Cannabinoid Research Initiative of Saskatchewan


The Cannabinoid Research Initiative of Saskatchewan was founded in 2017 as an interdisciplinary research team of clinician researchers, basic scientists, and social scientists. CRIS aims to obtain scientific evidence about the application of Cannabinoids and Medical cannabis to humans and animals, for health, disease and disorders. The team was initially based at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada but includes researchers based at the University of Regina and University of Alberta. A strategic management executive committee coordinates activities and develops research opportunities. The sections of CRIS include: Analytical Evaluations, Human Clinical Studies, Biomedical studies, Veterinary Sciences, Knowledge Translation and Studies of Cannabinoids and Society. CRIS members participate in the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids,
and the International Cannabinoid Research Society.
The CARE-E clinical trial of a cannabis oil with high cannabidiol content with pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy was a key factor in initiating the research initiative. The CARE-E trial is a multi-center phase one trial that currently has open enrollment in five Canadian cities. The CARE-E trial received extensive media coverage when it was launched.
The therapeutic effect of pure cannabidiol on Dravet Syndrome was recently reported in the New England Journal of Medicine
The CRIS group has expanded to biomedical science studies of the pharmacology of cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids.

Laboratories