U of Utah Drops Dope Medical Cannabis Center, Chasing DEA’s Co-Sign

Yo, peep this! Researchers at the oldest college in Utah, straight up stepping up their game and opening a medical cannabis research center. They out here tryna overcome them regulatory hurdles, know what I’m sayin’? The University of Utah dropped the news on November 21, announcing the launch of this dope new center. They teaming up with the state of Utah to push forward scientific understanding of medical cannabis. They tryna help patients and providers make better-informed health decisions, you feel me?

Now, check it. After the Utah Medical Cannabis Program got launched, the state legislature realized there was a real need for more research on medical cannabis. There were way too many unproven claims floatin’ around, so they had to catch up and get some solid evidence. To fund this center and make it happen, the legislature passed House Bill 230, and it got signed by Gov. Spencer Cox back in March.

Word on the street is that the University of Utah confirmed their plans for a Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR). It’s still early days, but they gettin’ their blueprint ready to build this thing. On July 1, the CMCR officially became a thing and started creating research opportunities for medical cannabis in Utah.

So, what’s the deal? Can this center really provide solid evidence to back up medical claims? Valerie Ahanonu, senior manager of CMCR, told High Times that they tryna create opportunities for researchers to get support and start answering these questions. They tryna bring some solid research to light about the benefits and risks of medical cannabis. From epilepsy to oncological supportive care, they tryna find out how cannabis can help patients and what risks might be involved.

But wait, there’s more! The CMCR got some big plans to achieve their goals. First off, they wanna support medical cannabis research within the University of Utah and throughout the state. They tryna educate patients, providers, and pharmacists about the risks and benefits of cannabis. And here’s the real kicker: they tryna get an approved grow site for research-grade medical cannabis. They wanna make sure they got the good stuff to study, ya feel me?

Local leaders are all hyped about this. Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, MBA, who represents District 22, said the University of Utah is one of the top research institutions in the nation. She couldn’t think of a better place for this research center to be at. She’s got a point! Dailey-Provost also pointed out that providers be sayin’ they don’t have enough info to recommend medical cannabis to patients comfortably. They need reliable research to back up what they’re doin’ in Utah.

Jerry Cochran, M.S.W., Ph.D., interim director of the CMCR, explained that they goin’ all out with their research. They startin’ with pilot grants to help scientists get their projects on medical cannabis off the ground. Then they movin’ on to everything from chemical characterization of cannabis components to late-stage clinical trials. They coverin’ all the bases, no doubt.

But yo, it ain’t just about research. The CMCR teamin’ up with the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah to create educational materials about medical cannabis. They tryna make sure patients and providers got all the info they need to make informed decisions. And they workin’ with the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library to put together a comprehensive database of the latest and greatest info in this field.

Now, here’s where things get tricky. Medical cannabis research is held back by its federal status in the U.S. It’s hard to get good research-grade cannabis when it ain’t fully legal at the federal level. But guess what? President Joe Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act into law. This bill gonna open up more opportunities for medical cannabis research, and it’s a game-changer, my friend.

In Utah, they already got a medical cannabis program up and runnin’, but doctors be hesitant to recommend it. There’s too many unproven claims out there, and they wanna make sure they got solid evidence to back up what they’re doin’. The CMCR gonna lead the way in this area so they can keep helpin’ people.

So, there you have it. The University of Utah makin’ moves with their medical cannabis research center. They tryna get that DEA approval for a grow site and break through them regulatory hurdles. It’s gonna be exciting to see what they discover and how it can help patients in Utah and beyond. Stay tuned, my friends!