Lawmakers on the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services recently received an in-depth update from Dr. Shanna Babalonis, director of the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center. Established in 2022 through House Bill 604, the Cannabis Center was launched with a $2 million appropriation to lead groundbreaking research on medical cannabis and public health.
During her testimony, Babalonis highlighted how the Cannabis Center has rapidly become a national research leader. She described three major projects funded or pending through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One $2.8 million study examines how cannabis may influence opioid withdrawal, reward, and safety. By enrolling patients under controlled hospital conditions, the Cannabis Center is evaluating whether cannabis affects opioid-induced respiratory depression — a crucial safety issue.
A second $2.87 million NIH proposal would test how cannabis alters the drive to take opioids among people with opioid use disorder. The Cannabis Center expects a decision on this grant soon. A third NIH award of $720,000 investigates how repeated cannabidiol (CBD) dosing affects tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) abuse potential and pain relief.
Beyond these high-profile studies, the Cannabis Center has two additional grants under review. One seeks to determine how THC and CBD interact to influence the abuse potential of concentrates or dabs. Another examines a minor, non-psychoactive cannabinoid for its effects on pain, nausea, and misuse potential. These initiatives show how the Cannabis Center is exploring both public safety and patient benefit.
These include studies on cannabis use in active cancer patients, the interaction of inhaled cannabis with intranasal opioids, and the impact of cannabis on simulated driving performance. The Cannabis Center even conducts analytical chemistry projects to test cannabis products for cannabinoid content and contamination — vital for consumer protection.
Lawmakers raised questions about child safety, packaging, and the difference between natural and synthetic cannabis. Legislators expressed concern over products that resemble candy and may attract children. Babalonis noted that little nationwide progress has been made on child-proof packaging, underscoring the need for further attention.
Committee members praised the Cannabis Center for its objective approach amid strong public opinions about cannabis. They encouraged more study on conditions such as PTSD, acknowledging the ability of the Cannabis Center to deliver evidence-based findings quickly. With bipartisan interest and substantial federal support, Kentucky’s Cannabis Center is positioned as a leading hub for cannabis science, patient safety, and policy development.
