Cannabis: The Most Studied "Illicit" Drug You've Probably Been Warned About
- Jesse Christianson
- Aug 7, 2025
- 2 min read
It might surprise you to learn that despite its federal Schedule I status—meaning it’s officially considered to have “no accepted medical use”—cannabis is actually one of the most researched substances in the world.
As a nurse practitioner focused on cannabinoid therapeutics, I think it’s important to separate stigma from science. So, let’s take a look at what the research really says.
📊 A Research Giant Hiding in Plain Sight
According to data reviewed by Ng and Chang (2022), there were over 30,000 peer-reviewed studies on cannabis and cannabinoids indexed in PubMed by 2021. That number has only grown since.
Cannabis stands out as one of the most extensively studied substances within the Schedule I category, with tens of thousands of peer-reviewed studies published—more than many FDA-approved pharmaceuticals. Despite this robust body of research, it remains federally classified alongside drugs like heroin, under a category that, by definition, assumes high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
💸 Where Has the Research Funding Gone?
From 2000 to 2018, the bulk of federal cannabis research funding went toward exploring drug abuse and adverse mental health effects, rather than potential therapeutic benefits (Purcell et al., 2022).
This imbalance has contributed to a public narrative that sees cannabis as primarily harmful, while ignoring or underfunding studies on its clinical potential for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, neurodegenerative diseases, and palliative care.
We don’t have a research problem—we have a funding and framing problem.
🌱 Old Weed, Skewed Data
Another problem: most federally approved cannabis research still uses plant material from a single government-authorized facility at the University of Mississippi (NIDA Contract until 2021; basically a monopoly). This cannabis is often lower in potency, poor in quality, and unrepresentative of what patients and consumers are actually using in real-world medical or adult-use markets (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017).
This is like trying to study the effects of fine wine using outdated grape juice. As of 2021, the DEA began approving additional growers for cannabis research in an effort to diversify and improve access to study-grade cannabis.
🧠 So, Why Does This Matter?
Because education matters. Science matters. And how we frame cannabis influences how we regulate it, prescribe it, and use it responsibly.
At Dr. Murse/CannabisDNP, I’m committed to providing research-informed, patient-centered cannabinoid products. Whether you’re navigating pain management, sleep, mental wellness, or end-of-life care, the goal is always to offer evidence-based options that are safe, transparent, and crafted with intention.
🧾 References
Ng, M. & Chang, A. (2022). Cannabis and cannabinoid research output indexed in PubMed.
Purcell, C. et al. (2022). Trends in federal cannabis research funding from 2000–2018.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2021/05/14/dea-announces-it-will-expand-cannabis-research
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