Research Projects

Investigation of the Chemical Content of Cannabis in Medical Use

A collaborative study by the Beckley Foundation
Harborside Health Centre, California.

In a ground breaking study the Beckley Foundation in collaboration with the Harborside Health Centre, a city-licensed medical cannabis dispensary, in Oakland California, will analyze the exact chemical composition of different strains of cannabis with the aim of identifying the optimum stains of cannabis for the treatment of specific medical conditions, as reported by patients using medical cannabis.

In November, 1996, California voters enacted Proposition 215, making it legal to grow and use cannabis, with a doctor's approval, for medical purposes. It has since been prescribed for the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions including: Pain 40%, Insomnia 30%, Depression 15%, GI, anorexia 10%, Migraine, other headache 10%, Hepatitis C 6%, Bipolar disorder 5%, Asthma 4%, Neuropathic pain 4%, HIV 3%, Lupus 3%, MS 3% and Seizures 1%.

However, given the enormous variance in the chemical composition of the many different strains of cannabis available to the patients, this will be the first study to analyze the chemical content of individual cannabis stains and compare these results to treatment efficacy in a wide range of medical conditions.

For the first time in the 3000-year history of human cannabis consumption, consumers will be provided with a scientific assessment of the safety and potency of cannabis products, and which strains are likely to best treat their medical condition, prior to ingesting them.