E178 - Why Cannabis Research Is Still Broken in Canada - Dr. Lauren Kelly

E178 - Why Cannabis Research Is Still Broken in Canada - Dr. Lauren Kelly

June 16, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

Dr. Lauren Kelly discusses the unique barriers faced by cannabis research in Canada.

Why is cannabis research so much harder than researching other medicines? Dr. Lauren Kelly—Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, Cannabis researcher and Trialist, CCIC President, and CMCN Co-Lead—joins Reefer MEDness to explain why cannabis clinical trials face unique barriers in Canada. Learn how Health Canada regulations, GMP vs GPP standards, product consistency challenges, and gaps in the Cannabis Act affect research, patient care, and evidence generation. Discover why researchers often can't study the same cannabis products patients actually use, how clinical trials begin from real-world observations, and what Canada can do to become a global leader in cannabis science. Listen now to understand the hidden challenges behind cannabis research and the future of evidence-based medical cannabis. Dr. Lauren Kelly - LinkedIn - University of Manitoba Canadian Medical Cannabis Trials Network - CMCN - Website Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids - Website Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

People in this episode

Hosts: Trevor Shewfelt, Kirk Nyquist

Guest: Dr. Lauren Kelly

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Manitoba, Canadian Medical Cannabis Trials Network, Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids

Places: Canada

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