As cannabis legalization starts sweeping over not just states but, countries as well, cannabis research is at an all-time high. Opposers typically cite the lack of research backing up medicinal claims of the plant while others worry about the violence it could cause. Due to the recent decisions of a national medical group, that medical research may be coming to an end in some capacity.
Thursday, the American Academy of Pain Medicine canceled plans to train doctors on cannabis after the federal funding was pulled. The research that was supposed to be specific to pain relief, was set to be an hour long online course scheduled for this past week. The course planned to cover how to select patients for medical cannabis, appropriate products, and doses and how to “wean opioids in patients on chronic opioid therapy. The funding that was cut was sourced from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a group that oversees the fight against opioid addiction; but, according to Associated Press, no reason has been given as to why.
“We cannot speak to the reason that SAMHSA has asked that we not proceed with this webinar, but the webinar will no longer take place.”
-SAMHSA Spokeswoman Megan Drumm in an email Thursday
SAMHSA Agency Executive, Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, has been adamant in the past about what she sees as dangers associated with cannabis use and has opposed the idea that it can aid chronic pain as well as opioid addictions. The stance is despite sufficient information proving that cannabis indeed does aid in chronic pain and has helped in numerous cases of opioid addiction.
Only nine states out of the 29 that have legalized cannabis in some form require a doctor to be trained before they are allowed to recommend cannabis for medicinal use. The course would have been the first offered by a national medical group, however.
Source: AP News
Written by: Joycelin Arnold
