I know threads on cannabis topics are often written by and/or hijacked by trolls, but I assure you I am looking for honest, helpful feedback and would appreciate if those who respond do so in a constructive manner and refrain from the same old Cheech and Chong and Doritos references. I am a 27 year old premed that was planning to apply to md programs this June. However, since taking the mcat (and really for the last couple years) I have been having major doubts about whether or not I want to continue on the road to medicine. I know that I want to be involved in research at some point in my career, and lately I've been questioning my desire to practice clinical medicine altogether. That being said, I have recently been considering working a couple years in a research lab to nail down what I truly want to do. I figure worst case scenario I will delay my medical training a couple years but will also be strengthening my app. So now for my question. Do you think I could hurt my chances at med school if the research lab I work in is focused on cannabis, considering the very real treatment possibilities it offers (ACHE inhibition to reduce beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's, pain reduction, PTSD treatments, CBD for seizure treatment, nausea etc...) as a scientist, I think the little evidence available is extremely exciting and future research could open many new possibilities. It was recently announced that cu boulder is going to begin the cannabis genome initiative, which I would very much like to be a part of. I feel this could open many doors to a future career in clinical research of new treatments or industrial options if I decided medicine/research isn't the route I want to pursue. Sorry for the long winded post, but this possibility has been weighing on me heavily and I would like to see what advice my possible future colleagues have to offer. I would especially appreciate feedback from any adcoms (looking at you Lizzy) and anyone with experience in cannabis research. Thank you all!
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Cannabis Research?
Started by DualDocDreamer
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Good research is good research. I don't think doing something cannabis-related is anymore helpful or hurtful, though I suppose there's the off-chance that someone looking at your app may be extremely close-minded and dismiss your research as illegitimate. I don't think that's something to worry about though.
Better question: why would you NOT volunteer?
Be ready to prove that while you did the research you did not in anyway partake in the subject matter, which means taking a drug test. Be ready answer questions about the research more intelligently than usual. I can imagine interviewers being naturally skeptical, but if you can hold an engaging conversation about the methods used, the exact hypothesis you were testing for and the results you were able to compile. That will speak volumes about you.
If you are going to be up in the Colorado mountains helping at a coop while you guys "research" the weed where you are doing "crossbreeding" to see which "strain" gives the best "medicinal effects" then just forget about it.
If you are going to be up in the Colorado mountains helping at a coop while you guys "research" the weed where you are doing "crossbreeding" to see which "strain" gives the best "medicinal effects" then just forget about it.
With the new laws and as states decide on their own path, this could be a very important thing to research. Obviously like others have said you dont want to come across as someone who is just looking for an excuse to be a user, but this knowledge is definitely needed. It's all in the presentation within your app. Heck I would love to be on a paper that researched this stuff just because it's new and exciting.
Nah I'm talking fully funded, university research at cu boulder. As I said in my post I am specifically interested in contributing to the cannabis genome initiative, basically the cannabis version of the human genome project. This could lead to many possibilities, for instance selectively breeding plants hit high CBD content but no thc content so they can produce more potent effects without the "high" as a side effect. Obviously this is just one example but there could be many, many benefits gleaned from this project. Plus, once rigorous clinical trials start to measure the effectiveness of cannabinoid compounds I would have experience in the field which could give me a leg up in a newly open field.
^ This is exactly the way I feel. All the published studies I've read lead me to think research in this realm is going to be of great importance in the coming decades.
This could be both medically and socially relevant research so do it. It'll be extremely interesting to discuss at interviews and you'll have knocked out two birds with one stone by gaining a good handle on both basic science and a habit/medication that affects the health of many Americans. This is the kind of research people should be jumping in on now if they want to make money in pharma as well. DOOOO IT.
That is my one major concern, so hopefully you're right and it won't cause me too much trouble. Thanks for the input.
Sounds like a great opportunity. I would go after it in a heartbeat.
Why am I not surprised?
Seriously though, if it's valid funded research no one is going to care. One of the projects on my application involved cannabinoids (although with less of a clinical bent) and it never came up.
If you are unsure of how the "conservative" admissions committees will feel about seeing "Cannabis Research" as an activity on your primary app, why not rebrand it? "Botony Research" or "Research: Clinical Plants" Something like that. Then when it comes time for the interviews you can expound upon your research fully and help dispel any biases they have toward the subject.
Or just name it "Cannabis Research" and do what the posts above me say to. Good luck! This is a good problem to have 🙂
Or just name it "Cannabis Research" and do what the posts above me say to. Good luck! This is a good problem to have 🙂
Seems like a good time to use one of the new smileys:
It will definitely help you. Unless it's amateur cannabis research in your garage. Then you might be in trouble.
Why am I not surprised?
Seriously though, if it's valid funded research no one is going to care. One of the projects on my application involved cannabinoids (although with less of a clinical bent) and it never came up.
That's reassuring, thanks for the reply. Just out of curiosity, what was the focus of your cannabinoid research? You can PM me if you don't want to go into specifics here.
Dude, no one will care. No one is going to say "oh he works in a lab that studies THC, he must smoke it too" or "I bet this guy is just a stoner looking to validate his immoral lifestyle with science".
I do research on amphetamine, meth, and cocaine, and I've dabbled in ketamine and nicotine as well. Never had anyone accuse me of dipping into my own stock except as a joke.
I do research on amphetamine, meth, and cocaine, and I've dabbled in ketamine and nicotine as well. Never had anyone accuse me of dipping into my own stock except as a joke.
I did cannabinoid research in undergrad and never even thought about all this. Currently applying and it hasn't affected me (at least to my knowledge).
Thanks all for putting my mind at ease! I really appreciate the helpful responses.
Chances that you get into one of the very few labs that tests on humans is close to none. The same would be true for getting in and then be the one working directly with people. The background process and all that must be insane. The most likely scenario is working in basic science pharmacology. You know what you're going to do? You'll inject some mouse with a knocked out/in gene with multiple dilutions of the extract of one substance. I know one person gives least shrews cisplacin (an anti-cancer drug). Then he injects different concentrations of THC. Then he has to spend his time seeing how many times in a period of time the least shrew throws up. Does this sound like fun and ground breaking research? To each their own.
