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# FDA Expects Increasing Cannabis Research
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-expects-increasing-cannabis-research/
- Published: 2023-11-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T14:14:58.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5155697

FDA expects to see the increase in cannabis research that has occurred in recent years to continue. Writing in an online [post](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fdas-50-years-experience-cannabis-research-helping-support-tomorrows-cannabis-drug-development?ref=fdaweb.com), CDER Office of the Center Director public health advisor **Cassandra Taylor** and CDER Office of Executive Programs project manager **Schuyler Pruyn** say that as the agency sees more medical and non-medical programs at the state level evolve, there likely will be an increased interest in clinical research to study cannabis and cannabis-derived products (CCDPs). They say they also expect to see new innovative products for evaluation under INDs, which may include the use of newly identified or less common cannabinoids, as well as other components of the cannabis plant.

“Researchers may also begin to expand on their use of edible CCDP product types, as well as investigate new routes of administration,” they write.

The post describes the nature and volume of cannabis research experienced by FDA over the past 50 years and says that in that time the agency has gained valuable experience by assessing more than 800 INDs that evaluate cannabis products.

The post says that clinical trials under the majority of CCDP INDs focus on addiction and pain medicine (53%), neurology (19%), immunology and inflammation (14%), and psychiatry (9%).

To date, Taylor and Pruyn write, FDA has not approved a marketing drug application for cannabis to treat a disease or condition. However, in 2018 the agency approved Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex (cannabidiol) to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. The post says Epidiolex’ active ingredient is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that has been isolated from the plant and highly purified. “It is important to note FDA is reviewing clinical research on CCDPs that include a complex mixture of compounds, which is different when compared to the single molecule formulation of Epidiolex,” it says.

“FDA recognizes the uniqueness of CCDPs and the technical challenges associated with botanical drug development and research,” the two conclude. “The agency will continue to support sound, scientifically based research into the therapeutic uses of CCDPs and will work with companies interested in bringing safe, effective, and quality drugs to market through our drug development and approval process.”