Recruitment Challenges for Cannabis Clinical Trials – Emily Lindley, PhD & Rachael Rzasa Lynn, MD

Dr. Emily Lindley is Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Director of the Colorado Cannabis Research Consortium. Her team’s research aims to identify non-opioid alternatives for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. One such alternative that has gained increased recognition in recent years is medical cannabis, and her lab is currently studying the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Dr. Rachael Rzasa Lynn is a board certified in pain medicine physician and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado, where she is the Associate Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship. Her research includes investigations in opioid pharmacology and the use of cannabis for chronic pain.

Emily and Rachael co-authored a poster presented at the most recent ICRS conference titled, Recruitment Challenges in Clinical Studies of Cannabis

During our conversation, we discussed:

• How recruitment for cannabis clinical trials differs from traditional clinical trials
• Why prior experience with cannabis is considered a negative for patient recruitment
• How legal concerns and stigma can deter cannabis-naive patients from enrolling
• Why the particiapnt drop out rate is higher in cannabis trials
• How rescheduling may affect patient recruitment future trials

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: The Society of Cannabis Clinicians

The Society of Cannabis Clinicians’ Med Cann conference offers a rare opportunity for clinicians to dive deep into the clinical realities and therapeutic potential of medical cannabis and psychedelics. Designed with healthcare providers in mind, their sessions focus on case-based learning, emerging protocols, and real-world challenges—offering practical insights that can be immediately applied in your practice.

Learn more at cannabisclinicians.org and use code “CP15” to receive 15% Off Your Registration

Additional Resources

• Recruitment Challenges in Clinical Studies of Cannabis [Poster]
• Lindley Lab at the University of Colorado