University of Kentucky opens new cannabis research center

The bluegrass state’s flagship university is going green. In an announcement Wednesday, the University of Kentucky announced the opening of “a new center that will advance research into the medical uses of cannabis.”

The ‘UK Cannabis Centre’, as it is known, ‘will conduct research into the health effects of cannabis, including its risks and benefits when used to treat certain conditions’.

The center is the result of a bill passed by the Kentucky legislature and signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear earlier this year.

“Legislators have an interest in us studying the conditions for which medical cannabis might be useful, as well as the most effective dosage and route of administration for each condition,” said Dr. Shanna Babalonis, who will serve as Director of UK Cannabis Center.

Wednesday’s announcement said that Babalonis is “an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and a cannabis researcher at CDAR, increasingly recognized as a leader in the cannabis field and an expert on the topic of medicinal cannabinoids,” with “three active grants from the National Institutes of Health.” totaling nearly $3.5 million were aimed at investigating the interactions between cannabis and opioids, the effects of cannabis in patients with opioid use disorders, and the effects of cannabis on simulated driving performance.”

“The new center will allow us to expand our clinical research, particularly with a focus on conditions that medical cannabis could help,” Babalonis said in the announcement.

The bill establishing the UK Cannabis Center was passed in the final days of the Kentucky legislature in April. Beshear, a Democrat, vetoed the bill when it signed it, removing certain portions of the bill that he said would “limit the purpose of the center and dictate who the President of the University of Kentucky should appoint to the.” Advisory Board after granting sole power of appointment to the President of the University.”

Beshear said earlier this year that he has the idea of ​​using executive action to legalize medicinal cannabis in the state.

“We’re going to investigate,” Beshear said in April. “It’s something we’re going to look at. His time has certainly come.”

That didn’t sit well with members of the Legislature, including Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.

“The public should be concerned about a governor who thinks he can change the statute by executive order,” Stivers said in a statement in April. “He just can’t legalize medical marijuana by executive order; You cannot replace a statute with an executive order as this is a violation of the constitutional separation of powers.”

The bill establishing the UK Cannabis Center was seen as a compromise by Republicans in the state Senate who were unwilling to fully legalize medical cannabis treatment. A bill legalizing medicinal cannabis passed the Kentucky House of Representatives in March, but the measure never made it to a vote in the state Senate.

In Wednesday’s announcement, the University of Kentucky said that the bill “also requires the United Kingdom to apply to the US Drug Enforcement Administration for a license to cultivate and grow cannabis” and that “if approved, the center will be able to.” will be to conduct agricultural research regarding optimal growing conditions.”

According to the announcement, “British President Eli Capilouto recently appointed a multidisciplinary team of British faculty members that will oversee the work and finances of the research centre,” and the “12-member board includes an executive or steering committee that works with Babaloni’s research goals.” and the center’s agenda and make key financial decisions, and an advisory board to help guide and provide feedback on the center’s progress and overall direction.”