Commonwealth_ A groundbreaking study led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) explores the ethical challenges and systemic barriers faced by researchers conducting cannabis studies funded by the for-profit cannabis industry. This qualitative study, titled “Canadian cannabis researcher perspectives on the conduct and sponsorship of scientific research by the for-profit cannabis industry,” was published in Social Science & Medicine. It shows how hard it is for cannabis researchers to do research that is paid for by the industry.
The study highlights that while Canadian cannabis researchers are committed to advancing public health and producing high-quality research, systemic obstacles often compel them to seek financial support from the cannabis industry. Researchers adopt personal strategies to ensure the integrity of their work, such as prioritizing transparency, aligning their values with those of the industry, and maintaining independence in their research processes. Despite these efforts, the study underscores that these individual strategies are insufficient to address the larger structural issues that need systemic solutions.
Dr. Daniel Buchman, a CAMH scientist, noted, “Cannabis researchers are deeply committed to conducting meaningful work that advances knowledge and improves lives. However, we found that cannabis researchers perceive that the structural barriers and the regulatory context place them in a difficult position where they are concerned about scientific integrity, agenda bias, and conflicts of interest.” This statement reflects the fundamental concerns that researchers have regarding the influence of industry funding on scientific outcomes.
The study involved 38 semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of academic researchers, peer researchers, and clinicians from across all Canadian provinces. Participants were selected through professional networks, email invitations, and snowball sampling to ensure diverse perspectives representing a range of ages, genders, geographies, and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Thematic analysis of the interviews provided an in-depth look at the ethical and practical challenges associated with cannabis research funded by the cannabis industry.
Key findings and recommendations from the study emphasize the importance of reducing researchers’ dependence on industry sponsorship. To prevent industry interests from influencing research agendas, the study advocates for increased public funding for cannabis research. Other recommendations include promoting transparency in industry relationships and creating institutional policies that protect researchers’ independence. These policies would help maintain research integrity by setting clear guidelines for managing conflicts of interest and fostering collaborations that align with public health goals.
The study also builds on previous research conducted by Dr. Buchman’s team, which examined the role of for-profit cannabis companies in sponsoring cannabis research since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada in 2018. Their 2023 study found that industry sponsorship of research could lead to biased outcomes that favor the sponsor’s interests. This earlier work highlighted the need for a better understanding of Canada’s regulatory environment, which often requires researcher-industry collaborations for certain cannabis studies.
Dr. Klara Vichnevetski, director of CAMH’s Technology Transfer and Industry Partnerships Office, emphasized the significance of ethical industry collaborations in cannabis research. She stated, “As the cannabis research landscape evolves, this study underscores the importance of fostering transparent and ethical industry collaborations. By addressing potential biases in industry-sponsored research, we can build responsible partnerships that uphold high-quality, impactful research while maintaining academic integrity and public trust.”
CAMH is a recognized leader in cannabis research, having conducted over 60 cannabis-related studies in areas such as cannabis’s impact on driving impairment and its association with psychosis. To maintain research integrity, CAMH ensures that all cannabis products used in studies meet federal standards through a regulated procurement process. CAMH researchers typically source cannabis products from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), a legally authorized organization that ensures goods comply with federal Good Production Practices (GPP). This structured approach minimizes conflicts of interest by acting as an intermediary between the cannabis industry and research teams.
