In the last 10 years, researchers around the world have published more than 32,000 inquiries into the science of cannabis and cannabinoids, NORML reports. Additionally, 2023 was the third consecutive year in which scientists published more than 4,000 papers specific to cannabis, cannabinoids, and their varied effects.
NORML says the claim is based on a keyword search of the National Library of Medicine and PubMed.gov.
The development stands in stark contrast to the majority of political arguments against cannabis policy reforms, which typically claim that more research into the potential dangers of cannabis is needed before loosening restrictions on the plant.
“Scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in recent years,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a recent blog post on the political advocacy group’s website.
“It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know.” – Armentano, via NORML
NORML, which was founded in 1970, is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. advocating for the legalization of cannabis.
Some of the stand-out cannabis studies published in 2023 have supported the following claims:
- That people who consume cannabis to help them sleep tend to stop relying on over-the-counter sleep aids,
- That cannabis consumers who contracted COVID-19 experienced reduced mortality and better outcomes compared to non-consumers, and
- That cannabis appears to have a positive impact on the sex lives of those who consume it.
Meanwhile, researchers have also investigated the societal effects of reforming cannabis laws at the local and state levels, including one recent study that found the average home values in states with adult-use cannabis laws have outpaced average home values in non-legal states.
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