectives on Canadian cannabis companies' activities in research.
Thematic analysis of the interviews generated recomendations including increased public finding for cannabis research to reduce reliance on industry sponsorship, more transparency about industry relationships and ensuring that research agendas are not disproportionately influenced by industry interests. The interview analysis also recommended the implementation of institutional policies to promote research integrity and independence, such as guidelines for managing conflicts of interest and nurturing collaborations that are aligned with public health goals.
“As the cannabis research landscape evolves, this study underscores the importance of fostering transparent and ethical industry collaborations. By addressing potential biases in industry-sponsored research, we can build responsible partnerships that uphold high-quality, impactful research while maintaining academic integrity and public trust,” Dr. Klara Vichnevetski, Director of the CAMH Technology Transfer and Industry Partnerships Office, not involved in the study, said in a press release.
Sources: EurekAlert, Social Science and Medicine