Santé Cannabis, a Canadian medical cannabis clinic and research organization, has initiated a study to evaluate patient outcomes from personalized medical cannabis treatment plans. The study, recruiting 3,000 patients, will run for three years and assess benefits, safety risks, medication substitution, and cost analysis over a 12-month period. This initiative seeks to address gaps in clinical knowledge regarding the therapeutic application of medical cannabis, an area of increasing interest given the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization.
Addressing Unanswered Questions in Medical Cannabis
Dr. Michael Dworkind, Medical Director and Co-founder of Santé Cannabis and Associate Professor at McGill University, emphasized the importance of the study. "This is such an important initiative to prioritize patients’ needs in the age of cannabis legalization," he stated, highlighting the need for evidence-based research to guide the use of medical cannabis.
Study Design and Scope
The study will encompass outcomes from various cannabis products, including capsules, tablets, and sublingual formulations, as well as cannabinoid formulations like cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG). This comprehensive approach aims to provide a detailed understanding of the therapeutic potential and safety profile of different medical cannabis products.
Industry Support and Future Implications
The project receives support from industry partners Aurora Cannabis, Tilray Medical, and Vectura Fertin Pharma. Dr. Dworkind expressed Canada's potential to lead in medical cannabis research, particularly in investigating the substitution of harmful medications like opioids, benzodiazepines, and NSAIDs. "Canada should be a global leader in medical cannabis research and lead the charge to investigate potential substitution of harmful medications such as opioids, benzodiazepines and NSAIDs," said Dr. Dworkind.
Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization
The study also comes at a time when the medical cannabis market in Canada is evolving, with data indicating a decline in medical client registrations since the legalization of recreational cannabis. According to Health Canada data, the number of medical client registrations with federally licensed sellers has decreased from 345,520 in the month of legalization to 180,878 in March of this year. Despite this shift, surveys suggest an increasing proportion of Canadians are purchasing cannabis legally, signaling a potential shift in consumer behavior.
