PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shurtleff, David
AU  - Arensdorf, Angela
AU  - Still, Patrick C.
AU  - Gust, Steven W.
AU  - Chideya, Sekai
AU  - Hopp, David Craig
AU  - Belfer, Inna
TI  - The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Priorities for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
AID  - 10.1124/jpet.124.002173
DP  - 2024 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 159--161
VI  - 391
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/391/2/159.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/391/2/159.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2024 Nov 01; 391
AB  - The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), which is part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), has a broad interest in studying the biologic activities of natural products, especially those for which compelling evidence from preclinical research suggests biologic activities that may be beneficial to health or have a potential role in disease treatment, as well as products used extensively by the American public. As of 2023, use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Such use continues to climb generally without sufficient knowledge regarding risks and benefits. In keeping with NCCIH’s natural product research priorities and recognizing this gap in knowledge, NCCIH formally launched a research program in 2019 to expand research on the possible benefits for pain management of certain substances found in cannabis: minor cannabinoids and terpenes. This Viewpoint provides additional details and the rationale for this research priority at NCCIH. In addition, NCCIH’s efforts and initiatives to facilitate and coordinate an NIH research agenda focused on cannabis and cannabinoid research are described.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Use of cannabis for purported medical purposes continues to increase despite insufficient knowledge regarding risks and benefits. Research is needed to help health professionals and patients make knowledgeable decisions about using cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, along with other NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, is expanding study on the safety, efficacy, and harms of cannabis—a complex mixture of phytochemicals that needs to be studied alone and in combination.