The University of Kentucky Cannabis Center has awarded its first grants to four faculty members for a series of cannabis studies.
The university announced the pilot grants for the centre on Wednesday which will focus on funding cannabis research around pregnancy, cancer, consumption and legalization impacts.
The research will be held over a period of 14 months and the institution will be providing US$75,000-US$100,000 for each of the four studies. The establishment of the Cannabis Center last September was permitted through Kentucky’s House Bill 604.
The first two grant recipients are Kristin Ashford, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Program and Policy and Director of the school’s Perinatal Research and Wellness Center and Jay Christian, an associate professor in the school’s Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health.
The other two researchers are Jayani Jayawardhana, an associate professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy and Caroline Weber, an associate professor in the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.
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A broad range of studies from a diverse faculty
Ashford will be conducting a study examining the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy.
“We want to know what pregnant women think, feel and do when it comes to using cannabis, in order to give our legislators, health care providers and expectant mothers a better understanding of how to improve the health of women and children in Kentucky,” said Ashford.
Christian will study cannabis use among cancer patients and survivors to gain a better understanding of symptoms patients are treating with the plant, their favoured methods of consumption and where they prefer to buy cannabis.
“This study is a first step in helping us to assess the effects of Kentucky’s new medical cannabis law on cancer patients and survivors,” said Christian.
Jayawardhana will be assessing whether cannabis legalization has caused a decline in the rate of opioid and benzodiazepine drug prescriptions commonly prescribed to treat pain and anxiety.
“Cannabis use among older adults is increasing at a faster pace due to the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis by various states and there is suggested evidence of substitutional effects of cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain and anxiety,” said Jayawardhana.
Lastly, Weber will be examining whether the rate of cannabis consumption has changed in the U.S. after several states legalized adult-use and medical cannabis.
Read more: Young men at highest risk of schizophrenia linked to cannabis use: study
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“We are excited for this opportunity to expand and accelerate cannabis science at the University of Kentucky and conduct studies focused on the public health impacts of cannabis that can directly affect the lives of Kentuckians,” said Shanna Babalonis, Director of the UK Cannabis Center.
The facility located in the UK College of Medicine’s Center for Alcohol and Drug Research is receiving US$2 million in funding between the time it was established last fall and June 2024.
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