Cannabis Education & Research Program (CERP)

Who we are

The ADAI Cannabis Education & Research Program (CERP) is comprised of investigators and program staff who have come together to collaborate on research and dissemination activities in response to emerging needs of the community in the context of legalized cannabis.

Our team:

• Director: Beatriz Carlini, PhD, MPH, Acting Associate Professor, UW Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
• Sharon Garrett, MPH, MA, Research Scientist, UW ADAI
• Robin Harwick, PhD, MS, Research Scientist, UW ADAI
• Lexi Nims, BA, Research Coordinator, UW ADAI
• Erinn McGraw, BFA, Public Information Specialist, UW ADAI
• Meg Brunner, MLIS, Information Specialist, UW ADAI

What we do

ADAI has been the recipient of the Washington State Dedicated Marijuana Fund for research at the University of Washington since July 2015. The Cannabis Education & Research Program:

• carries out and publishes results of intramural research
• conducts scientific literature reviews on trending topics
• develops research-based fact sheets, policy briefs, and trainings
• fosters collaborative research opportunities with researchers at the University of Washington, Washington State University, state agencies, and other groups

ADAI Research Symposium 2022

Please join us on September 16, 2022 for our next cannabis symposium: High-THC Cannabis in Legal Regulated Markets. This year’s event will focus on the short and long-term risks of high-THC products, including conversations about policy-focused solutions and ways to increase awareness through education campaigns for providers, parents, and youth.

Find out more about this event here.

Interim Biennial Marijuana Research Report 2019-2021

NEW! Our 2019-2021 Interim Marijuana Research Report describes research studies, outreach and collaborations, and information products completed during the 2019-2021 biennium with support from the Washington State Dedicated Marijuana Fund. This includes funding 4 intramural research projects, 6 new publications, a consensus statement and report on high-potency cannabis, updates to the Learn About Cannabis website and the Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain online training, and numerous collaborative and consulting efforts with local, state, and international organizations. See also: 2017-2019 Report | 2015-2017 Report.

High-THC Concentration Cannabis

This page contains recent reports and summaries that describe what we know so far about the health-related risks of high-THC cannabis products, including a November 2020 consensus statement and report developed by a workgroup of research scientists from the University of Washington (UW) and Washington State University (WSU) with the intent of providing policy makers with a summary of the current evidence on topics of public health importance related to cannabis concentration. [visit page]

Learn About Cannabis

The Learn About Cannabis website presents science-based information about cannabis for a general audience. Includes factsheets, special pages for parents and teens, information for adult consumers, cannabis laws in Washington, and online e-learning products, like the Learn About Cannabis video series for a general audience, and the Medicinal Cannabis & Chronic Pain training for providers. [visit site]

Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain: Science-Based Education in Times of Legalization

Developed for health professionals and updated in 2020, the Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain online training presents current information and clinical practice guidelines on the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain.

The first module is a basic primer on the mechanism of action of medicinal cannabis, its medical uses, and Washington State law. The second module focuses on the best clinical practices associated with the recommendation of medicinal cannabis. This training will also provide tools that may be useful to health care providers in their discussion with patients about the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain. CME available!

ADAI Cannabis Small Grants Program

Funds from the Washington State Dedicated Marijuana Fund have been used to support research across a broad range of study related to cannabis use, from basic pharmacology to clinical and psychosocial research. These grants are available to UW researchers only.

Find the list of funded projects here.