Breaking News: Langara College Raises $ 3.3M in Applied Cannabis Research – Latest Cannabis News Today

Vancouver, BC – A July 13 press release detailed a groundbreaking scholarship to Langara College. The $ 3.3 million grant, comprised of $ 2 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and $ 1.3 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, is the largest grant to have a post-secondary Establishment in the province.

“These scholarships are a huge step forward for college, not to mention an exciting opportunity for our students to gain this invaluable experience with our industry partners: Pure Sunfarms, Ascension Sciences, and Nextleaf Solutions.” -Mail with.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) invests over $ 1.2 billion annually in natural and engineering research in Canada. This five-year funding for the Applied Science for the Canadian Cannabis Industry research project will enable Langara College researchers, in collaboration with industry leaders, to study cannabis using the latest technology from a multidisciplinary approach that includes chemistry, biology and bioinformatics.

“This funding is a testament to the growth and expertise in cutting-edge and interdisciplinary applied research that Langara College has built over the years,” Margaret Heldman said in press research.

As sales increase, so does the demand for research

Photo courtesy of Langara College

Cannabis sales in the province have skyrocketed since legalization in 2018, with gross sales of approximately $ 290 million as of 2020. Emerging research predicts that the medical cannabis market will grow to $ 49,116.4 million worldwide by 2028.

According to Health Canada, 321,539 Canadians had active medical cannabis registrations in 2020. However, researchers believe the number is significantly higher because many medical users do not seek medical approval.

Langara College’s landmark scholarship comes at a crucial time. Just three months ago in April, hundreds of Canadian scientists and clinicians argued that tight regulation was stifling cannabis research and drafted an open letter begging Health Canada to remove barriers to research.

“The research deals with issues relevant to the [the] like: What is the genetic basis for the variety name of cannabis? What is the connection between variety and mixed production? How can new varieties be specifically developed? ”Said Kelly Sveinson, Chair of the Center for Applied Research at Langara College, in the press release.