Barriers to Studying Cannabis: A Q&A With Thorsten Rudroff

Article by Kate-Madonna Hindes, The Fresh Toast via Growth Op

Already garnering plenty of attention, the study sought participants to discuss if using cannabis could increase the risk of falls or cognitive impairments in aging adults.

Rudroff, whose background includes a Ph.D. in neurophysiology and a degree in physical therapy, recently spoke with The Fresh Toast about common misconceptions and barriers to research currently in place when studying medical marijuana or CBD.

Other researchers often discuss the red tape that surrounds marijuana and CBD studies. Have you experienced this with your current study?

We have to distinguish between intervention and observation studies. Intervention studies, the investigators tell the subject how to use medical marijuana, are difficult. You need a special licence to conduct these studies. To get this licence can take more than two years.

Observational studies, like this one, are easier to perform. We invite users to the lab and test them. However, it took some time to get approval from the University of Iowa IRB (Institutional Review Board). For example, we had to make sure that we follow strict Iowa marijuana laws. Furthermore, my lab is the first at the university who is doing this kind of research. I hope that the next marijuana study will get approval much quicker.

When people are researching CBD/marijuana, what are three things they should know, or better understand prior?

Importantly, they should know the effects of THC and CBD. Careful with THC products; the higher the THC the more likely are side effects. Especially older people with heart problems should pay attention to the THC content. I also recommend working with the physician (neurologist) when someone decides to use medical marijuana. Lastly, people should use products from good sources and with correct labelling.

Read the full article here.