Last week, Pennsylvania -- a state with existing medicinal cannabis laws -- went even further by instituting a first-of-its-kind program establishing academic clinical research centers. A week later, the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has announced they are attempting to join the ranks of researchers across the world examining the benefits of medicinal cannabis…
The State of Pennsylvania last week put forth regulations dictating how academic clinical research centers can now put forth proposals in order to perform studies on medicinal cannabis. Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine stated how, “Research is essential to ensure patients with serious medical conditions can get the most benefit from medical marijuana... Pennsylvania is the first and only state in the nation to institute a program like this and the research may shed new light on the benefits of medical marijuana.”
Not a week later, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has said they wish to become one of the first academic research centers in the nation to pursue this area. In a statement, the School of Medicine noted, "It is important to note that Pennsylvania is the first and only state in the country to institute such a program, and we believe that the research will be of great importance in determining the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis products in treating specific diseases."
While the application process is ongoing, the way this institution jumped at the chance to be on the fore-front of medicinal cannabis research is a strong sign about the sentiments in academia. Hopefully, in the future, other states will pass similar laws to allow for their academics to pursue data on the ways cannabis can help patients across America.
Coverage of the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Announcement
Text of Pennsylvania State Regulations on Research
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