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Funding Cannabis Medical Research Should Be Priority #1 with the Elimination of 280E by Gibran Washington

The advancement and rescheduling of cannabis and the growing ubiquity of the plant in communities across the U.S. have been positive developments towards overturning draconian drug laws. But what must not be lost in the rescheduling and legalization conversations are the decades of advocacy that got us to this point, most notably the work of the medical community.

For decades, researchers and advocates have tirelessly lobbied and ultimately proven the medicinal value of cannabis to treat and manage a multitude of conditions and symptoms like cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and PTSD. As the conversation around rescheduling moves forward, well-funded operators, MSOs and other cannabis companies must not let the medical roots of this industry fall to the wayside.

For those companies that are looking to capitalize on the opening up of adult use marketplaces and the eventual elimination of the 280E tax, I call on them to also recognize the opportunity they have to promote the use of cannabis as a health aid. By using the capital savings relief they will receive from the elimination of 280E, those additional financial resources can support innovative research and development and foster advancements in medical cannabis that can improve the quality and safety of the product.

Through Ethos’ partnership with Thomas Jefferson University, we’ve helped fund and support extensive research efforts resulting in the publishing of several white papers and four comprehensive studies on the science and medicinal value of cannabis. These efforts have provided invaluable insights into patient outcomes within the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program, critically assessing cannabis as a therapeutic option for anxiety, sleep insomnia, chronic pain, and other conditions.

As we brace ourselves for the next stage of the cannabis industry’s growth, we must acknowledge the gap that still exists in our understanding of cannabis as a therapeutic agent. Through our collective leadership and support, we can take the baton from the advocates and researchers of the past who have laid the groundwork for where our industry is today and deliver overwhelming positive good advancing public health and benefitting countless patients.

Photo by Lucas Vasques on Unsplash

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