In a recent blog post, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced its plans to establish a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research to address the challenges and barriers scientists face when conducting research on marijuana under federal prohibition. According to the NIH, scientists have encountered complex federal regulations and inadequate supplies of cannabis, hindering their ability to conduct rigorous research on the potential therapeutic uses of marijuana.
The NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) will be holding a webinar on January 25 to provide technical assistance to potential applicants interested in operating the center. The NCCIH acknowledges the growing interest in the therapeutic uses of cannabis among healthcare providers and the public, emphasizing the need for rigorous research to understand its mechanisms of action and investigate its possible value in managing health conditions.
Scientists working in this field have faced several barriers that have impeded their research progress. These barriers include difficulty meeting complex federal and state regulatory requirements, challenges obtaining suitable cannabis products for research, a lack of validated measures of cannabis use and exposure, and inadequate scientific infrastructure to support research studies.
To address these issues, the NIH plans to establish the Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research as a focal point for investigators studying cannabis or cannabinoids or those interested in entering this research space. The center will be operated through a cooperative agreement with universities, non-profit organizations, local and federal government agencies, and more.
The center aims to provide regulatory guidance, research standards, and research support. In terms of regulatory guidance, it will establish a policy clearinghouse to consolidate DEA/FDA guidance on cannabis research. It will also organize regular meetings with DEA/FDA to stay updated on regulatory information relevant to researchers. Additionally, the center will disseminate information on high-quality cannabis research products and develop research standards and metrics to enhance the rigor of chemical analysis.
In terms of research support, the center plans to organize annual meetings for investigators, use social media to transmit scientific information, and convene webinar series on topics related to regulatory guidance, research standards, and research support. It will also organize hands-on events such as workshops and provide grant writing assistance and workshops. The center will administer seed funding for registration support and proposal development.
While the center cannot independently change the Schedule I status of marijuana, it plans to assist with DEA Schedule I research registration costs and other relevant federal regulatory requirements. It will also address equipment and material needs for storage and monitoring purposes.
Several agencies under the NIH, including the NCCIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI), will play supportive roles in the center’s work. The NCCIH will provide $1 million in total costs in fiscal year 2025 to fund the center, while NIDA, NIA, and NCI will contribute additional co-funding.
In conclusion, the establishment of the Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research by the NIH aims to address the challenges and barriers scientists face when conducting research on marijuana under federal prohibition. By providing regulatory guidance, research standards, and research support, the center hopes to facilitate rigorous research on the therapeutic potential of cannabis and its constituents.
