In the first study of its kind, research led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) sheds light on the ethical complexities and systemic barriers facing scientists conducting cannabis research funded by the for-profit cannabis industry.
Recently published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the qualitative study titled Canadian cannabis researcher perspectives on the conduct and sponsorship of scientific research by the for-profit cannabis industry reveals that while researchers are driven by a commitment to public health and high-quality research, systemic barriers often force them to rely on industry partnerships. Researchers adopt personal strategies-;such as prioritizing transparency, aligning values, and maintaining independence-;to navigate these relationships. However, the…