Health Canada’s Cannabis Research Process Has Only Approved Nearly 1 in 10 Applications So Far

Reportedly, cannabis research in Canada is not a simple process. Rather, there are many academics in the country who are holding off research due to a complex approval process. The “red tape,” so to say, is preventing researchers from moving forward on research concerning the impacts of CBD. According to Health Canada,

“there have been challenges in processing times for new research license applications.”

One PhD candidate, Bertrand Sager of Simon Fraser University, stated to CTV News,

“Some people don’t even try because it’s so difficult.”

Sager added,

“The requirement seems to be geared towards R and D on cannabis products, which is not what we’re doing. We’re doing driving research and we want to use cannabis in the same way we might use alcohol.”

Health Canada shared its position with CTV News, explaining that it is committed to promoting and enabling research. It added that although each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the research license holder must also fulfill all of the Cannabis Regulations requirements. Health Canada added,

“Research licenses are intended to provide a mechanism to authorize otherwise prohibited activities with cannabis for the purpose of research.”