March/April 2026 Newsletter | | |
National Cannabis Research Conference 2026 | Upcoming Webinars for March/April | 2nd Annual Cannabis Science Advancement & Networking Gala | Cannabis & Health Research Initiative | Journal of Cannabis Research | | | | | |
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10th Annual
National Cannabis Research Conference
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Official Conference Reception on the USS Midway
The National Cannabis Research Conference (NCRC) promises to be an extraordinary gathering, highlighted by the official conference reception aboard the iconic USS Midway. This unique venue not only offers a breathtaking backdrop but also serves as a symbol of innovation and exploration, mirroring the pioneering spirit of cannabis research. Attendees will have the chance to engage in enlightening conversations while enjoying the stunning views, creating a memorable experience that fosters collaboration and connection among professionals in the field. Join us for this remarkable opportunity to share insights, build relationships, and advance the future of cannabis research together!
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Meet the Mechoulam Lecturer:
Melanie Kelly, Ph.D.
The National Dr. Melanie Kelly's primary research expertise is in translational pharmacology and drug discovery. Her research specifically addresses the pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis and cannabinoids can modify disease.
She has published more than 100 publications in the area of pharmacology, cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system and holds several patents in the area of cannabinoid drugs for therapeutic management of disease.
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Upcoming March/April Webinars | | | |
Yan Wang, Ph.D.
Real-time and long-term effects of medical marijuana on older adults with chronic pain: Early findings from a prospective cohort study
Thursday, March 12th at 1:00 PM MST
Dr. Yan Wang is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Florida (UF). Her research focuses on leveraging advanced technologies and methods (such as wearable sensors and ecological momentary assessment/EMA) to improve the understanding of the etiology and outcomes of substance use, including medical marijuana.
Dr. Wang serves as the Assistant Director of the Clinical Core within the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research, a statewide consortium established in 2019 by the Florida Statute to support research on medical marijuana and its clinical outcomes.
She is the PI/MPI of two prospective cohort studies funded by NIH (R01AG071729 and U01CA286810) that utilize technology‑based assessments to investigate the health effects of medical cannabis on older adults with chronic pain and on breast cancer patients.
In addition, Dr. Wang contributes as Co‑Investigator on several NIH and FDA‑funded projects, including a U24 biomedical data repository grant (U24 AA029959).
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Francesca Filbey, Ph.D.
Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder Through Neuroimaging and Behavior
Thursday, April 9th at 1:00 PM MST
Dr. Francesca Filbey is a Professor and Director of the NeuroImaging of Reward Dynamics Laboratory at the Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Department of Psychiatry. She also holds the Endowed Bert Moore Chair in BrainHealth. She is the author of The Neuroscience of Addiction. Dr. Filbey is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and a Board Member for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
The overarching goal of Dr. Filbey's research is to advance the understanding of biobehavioral mechanisms related to addiction with the goal of enhancing early detection and intervention. She incorporates translational approaches from the field of cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, genetics, neuropharmacology, psychology, and psychiatry. Current projects involve the determination of these effects using neuroimaging tools, neuromodulation, genetics and computational modeling following exposure to substances.
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Travis Higginbotham
Turning Science into Cash Flow: Crop production performance and ROI analysis driven by crop science
Wednesday, March 25th at 11:00 AM MST
Travis Higginbotham is the Founder and CEO of Due Diligence Horticulture (DDH). He is a horticultural and operations executive with deep experience leading controlled-environment agriculture, cannabis, and ornamental production businesses through innovation, growth, transition, and turnaround. He specializes in aligning crop science, operational discipline, and capital execution to build resilient, scalable cultivation production systems. His work spans full P&L leadership, multi-site operations, infrastructure, modernization, and the management of capital projects, investor-aligned outcomes and expectations. His background combines hands-on horticultural expertise with executive management, bridging crop science, systems design, people leadership, and financial discipline. Travis has led greenhouse and indoor operations, overseen large-scale capital projects, implemented repeatable and predictable production models, and built teams that support long-term performance.
