CIHR and health partners invest more than $21 million in cannabis research

The Government of Canada legalized and regulated the non-medical use of cannabis in October 2018. As part of an ongoing commitment to generate evidence on the health and safety effects of cannabis, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and six health partners are investing more than $21 million to fund cannabis research to advance our understanding of the potential benefits and harms of cannabis use.

CIHR and its partners (Arthritis Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Mental Health Commission of Canada, MS Society of Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada) have invested $19.3 million to support researchers who will explore the potential therapeutic benefits and harms associated with cannabis use in areas such as cancer, pain, neurodevelopment and Indigenous Peoples’ health. These focus areas were identified through stakeholder consultations.

An additional $2.45 million from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is going towards evaluating the public health and public safety impacts of different provincial or territorial policies related to cannabis.

These investments are part of CIHR’s Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy (ICRS), which provides a well-coordinated series of activities that position Canada as a leader in supporting the advancement and translation of scientific knowledge on cannabis.