RTI International virtual press briefing to address urgent need for quality control in medical marijuana

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, February 18, RTI International will host a press briefing via Webinar to address the need for better quality control in medical marijuana products. The briefing will address the public health risks arising in this unregulated market due to factors such as:

• Product types and formulations that vary from state to state, store to store, even product to product;
• Inaccurate product labeling and marketing claims;
• Limited testing of medical marijuana products for safety and efficacy; and
• Lack of professional guidelines and governmental regulations. This places the burden on the consumers and providers to be aware of the above factors and how they affect dosing and ultimately, safety.

This briefing comes at a time when the number of medical marijuana users is on the rise in the U.S. and even presidential candidates on the campaign trail are calling for more research. States are now grappling with regulatory policies to make these products safer for patients who struggle with pain, seizures, cancer and HIV/AIDS – and have found that these products bring them relief.

WHO:

• Moderator: Brian Southwell, Ph.D., director, Science in the Public Sphere Program at RTI International; host, "The Measure of Everyday Life," WNCU-FM (@MeasureRadio on Twitter)
• Brian Thomas, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics at RTI International; author of The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis
• Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• Scott Novak, Ph.D., Senior Developmental Epidemiologist, Behavioral Health Epidemiology Program at RTI International

WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 2016, at 1 p.m. EDT

WHERE: To join, register at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/msm4h5240mb&eom

WHY: Medical marijuana is legal in almost half the country and more people now than ever before are finding it useful to address an array of health conditions. However, the significant lack of quality control among the hundreds of products on the market, and inadequate science to back the widespread marketing claims being made, is leading to potential serious health risks. There is a strong need for regulation, more research and testing, and standardization of medical marijuana products – along with better patient and provider education -- in order to keep users safe.

For more information, visit www.rti.org/marijuana.

For questions or to arrange an interview, contact Sangeetha Sarma at [email protected] or 301-395-5227, or Lisa Bistreich-Wolfe at [email protected] or 919-316-3596.

RTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 3,700 provides research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory testing and chemical analysis. For more information, visit www.rti.org.

SOURCE RTI International

Related Links

http://www.rti.org