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Closing the Gaps: Cannabis Research Funded Projects
The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) funded 19 cannabis research projects on subjects ranging from cannabis legalization and mental health to a comparison of legal versus illicit cannabis sales.
With Health Canada’s support, each project received funding of up to $100,000 over two years. The Mental Health Commission of Canada contributed an additional $100,000 to support awarded projects with a mental health focus for a combined research investment of $1.8 million.
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Project Summaries
Title | Institution | Funding Recipient | Priority Area | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addressing Potential Negative Impacts from Cannabis Legalization Self-Directed Intervention for Cannabis Misuse | University of Calgary | David C. Hodgins | Impact of cannabis legalization | The aim of this study is to pilot the clinical use of a brief, self-directed intervention for individuals with problematic cannabis use who wish to recover with minimal professional support. A remotely offered intervention for this population of individuals could fill an important role within an integrated public health approach. |
| Bridging the Gap: Veterans and Recreational Cannabis Use | University of Alberta | Dr. Suzette Brémault-Phillips | Cannabis use in priority/marginalized populations | This study aims to address the significant knowledge gap about medical vs. recreational cannabis use by Canadian veterans, and to better understand the benefits and possible harms of this use to them and their families. |
| Cannabis and Polysubstance Use | University of British Columbia | Dr. Christian Schütz | Polysubstance use | This study will investigate the risks and potential benefits of THC and CBD use among individuals with severe polysubstance use. The study will consist of a systematic review, participant interviews and a pilot study testing CBD. |
| Cannabis Use Among Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island: Motives for Use, Substitution and Impacts of Legalization | University of British Columbia | Dr. Lindsay Farrell and Dr. Zach Walsh | Cannabis use in priority/marginalized populations | The study aims to broaden our understanding of the motives for cannabis use among First Nations individuals living in British Columbia and Alberta. It will emphasize assessing both risk for problematic use and potential benefits of therapeutic use for symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety and sleep disorder. |
| Changes in Substance Use and Mental Health in Two Hospital-Based Addiction Treatment Programs Over the Course of Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada | Homewood Research Institute | Dr. Jean Costello | Mental health | This project will explore associations among cannabis use, other substance use and common psychiatric symptoms. The study will use two clinical samples of patients entering treatment for substance use disorder or concurrent disorders. |
| Choice Modelling Study to Explore Canadian Consumer Preferences for Attributes of Cannabis Products and Purchase Experiences | Memorial University | Dr. Jennifer Donnan | Impact of cannabis legalization on illegal cannabis purchase and supply | The goal of this study is to get a deeper understanding of consumer preferences for the different varieties of cannabis products. It will also gather data from across Canada and compare consumer preferences in relation to different provincial policies and cultures. |
| Evaluating the Short-Term Impacts of Cannabis Legalization on Alcohol Consumption, Co-occurring Cannabis and Alcohol Consumption, and Alcohol Consequences Among Adolescents and Adults in Ontario | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | Dr. Sameer Imtiaz | Polysubstance use | This study will examine the impacts of cannabis legalization on alcohol consumption, co-occurring cannabis and alcohol consumption, and alcohol consequences based on population-based surveys and health administrative databases of adolescents and adults in Ontario. |
| A Gender- and Age-Based Analysis of Cannabis Use for Pain and Mental Health in a Large Canadian Naturalistic Sample | Memorial University | Dr. Benicio Frey | Mental health | The aim of this study is to conduct age- and gender-based analyses on the profile of cannabis use for pain and mental health conditions within a large, naturalistic sample of Canadians. |
| Health Warnings, Product Labelling Regulations and Consumer Understanding of the Health Risks of Cannabis | University of Waterloo | Dr. Samantha Goodman and Dr. David Hammond | Impact of cannabis packaging and labelling requirements | The project will use survey data from the International Cannabis Policy Study to examine changes in knowledge and perceptions of health risks before and after non-medical cannabis legalization, as well as the effectiveness of the health warnings implemented on Canadian cannabis products and their impact on knowledge of cannabis health risks. |
| The Impact of Accurate Knowledge about Vaping and Public Health Initiatives on Cannabis Use Habits of Emerging Adults | Dalhousie University | Dr. Igor Yakovenko | Vaping | This project will look at what knowledge emerging Canadian adults have about vaping cannabis and whether this information is considered trustworthy or accurate by this population. Researchers will also look at whether this information can be used to predict lower perceptions of harm from vaping, which in turn can lead to greater substance use problems. |
