Researchers at Rutgers Institute for Health have been awarded $686,376 in federal funds to study the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis and any potential side effects or harms from using the plant.
Rutgers Health Awarded Federal Grant to Study Benefits of Medical Cannabis
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Researchers at Rutgers Health have been awarded a $686,376 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) grant to study the potential therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis as well as side effects and possible harms to health.
In a statement, Tammy Chung, the project’s lead researcher and psychiatry professor within the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, noted that “There’s been a rapid expansion of medical cannabis use, but we lack clarity related to potential risks.”
“For example, should our criteria for assessing cannabis use disorder be the same for therapeutic and recreational users? And what type of guidelines should we apply for individuals using cannabis both recreationally and for therapeutic reasons? There are gaps in our knowledge, and the answers are important to informing health care decisions.” — Chung in a press release
Chung added “It’s important to note that not all patients using medical cannabis develop [cannabis use disorder].”
“But some do, and right now we can’t be sure who’s at risk,” she said in the statement. “To provide the best support, we need to learn more about all relevant factors. The more we understand, the more effective our counseling resources can be.”
Participants in the Rutgers Health study must meet New Jersey’s qualifications for legal cannabis use and have a valid New Jersey medical cannabis program card authorizing therapeutic use.
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