This History of Medical Cannabis course is designed to have you think critically about past, present, and future research on the health effects of cannabis by developing a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to research as well as different approaches to research. You will learn about the history of cannabis cultivation, the legal history of cannabis or "marijuana", and the obstacles that led to the lack of science on its medicinal use. You will also learn how to critically evaluate research on the effects of cannabis and discuss the associated risks of using cannabis in the context of public health and epidemiological research. Finally, you will learn about how to administer cannabis products in ways that minimize risk and maximize any potential benefits. Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.
History of Medical Cannabis
This course is part of Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization
Instructor: Kent Hutchison
16,219 already enrolled
Included with 
(329 reviews)
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Learn about the basic pharmacology of cannabis and how cannabinoids effect the body.
Learn about the history of cannabis cultivation and legality.
Learn about the barriers and approaches to cannabis research.
Learn about the epidemiological data on cannabis use in terms of cognition, education, and behavior.
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
3 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
In this module, we will discuss the biological characteristics of cannabis and the effect cannabinoids have on the body. Will will cover the basic pharmacology of THC and CBD and the action these cannabinoids have in the brain. Lastly, we will evaluate the evidence for what is called the entourage effect.
What's included
9 videos10 readings
In this module, we will discuss the history of cannabis as an alternative medicine and the legal history of cannabis in both the US and abroad. We will discuss the variety of different product types post-legalization, how products are made, and implications for safety. We will also discuss the cannabis industry and how it compares to other mature industries like the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries.
What's included
7 videos11 readings1 assignment
In this module, we will discuss the legal barriers to institutional research in the US and how this has impacted conducting much-needed cannabis research. You will learn the difference between high quality, rigorous research design compared to biased sources of information. Lastly, you will learn how the placebo effect works and evaluate how much of a role it plays with regards to the medical benefits of cannabis.
What's included
6 videos8 readings1 assignment1 peer review
In this module, we will review the animal and human literature with regards to the effects of cannabis in the brain. We will discuss the epidemiology of cannabis use and review public health data. Lastly, we will discuss the best practices for using it medically, such as to minimize the risks and harms while maximizing the benefits.
What's included
8 videos11 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Public Health
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
329 reviews
- 5 stars
86.96%
- 4 stars
9.69%
- 3 stars
1.81%
- 2 stars
0.30%
- 1 star
1.21%
Showing 3 of 329
Reviewed on Aug 14, 2023
Very insightful course, which in my case, helps me to pave the way for higher level courses that can equip me with valuable knowledge on medical cannabis.
Reviewed on Jul 2, 2020
This was a brilliant introduction to the world of Medicinal Cannabis and I really enjoyed it.
Reviewed on Jul 16, 2020
Excellent! A pleasure to learn from Professor Hutchison. Looking forward to the next class.
New to Public Health? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
More questions
Financial aid available,