| Impacts of Canada’s Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Youth Cannabis Use and Medical Cannabis Consumption | Memorial University | Dr. Hai V. Nguyen | Youth cannabis consumption | This study will investigate the effects of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada on recreational cannabis use among youth and medical cannabis consumption. |
| Public Health Outcomes of Cannabis Supply Sources: Examining the Evidence among Quebec Cannabis Consumers | Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal | Dr. Didier Jutras-Aswad | Cannabis use in priority/marginalized populations | This project aims to determine whether the source of cannabis supply reported by Quebecers is associated with specific patterns of cannabis use and increased vulnerability to cannabis-related harms such as problematic cannabis use, mental health problems and cannabis-impaired driving. |
| Transitioning to the Legal Cannabis Market in Canada | University of Waterloo | Elle Wadsworth and Dr. David Hammond | Legal vs illegal cannabis market | The objective of this study is to examine sources of cannabis purchases in Canada, including legal and illegal retail sources, and the policy- and individual-level factors associated with purchasing patterns and transitioning to the legal market. |
| Understanding Cannabis-Related Physical and Mental Health Presentations to the Emergency Department Following Legalization of Non-Medical Cannabis Use | Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health | Dr. Philip G. Tibbo | Healthcare service impacts of cannabis use | The project aims to investigate patients coming into contact with the emergency department due to adverse events, both medical and mental health side effects, related to cannabis use. |
| Understanding the Relationship Between Recreational Cannabis Use and Mental Health in a Marginalized Population | University of British Columbia | Dr. Alasdair M. Barr | Mental health | This project will explore the relationship between cannabis use and mental health in a marginalized population on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Researchers will conduct a series of mental health assessments and obtain highly detailed information about why individuals use cannabis, what type of cannabis they use and patterns of use. |
| Understanding Cannabis Use and Perceptions in Patients with Mood and Anxiety Disorders | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | Dr. Stefan Kloiber | Mental health | This study aims to assess patterns, effects, perceptions and motivations of cannabis use in adults with mood and anxiety disorders. The study will be performed through an anonymous online survey and patient focus groups and interviews. |
| Understanding Responsible and Harmful Cannabis Use | Carleton University | Dr. Michael Wohl | Problematic cannabis use and cannabis use disorder | This project will address the existing gaps in knowledge about responsible cannabis use strategies and social psychological predictors of engagement in responsible vs. harmful cannabis use. It also aims to develop a reliable and valid tool to measure responsible cannabis use beliefs and behaviours. |
| Wading through the Weeds: A Public Health Response to Supporting Pregnant and Breast/Chest Feeding People Who Consume Cannabis | McMaster University | Dr. Saara Greene | Cannabis use in priority/marginalized populations | This study aims to contribute to the development of culturally responsive public health practices and policies that reflect the needs and experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), and parents who have child welfare involvement, who consume cannabis during pregnancy and are breast/chest feeding. |
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Closing More Gaps
This initiative was an extension of the Closing the Gaps funding stream to further explore knowledge gaps around the impact of legalization of non-medical cannabis on public health and safety.
Project Summaries
La Publicité et la Communication Promotionnelle par Internet de l’industrie Canadienne du Cannabis
The Physical Availability of Cannabis Stores and Cannabis Use and Harms: A Systematic Review
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Partnerships in Cannabis Policy Evaluation (PCPE) Grants
To meet the need for research to inform policy and regulatory models for non-medical cannabis use, CCSA and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA) created the Partnerships for Cannabis Policy Evaluation (PCPE) funding opportunity.
The program, funded by CCSA, was developed under CIHR’s Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy. It supported projects that evaluated and monitored the implementation and impact of cannabis-related policies at the provincial and territorial levels, to identify best practices from public health and safety perspectives.
See the links below …
To learn about the research projects undertaken by the five funded teams
To access What We Heard: Knowledge Exchange Interim Report
To access What We Heard: End-of-Grant Knowledge Exchange Report
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