There are currently 33 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized medical marijuana. The research supporting its medical use, however, lags behind current policy efforts. This talk will begin by providing an overview of cannabis, including its constituents, the landscape of available consumer cannabis products, and the nuanced regulatory climate within which cannabis currently resides. The research literature pertaining to the therapeutic potential of cannabis, underlying mechanisms of action, as well as common risks associated with cannabis use will then be reviewed. The talk will conclude with a discussion of recent and emerging areas of cannabis research. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Broad understanding of the conditions for which there is solid evidence of cannabinoid therapeutic effects
2. Understanding of the conditions for which medicinal cannabis research is lacking
3. Understanding of the consequences associated with cannabis use