Lancet review reinforces the need for stronger medicinal cannabis research
Summary
Cannabis Council Australia (CCA) welcomes a new article published in Lancet Psychiatry this week, noting it adds to the ongoing discussion about the clinical evidence base for medicinal cannabis.
While meta-analyses provide useful examinations of existing studies, their conclusions are shaped by the quality and scope of the underlying research available. Medicinal cannabis remains an emerging area of clinical research, and the evidence base across a number of conditions is still developing.
What is needed now is new, well-designed research that reflects how medicinal cannabis is actually prescribed in clinical practice. Medicinal cannabis is not a single, uniform treatment. Prescribing decisions depend on the condition, the product and dose, the patient's history, and the judgement of a qualified doctor and research must reflect that complexity.
During the recent TGA review, many patients described the therapeutic benefits they have experienced. Patient experience cannot replace scientific evidence, but it has a crucial place in informing and improving research that can better inform prescribing.
CCA CEO Lisa Penlington said the review was a timely reminder:"Thousands of Australians are accessing medicinal cannabis as part of their normal healthcare. This review reminds us of the work that remains to be done and why CCA continues to push for a national real-world evidence registry."
That registry would capture outcomes by indication, product type and cannabinoid profile, enabling researchers, clinicians and regulators to better understand how these therapies perform across diverse patient populations.
CCA is committed to rigorous research, responsible prescribing and evidence-based policy that prioritises patient safety.
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