A plain-English guide to cannabinoid research in Australia
News stories about cannabis and health often sound certain. The research behind them rarely is. This guide explains how the research works and how to find reliable information, without selling anything.
What this guide is
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that act on a system in the body called the endocannabinoid system. Some come from the cannabis plant. Some are made by the body itself. Some are made in laboratories. Researchers around the world study them for many different reasons.
This guide explains how that research works and how to find reliable information about it in Australia. It is written for ordinary readers: patients, carers, families, students, and anyone who has seen a headline and wondered how much to trust it.
It is not a research body, a clinic, a regulator or a shop. It does not run studies, give medical advice or point you to products. For anything about your own health, your doctor or pharmacist is the right person to ask.
Three questions to ask of any claim
Claims about cannabinoids turn up in news stories, social media, adverts, websites and conversations with friends. You can test almost any of them with three plain questions.
What kind of evidence is this?
A study in cells or animals is an early step. A story from one person is a story, not a test. A large, well-run study in people carries more weight. The page on how research works lays out the ladder.
Who was studied, and what happened to them?
Results from one group of people, with one condition, over a short time, may not apply to anyone else. Look for who took part, how many there were, and how long they were followed.
Who is saying this, and what do they gain?
A university, a regulator, a charity, a company and a social media account all have different reasons for speaking. That does not make any of them wrong. It tells you what to double-check. See finding and reading published research for how interests are declared.
How to use this guide
You do not need to read it in order. Pick the line that sounds most like you.
- I saw a headline and I am not sure what to make of it. How research works
- I want to find official information. Reliable sources and how to judge them
- I have heard of a clinical trial and want to understand the idea. How clinical trials work
- I want to read the original studies. Finding and reading published research
- I want to know who does this research. How to find researchers in an area
- I have questions about the rules. Law and access, in general terms
- I have a safety question. General safety information
- I met a word I do not know. Glossary of plain-English terms
What you will not find here
You will not find doses, strengths, product names, brands, prices or places to get anything. You will not find claims that cannabis or any cannabinoid helps with a particular condition. You will not find lists of trials, lists of papers or profiles of people.
That is deliberate. These things change quickly, depend on the person, and belong with health professionals and official sources. What this guide can do is teach you how to look, and send you to the places that keep the current answers.