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University of California cannabis research centers:

UC San Diego, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research

UC Irvine Center for the Study of Cannabis

UC Riverside Center for Cannabinoid Research

UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids

UC Berkeley Cannabis Research Center

UC Davis Cannabis and Hemp Research Center

Research centers outside of California:

Institute of Cannabis Research, Colorado State University Pueblo

Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach, Washington State University

Cannabis Education & Research Program, University of Washington

Global Hemp Innovation Center, Oregon State University

Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research, University of Florida

The Johns Hopkins University Cannabis Science Lab

Medical Cannabis Research Center, Drexel University

Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center, Pennsylvania State University

Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Australia

Research Centre for Cannabis, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, United Kingdom

Other resources:

Systematically Testing the Evidence of Marijuana (STEM)

Association of Cannabis Research Centers

Investigator resources:

DEA Proposed Rulemaking on Rescheduling Marijuana (May 21, 2024)

NIH Categorical Spending by Research Area

DEA Registration to Manufacture Marijuana for Supply to Researchers

DEA-Approved Bulk Manufacturer Cannabis Growers

FDA Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research Guidance for Industry

California Department of Cannabis Control

Research Advisory Panel of California

UC Office of the President Guidance for Researchers

Meetings of Interest:

*Note that CMCR is not involved in planning the content of these meetings

International Cannabis Research Society (ICRS) Symposium

Cannabis Research Conference, Institute of Cannabis Research, CSU Pueblo & Oregon State University

Society of Cannabis Clinicians, Medical Cannabis Conference

Research Society on Marijuana Annual Meeting 

In December 2022, the bipartisan Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act sponsored by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) was signed into US law. This legislation removes barriers for researchers studying medical marijuana and its health impacts, ensures an adequate supply of research-grade marijuana, and promotes the development of FDA-approved drugs derived from CBD and marijuana.  Read the full text of the law here.

Exploring the Entourage: The Therapeutic Potential of Minor Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids

The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) hosted a virtual, two-day symposium on October 12-13, 2023 highlighting the state of science in medicinal cannabis research. Whereas the majority of current research focuses on delta-9-THC and cannabidiol, the 2023 CMCR Symposium highlighted the emerging clinical and translational research on the "other" constituents of cannabis (minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) and the entourage effect. The symposium kicked off with keynote addresses from the 2023 CMCR award recipients followed by a series of scientific talks covering clinical and translational aspects of medicinal cannabis research alongside panel discussions of changes to the federal landscape related to cannabis research, use of minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the community, and accessing novel constituents of cannabis for clinical research.

Virtual Event
October 12-13, 2023
8:00AM-12:00PM PDT

 

Registration

Registration is now closed.

 

Agenda at a Glance

Day 1: Thursday, October 12, 2023
Welcome from the CMCR Director, Igor Grant, MD
2023 CMCR Symposium Awards (8:00 - 10:00 AM)
CMCR Special Lecture (10:00 - 10:30 AM)
Panel 1: Update on Federal activities affecting cannabis research (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Poster Session (12:00 - 1:00 PM); View the pre-recorded videos in the Poster Session here.

Day 2: Friday, October 13, 2023
State of the Science Lecture Series - The Entourage: Minor cannabinoids, Terpenes and Flavonoids (8:00 - 10:05 AM)
Panel 2: Use of minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the community (10:05 - 10:55 AM)
Panel 3: Lectures from Linda Hill, MD, MPH and Tom Marcotte, PhD (11:00 - 11:45 AM)
Closing Remarks from the CMCR Director, Igor Grant, MD (11:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

View the detailed agenda and video recordings here.

 

Speakers

Igor Grant, MD, FRCP(C) Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, UC San Diego
David J. Grelotti, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Medical Director, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, UC San Diego
Tom Marcotte, PhD Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, UC San Diego
JH Atkinson, MD,
Professor of Psychiatry (Emeritus), Co-Director, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, UC San Diego
Marilyn Huestis, AB, MS, PhD
Professor & Senior Fellow, Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University & Science and Policy Advisor, Pinney Associates & President, Huestis and Smith Toxicology LLC
Margaret Haney, PhD Professor of Neurobiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Research Center
Doris Trauner, MD Professor of  Neurosciences, UC San Diego
Marcel Bonn-Miller, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, Charlotte's Web
Steve Gust, PhD,
Advisor to the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research
David Shurtleff, PhD
Deputy Director, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), NIH
Cassie Taylor, PhD
Botanical Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration
Richard (Rik) Kline, PhD Chief, Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Branch, NIDA
Ziva Cooper, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, UCLA
Patrick Still, PhD
Program Director, Basic and Mechanistic Research Branch, NCCIH, NIH
Ryan Vandrey, PhD
Professor, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Sara Jane Ward, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neural Sciences, Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University
Jonathan C. Arnold, PhD P
rofessor of Cannabinoid Pharmacology, Deputy Academic Director, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney
John Streicher, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology, University of Arizona
Sherry Yafai, MD
Providence St. John's Medical Center
Bonni Goldstein, MD
Medical Director, CannaCenters
Michelle Sexton, ND UC San Diego
Dale Gieringer, PhD California NORML
Linda Hill, MD, MPH
Distinguished Professor and Assistant Dean, School of Public Health, UC San Diego

View more details about the 2023 Speakers here.

 

Supporters

The CMCR wishes to acknowledge the following for the support of our work:

State of California

National Institutes of Health

Noorda/Wholistic Research and Education Foundation

University of California / UC San Diego

Jazz Pharmaceuticals

And our individual supporters



Posters

The poster session took place on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 12:00PM-1:00PM Pacific Time

Each person selected to present a poster was assigned a breakout room linked to the symposium conference portal. In the breakout room, presenters engaged in a discussion with other conference-goers “live” about their research. Presenters prepared brief Powerpoint-style presentations to facilitate discussion.

View the pre-recorded videos in the Poster Session here.

 

Contact

Please direct questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

CMCR mourns the passing on March 9, 2023 of Professor Raphael Mechoulam, commonly regarded as the father of cannabis research. He is recognized for his ground breaking studies on the structure and function of THC, as well as characterizing cannabidiol and other cannabinoids. In 1992, his laboratory discovered anandamide, the body’s first characterized signaling molecule within the endocannabinoid system. Though a towering figure, Professor Mechoulam was always generous with his advice and support and was crucial in guiding the efforts of CMCR in our early years. He continued his connection with CMCR over the decades and in 2019 we were pleased to honor him with CMCR’s Pioneer in Medicinal Cannabis Research Award. He is pictured here receiving that award. More information on Professor Mechoulam’s career can be found in this link from the International Cannabinoid Research Society which he helped to found.

On March 13, 2023, Dr. Igor Grant presented to the California State Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development. The topic of the oversight hearing was "The State of Cannabis Regulation in California: Progress, Challenges, and Next Steps" with panels of representatives from various agencies reporting on the status of cannabis tax funds from California Proposition 64. The full hearing can be found at this LINK and Dr. Grant's presentation begins at 4:36:30.