Schauer Gillian L, Johnson Julie K, Rak David J, Dodson Lori, Steinfeld Nathanial, Sheehy Thomas J, Nakata Michele, Collins Shawn P
Cannabis Regulators Association, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Addictions, Drug, & Alcohol Institute, University of Washington.
Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.
Clin Ther. 2023 Jun;45(6):506-514. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.03.010.
In the United States, changes to cannabis policy have outpaced scientific knowledge about cannabis, its effects, and the impacts of different policy approaches. Research barriers stem from key federal policies, including strict drug scheduling of cannabis, which comprehensively hinder the ability to conduct cannabis research, affecting state markets, evidence-based regulation, and scientific gains that could more effectively shape policy moving forward. The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that convenes and supports government agencies to facilitate information exchange and learning from existing cannabis regulations across US states and territories and other governmental jurisdictions. This commentary outlines a research agenda that, if implemented, would address critical gaps in the science that cannabis regulators have identified in terms of knowledge regarding: (1) medicinal use of cannabis; (2) cannabis product safety; (3) cannabis consumer behaviors; (4) policies to promote equity and reduce disparities, both in the industry and more broadly in communities affected by the past criminalization of cannabis; (5) policies to prevent youth consumption and promote public health and safety; and (6) policies to reduce the illicit market and associated harms. The research agenda outlined here is the result of both formal discussions through CANNRA-wide meetings and informal discussions cannabis regulators have had as part of CANNRA committees. This research agenda is not all encompassing but rather highlights areas of research that have vital importance for cannabis regulation and policy implementation. Although many organizations weigh in on research needs related to cannabis, cannabis regulators (ie, the individuals implementing policies legalizing cannabis in states and territories) have generally not had a voice at the table advocating for specific research to be conducted. Their perspective representing the government agencies closest to the ground in terms of experiencing the impacts of current cannabis policy is essential to furthering quality, practical research that can advance informed and effective policy.
在美国,大麻政策的变化速度超过了有关大麻及其影响以及不同政策方法影响的科学知识。研究障碍源于关键的联邦政策,包括对大麻严格的药品分类,这全面阻碍了进行大麻研究的能力,影响了州市场、基于证据的监管以及可能更有效地塑造未来政策的科学进展。大麻监管者协会(CANNRA)是一个无党派非营利组织,召集并支持政府机构,以促进信息交流,并从美国各州、领地及其他政府管辖区现有的大麻法规中汲取经验。本评论概述了一项研究议程,若得以实施,将解决大麻监管者已确定的科学方面的关键差距,这些差距涉及以下方面的知识:(1)大麻的药用;(2)大麻产品安全;(3)大麻消费者行为;(4)促进公平和减少差异的政策,包括在大麻行业内以及更广泛地在受过去大麻定罪影响的社区中;(5)防止青少年消费以及促进公众健康和安全的政策;(6)减少非法市场及相关危害的政策。此处概述的研究议程是通过CANNRA全体会议进行的正式讨论以及大麻监管者作为CANNRA委员会成员进行的非正式讨论的结果。该研究议程并非涵盖所有方面,而是突出了对大麻监管和政策实施至关重要的研究领域。尽管许多组织都对与大麻相关的研究需求发表意见,但大麻监管者(即各州和领地实施大麻合法化政策的人员)通常在倡导进行特定研究的讨论中没有发言权。他们代表着最贴近实际、体验当前大麻政策影响的政府机构,其观点对于推动高质量、实用性强的研究至关重要,而此类研究能够促进制定明智且有效的政策。