Cannabis Clinical Trials Have Tripled Since 2013, Reaching 834 Registered Studies
A review of 834 cannabis clinical trials found registrations tripled from 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021, with chronic pain, mental health, and neurological conditions as the most studied areas.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 2,966 reviewed trials, 834 met criteria. Annual registrations grew from 30 (2013) to 103 (2021). Over 40% of 2021 registrations were Phase II/III trials. THC and CBD dominated, with oral administration most common. Two-thirds of trials covered five therapeutic areas: chronic pain, mental/behavioral disorders, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. Pharmaceutical companies sponsored 39% of trials.
Key Numbers
834 of 2,966 trials included; 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021; 40%+ were Phase II/III in 2021; mean enrollment: 128 (completed), 156 (ongoing), 542 (terminated); 39% pharma-sponsored
How They Did This
Review of four clinical trial registries (ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov, EUCTR, ANZCTR) for all interventional cannabinoid trials with therapeutic or drug development purposes registered between January 2000 and December 2021.
Why This Research Matters
This provides the most comprehensive overview of the cannabis clinical trial landscape, revealing where research is concentrated and where significant gaps remain.
The Bigger Picture
The rapid growth in cannabis clinical trials reflects both expanding legalization and increasing recognition that rigorous evidence is needed. The diversification into mental health, skin conditions, and new delivery methods signals a maturing field.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Registry data may not capture all trials. Registration does not guarantee completion or publication. Study quality cannot be assessed from registry data alone.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do terminated trials have much larger mean enrollment (542) than completed ones (128)?
- ?Which therapeutic areas have the strongest completed trial evidence versus the most activity?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 834 trials; 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive review of four major trial registries spanning 21 years provides a strong overview of the research landscape.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022
- Original Title:
- The Characteristics of Clinical Trials on Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of Trials for Therapeutic or Drug Development Purposes.
- Published In:
- Pharmaceutical medicine, 36(6), 387-400 (2022)
- Authors:
- Modaresi, Farhang, Talachian, Kaivan
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04070
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many clinical trials have been done on cannabis?
This review identified 834 therapeutic or drug development clinical trials on cannabinoids registered between 2000 and 2021, with registrations growing from 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021.
What conditions are most studied in cannabis trials?
Two-thirds of trials focused on five areas: chronic pain, mental/behavioral disorders, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. THC and CBD were the most studied cannabinoids.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04070APA
Modaresi, Farhang; Talachian, Kaivan. (2022). The Characteristics of Clinical Trials on Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of Trials for Therapeutic or Drug Development Purposes.. Pharmaceutical medicine, 36(6), 387-400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-022-00447-7
MLA
Modaresi, Farhang, et al. "The Characteristics of Clinical Trials on Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of Trials for Therapeutic or Drug Development Purposes.." Pharmaceutical medicine, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-022-00447-7
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Characteristics of Clinical Trials on Cannabis and Canna..." RTHC-04070. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/modaresi-2022-the-characteristics-of-clinical
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.