Partnerships & Collaborations Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research

A collaboration between McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, the MGD CMCR leverages world-class scientists and acclaimed expertise in health research and evidence-based medicine to advance the science of medical cannabis, assessing its potential benefits and risks. Since 2017, it has united nearly 50 McMaster faculty and initiated 26 research projects.

The Centre’s vision is to establish a research-based understanding of medical cannabis, encompassing its therapeutic effects and potential risks. Its mission revolves around three key strategies:

1. Curating existing literature to determine the state of evidence.

2. Conducting cutting-edge research for generating new evidence.

3. Establishing a network of cannabis researchers to support its vision.

Research Grants & Projects

The Centre’s commitment to advancing medical cannabis knowledge is reflected in its funded external grants totaling nearly $4 million, supporting topics like cannabis and psychosis, metabolism, pain management, anxiety, and more.

Communications, Events, and Continued Education

The Centre continues to prioritize outreach via its communication channels, enhancing knowledge sharing on medicinal cannabis through revamped social media and newsletters.

Routine events remain crucial in fulfilling the MGD CMCR’s mission. In May 2023, the ‘Cannabis and Women’s Health Half-Day’ attracted 130+ participants through a hybrid format. The 5th Annual Innovations in the Science of Cannabis Conference, scheduled from October 10th to October 12th, 2023, plans to focus on the five-year impact of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada.

The Centre continues outreach initiatives like the Science of Cannabis Certificate Program, a post-secondary partnership with the McMaster Centre for Continuing Education, covering cannabis science basics, applications, and risks.