The Cannabis Regulators Association outlined a research agenda addressing gaps in medicinal cannabis evidence, product safety, consumer behavior, equity, youth prevention, and illicit market reduction that regulators say are essential for informed policy.
Cannabis policy makers, regulatory officials, research funders, public health agencies.
Cannabis regulators say policy has outpaced science in all six priority areas
What the researchers found
Cannabis regulators identified six priority research areas: (1) medicinal use evidence, (2) product safety, (3) consumer behaviors, (4) equity and disparity reduction policies, (5) youth consumption prevention and public health, and (6) illicit market reduction strategies. Federal drug scheduling restrictions are identified as the primary barrier to conducting this research.
Why it matters
Cannabis policy has outpaced science in the US. This is the first time cannabis regulators themselves, the people closest to implementation, have formally articulated what research they need to make better policy decisions.
The numbers in context
6 priority research areas identified. CANNRA convenes regulators across US states and territories. Federal scheduling identified as primary research barrier.
How the study worked
Commentary from the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a nonpartisan nonprofit of government cannabis regulators, based on formal and informal discussions across US states and territories.
What this study cannot tell us
Commentary rather than empirical research. Represents regulators' perspective, which may differ from researchers' or consumers' priorities. Does not quantify research gaps or propose specific study designs. CANNRA membership may not represent all regulatory perspectives.
How to read the evidence
Expert commentary from practicing cannabis regulators. Represents practical knowledge rather than empirical data.
When this study was published
Published in 2023.
The bigger picture
The regulators' perspective is uniquely practical. Unlike academic researchers who may pursue theoretical questions, regulators need answers to specific operational questions: Is this product safe? Does this policy reduce youth use? Is this equity program working? This alignment of research with regulatory needs could accelerate evidence-based policy.
Questions still open
- Will federal rescheduling of cannabis actually accelerate the research regulators need?
- Can states fund the research their regulators need without waiting for federal action?
Common questions
What research do cannabis regulators need most?
Why is cannabis research so limited?
Read the original research
A Research Agenda to Inform Cannabis Regulation: How Science Can Shape Policy.
Clinical therapeutics, 45(6), 506-514
Citation
Schauer, Gillian L; Johnson, Julie K; Rak, David J; Dodson, Lori; Steinfeld, Nathanial; Sheehy, Thomas J; Nakata, Michele; Collins, Shawn P. (2023). A Research Agenda to Inform Cannabis Regulation: How Science Can Shape Policy.. Clinical therapeutics, 45(6), 506-514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.03.010