CANN-DIR is a free web platform that screens for potential drug-drug interactions between cannabinoids (THC, CBD, THC/CBD) and other medications, available in 10 languages.
Pharmacists, physicians, patients using CBD or medical cannabis, and healthcare system administrators.
10 languagesavailable for CANN-DIR, a free cannabinoid drug interaction screening tool based on FDA data
What the researchers found
CANN-DIR provides an expeditious review of cannabinoid drug interactions based on FDA-approved prescribing information, allowing patients and providers to screen interactions and print results for clinical discussion.
Why it matters
Non-prescription CBD and medical cannabis lack FDA-approved prescribing information, leaving patients and providers without a dedicated interaction-checking resource until CANN-DIR.
The numbers in context
Based on FDA-approved information for dronabinol, nabilone, nabiximols, and prescription CBD. Uses FDA drug interaction tables. Available in 10 languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, and French.
How the study worked
Web-based platform development using FDA-approved prescribing information and FDA drug interaction tables for metabolic enzyme substrates, inhibitors, and inducers.
Who was studied
Not applicable (tool development for patients and healthcare providers).
What this study cannot tell us
Based on prescription cannabinoid data that may not perfectly reflect non-prescription products. Cannot account for all individual factors. Does not replace clinical judgment.
How to read the evidence
Tool description article; the platform itself is based on FDA-approved data sources.
When this study was published
Recent tool development addressing a growing clinical need.
The bigger picture
As millions of people use non-prescription CBD alongside medications, CANN-DIR fills a critical gap in drug interaction checking that existing pharmaceutical databases do not address.
Replication
Tool description; clinical validation of recommendations would strengthen utility.
Funding
Not specified in abstract
Conflicts of interest
Not specified in abstract
Questions still open
- How frequently is the database updated with new interaction data?
- Could CANN-DIR be integrated into electronic health record systems?
Read the original research
CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Review (CANN-DIR™).
Medical cannabis and cannabinoids, 6(1), 1-7
Citation
Kocis, Paul T; Wadrose, Samuel; Wakefield, Ryan Lee; Ahmed, Aqib; Calle, Renata; Gajjar, Rohan; Vrana, Kent E. (2023). CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Review (CANN-DIR™).. Medical cannabis and cannabinoids, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1159/000528528