In 2025, more than one in three Canadian adults reported having used cannabis, which was legalized for non-medical use in Canada in 2018. While many people use cannabis without experiencing serious adverse effects, important questions remain about its impact on brain health at different stages of life, particularly for youth, pregnant people, frequent users and people at increased risk of mental health harms.
On August 12, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced a $24 million investment through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, Canada's first national cannabis and brain health research consortium.
This initiative will bring together researchers and expertise from across the country to study how cannabis affects brain health across the lifespan. It will also create a coordinated national research infrastructure to facilitate data harmonization, pooling, and access across provinces and territories, establishing a national resource that researchers throughout Canada can use for years to come.
The consortium's 10 multidisciplinary research teams will investigate topics ranging from the therapeutic potential of cannabis to its effects on brain health, sleep, and prenatal exposure. Researchers will also study cannabis use among people with conditions such as psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and epilepsy to better understand its effects on health and well-being. Their findings will help improve health outcomes and support evidence-informed health care and public policy.
Quotes
"Good health policy starts with strong evidence. This $24 million investment will bring together researchers from across the country to advance our understanding of how cannabis affects brain health and generate knowledge that helps improve care, inform policy and supports the health of Canadians."
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
"As cannabis use and products continue to evolve, so must our understanding of their effects on health. The Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium will help researchers build a stronger understanding of how cannabis affects people's health at every stage of life, generating knowledge that can guide prevention, care and evidence-informed policies for years to come."
Dr. Patricia Conrod, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Quick facts
- Launched under CIHR's Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy in response to the legalization of cannabis and developed and delivered through six CIHR Institutes, this initiative addresses key knowledge gaps identified in the 2024 Legislative Review of the Cannabis Act.
- The consortium's research will include populations that have historically been underrepresented in cannabis research, including Indigenous Peoples and people with rare or complex medical histories.
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Associated links
For more information
160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor, Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa Ontario
Canada K1A 0W9
www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