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Michael Petersen
Trait Modifications in Cannabis Through Engineering and Editing
Wednesday, April 15th at 11:00 AM MST
Michael Petersen has over 40 years of experience as a researcher and mentor in the plant biotech space. He worked for 10 years at Agracetus, a small startup in Wisconsin and then 20 years as a Senior Fellow with Monsanto. Mike stayed on as Director of the Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center when the Montsanto facility closed and was donated to the University of WI-Madison in 2017. He has created many collaborative and fee for service genetic engineering/editing contracts between the UW-Madison and public/private entities across the globe, and now focuses part time on hemp research.
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2nd Annual Cannabis Science Advancement & Networking Gala | | | |
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Save the Date and join the Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) at Colorado State University Pueblo for its 2nd Annual Cannabis Science Advancement & Networking Gala.
The event will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Baldoria on the Water in Lakewood, Colorado, from 6 to 10 p.m.
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The event marks a major milestone as the ICR commemorates 10 years of advancing evidence‑based cannabis research. Policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders will gather to spotlight the ICR’s scientific breakthroughs, accelerate its impact, and help shape the next decade of research.
The Cannabis Science Advancement & Networking Gala supports the ICR’s expanding research portfolio and its commitment to producing high‑quality, objective cannabis knowledge. Funds raised will directly support:
- Competitive research grants
- Student and faculty research opportunities
- Community education and outreach
- Scientific publications and conferences
- Emerging research initiatives aligned with state and national priorities
The evening will include a cocktail reception, live entertainment, a silent auction, and a seated dinner program featuring a special tribute to the 2026 ICR Award of Excellence honoree.
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Cannabis & Health Research Initiative (CHRI) | | | |
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Help Advance Cannabis Research – Support the National Cannabis Study, a Johns Hopkins–led, year-long investigation into how cannabis impacts sleep, pain, mood, medication use, and healthcare utilization. By sharing this study with potential participants, you’ll help build the evidence base needed to inform clinical care and public health policy around therapeutic cannabis use. | | | |
What is CHRI?-CHRI is a collaboration between two organizations with years of experience in medicinal cannabis research: Johns Hopkins University and Realm of Caring. The individuals behind these organizations offer decades of combined experience in relevant fields for a comprehensive approach to data collection and management. | | |
Who is Realm of Caring?-Realm of Caring is a nonprofit built by and for the cannabis community, supporting over 75,000 people worldwide with free education, research-backed guidance, and bold advocacy. Whether you're new to the plant or navigating serious health decisions, we're here to help you use cannabis with confidence. We've published peer-reviewed science, pushed for policy change, and always put people first. No brand agenda. Just real support, rooted in evidence and empathy.
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The Journal of Cannabis Research (JCR) is the official publication of the Institute of Cannabis Research. It is the only broadly multidisciplinary journal of research into social, business, economic, legal, environmental, and ethical impacts of cannabis use and the changing legal status of cannabis. To learn more about the aims and scope of the journal as well as submission guidelines, please visit: Journal of Cannabis Research | | | |
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Recent Publication
Oil-based and oil-free formulations for enhancing cannabidiol bioavailability
Petr Jelinek, Anezka Kloucek, Ashley Hannah George, Hynek Housar, Petr Kozlik, Tomas Krizek, Pavel Rysanek, Martin Sima, Ondrej Slanar & Miroslav Soos
Researchers systematically compared oil-based emulsions and oil-free particles to determine how physical properties like droplet size and chemical composition can be used to overcome cannabidiol's (CBD) naturally poor oral bioavailability. Male Wistar rats were used in a randomized, cross-over design to test various formulations, which were then compared against a reference of CBD solution in sunflower oil. The study confirmed that emulsification significantly increases the surface area and therefore CBD absorption with the optimal droplet size of 16 mm resulting in the greatest total exposure and peak concentrations compared to the reference solution. Formulation chemistry can also affect absorption rate as well as the ultimate bioavailability. Oil-free nanoparticles and microparticles were also found to improve CBD absorption, but this improvement was not particle size dependent. This research demonstrates that CBD bioavailability is tunable through careful formulation design.
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