How researchers grow medical-grade cannabis for clinical trials, from breeding to extraction
Two leading institutions, GW Pharmaceuticals and the University of Mississippi, have developed large-scale cannabis cultivation methods that produce consistent, research-grade CBD and other cannabinoid chemotypes for clinical research.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The review described the production practices of two institutions with extensive cannabis cultivation experience. GW Pharmaceuticals has developed a collection of cannabis chemotypes dominant in any one of eight different cannabinoids, with CBD and cannabidivarin (CBDV) chemotypes supporting epilepsy clinical trials.
The University of Mississippi, which holds the only federal license for cannabis research in the US, has established a germplasm bank of high-THC, high-CBD, and intermediate varieties. They developed an in vitro propagation protocol that produced cannabis clones with no detectable variations in morphology, physiology, biochemistry, or genetics compared to mother plants.
Both institutions covered breeding strategies, indoor and outdoor growing methods, harvesting protocols, and extraction techniques necessary for producing cannabis material that meets clinical trial standards.
Key Numbers
GW Pharmaceuticals: 8 cannabinoid-dominant chemotypes, 2 (CBD, CBDV) supporting epilepsy trials. University of Mississippi: germplasm bank of high-THC, high-CBD, and intermediate varieties. In vitro clones showed no detectable genetic or biochemical variation from mother plants.
How They Did This
Descriptive review of cultivation and production practices at GW Pharmaceuticals and the University of Mississippi. The review covered breeding, growing (indoor and outdoor), harvesting, and extraction methods used to produce research-grade cannabis.
Why This Research Matters
Clinical research on cannabinoids requires standardized, consistent plant material. As CBD-based medicines advance through clinical trials (particularly for epilepsy), the ability to produce reliable chemotypes at scale becomes critical. This review documents the state of the art in medical-grade cannabis production.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between recreational cannabis and medical-grade cannabis is vast. Clinical trials require exact cannabinoid profiles, absence of contaminants, and batch-to-batch consistency. As more cannabinoid-based medicines move toward approval, these production standards will define whether the field can deliver reliable treatments at scale.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Descriptive review of two specific institutions; not generalizable to all cannabis production. Details on yield optimization and production efficiency were limited. The review did not address cost, scalability challenges, or quality control standards for international markets.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can these production methods be standardized across the growing number of research institutions?
- ?How do indoor versus outdoor growing methods affect cannabinoid profiles?
- ?Will genetic engineering eventually replace traditional breeding for medical cannabis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 8 cannabinoid-dominant chemotypes developed by GW Pharmaceuticals for clinical research
- Evidence Grade:
- Descriptive review of production practices at two leading institutions. Provides practical information but is not a clinical study.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2017. Cannabis cultivation science has advanced significantly since, with more institutions and countries engaged in research-grade production.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis cultivation: Methodological issues for obtaining medical-grade product.
- Published In:
- Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 70(Pt B), 302-312 (2017)
- Authors:
- Chandra, Suman(6), Lata, Hemant, ElSohly, Mahmoud A(10), Walker, Larry A, Potter, David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01352
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't researchers just use regular cannabis?
Clinical trials require exact cannabinoid profiles, consistent potency, and freedom from contaminants. Street or dispensary cannabis varies wildly in composition. Medical-grade cannabis is grown from genetically characterized clones with standardized growing and extraction processes to ensure every batch is identical.
What is a cannabis chemotype?
A chemotype is a genetically distinct variety of cannabis that produces a specific dominant cannabinoid. While most recreational cannabis is high-THC, researchers have bred chemotypes dominant in CBD, CBDV, and six other cannabinoids to support research on specific therapeutic applications.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01352APA
Chandra, Suman; Lata, Hemant; ElSohly, Mahmoud A; Walker, Larry A; Potter, David. (2017). Cannabis cultivation: Methodological issues for obtaining medical-grade product.. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 70(Pt B), 302-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.11.029
MLA
Chandra, Suman, et al. "Cannabis cultivation: Methodological issues for obtaining medical-grade product.." Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.11.029
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis cultivation: Methodological issues for obtaining me..." RTHC-01352. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chandra-2017-cannabis-cultivation-methodological-issues
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.