The letter jointly submitted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) responds to an NIH Request for Information concerning barriers to researching the health effects of cannabis and its constituents. The organizations emphasize their support for increased federal efforts to assess the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid and cannabis-related compounds. They detail the extensive memberships and expertise of both organizations, highlighting their commitment to advancing medical research and addressing the impact of federal regulation on research activities.
The response identifies significant impediments to cannabis research rooted in the substance's classification as a Schedule I controlled substance, which imposes strict legal and administrative requirements. These include burdensome registration processes, complex compliance obligations, limited access to diverse and representative cannabis strains, and fragmented regulatory oversight across federal agencies. The AAMC and COGR recommend establishing federally supported research infrastructure, such as Centers of Excellence, and propose that NIH facilitate interagency coordination to develop a unified framework for cannabis research. Additional suggestions entail expanding funding to cover compliance costs, broadening access to commercially available cannabis strains for study, and creating accessible guidance and resources for navigating regulatory requirements. The letter concludes by stressing the need for streamlined, harmonized federal oversight to produce robust, high-quality evidence on cannabis, recognizing that such efforts are essential to both public health and addressing broader social and equity concerns. The organizations offer continued engagement and expertise to support NIH’s efforts in overcoming current research barriers.
