Massachusetts's medical marijuana research prospect is hampered by regulatory roadblocks and its federal classification as a dangerous substance. Ethos, a multi-state cannabis operator, intends to fund medical studies in the state, but says there are no facilities available for research, as reported by NBC Boston.
Only a single research facility has been provisionally approved from eight applications, according to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. In stark contrast, states like Pennsylvania have facilitated medical cannabis research since 2017, MSN reports.
Ethos's CEO, Gibran Washington, who already sponsors studies at Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania, is keen to replicate this effort in Massachusetts. The state, he believes, is a global research hub.
Kimberly Roy, a Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner, points out the need for proactive measures. The federal equation of marijuana with heroin is a discouraging factor for federally funded academic organizations to risk their financial resources, she adds, as told by NBC Boston.
However, besides federal classification issues, local regulations regarding intellectual property and bureaucratic hurdles are also contributing to the lack of interest in pursuing studies in Massachusetts. A recent oncologists' survey underpins the urgency of more research in this sector, MSN reports.
Despite having robust resources and talent in life sciences and academia, Massachusetts lacks state-sanctioned research facilities dedicated to medical marijuana. This could mean missed opportunities for health care advancements and increased understanding of the potential benefits of the plant.
