From farm to bedside: Potential of medical cannabis in global health

Maureen Bilinga Tendwa¹, Tejaswini Appidi², Brylyne Chitsunge³, Michele Moreau⁴, Blessed Okole⁵, Lonji Kalombo⁶, Abba Mallum⁷, Twalib Ngoma⁸, Daniel P Weadock⁹, Eric Tanifum¹⁰, Simon Erridge¹¹, Mikael Sodergren¹², Rob Sims¹³, Calvin Johnson¹⁴, Ngeh Toyang¹⁵, Henry Lowe¹⁶, Bashkim Ziberi¹⁷, Luc Richner¹⁸, Sandra Carrillo¹⁹, Stephen Avery²⁰, Judey Pretorius²¹, Rachel Chikwamba²², Fleury A Nsole Biteghe²³, Peter Grinspoon²⁴, Gary Strichtartz²⁵, Sayeda Yasmin-Karim²⁶, Wilfred Ngwa²⁷

Affiliations

¹ Global Health Catalyst, Boston, USA. Electronic address: BTendwa@ghcuniversity.org.
² John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: tappidi1@jhmi.edu.
³ Elpasso Farms, Cullinan, South Africa. Electronic address: brylynec@yahoo.com.
⁴ John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: mmoreau1@jh.edu.
⁵ The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: bokole@csir.co.za.
⁶ The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: lkalombo@csir.co.za.
⁷ Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address: MalloumA@ukzn.ac.za.
⁸ Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: ngoma_tan@yahoo.com.
⁹ Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: docwead1@gmail.com.
¹⁰ Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: eatanifu@texaschildrens.org.
¹¹ Medical Cannabis Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: simon.erridge12@imperial.ac.uk.
¹² Medical Cannabis Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.sodergren@imperial.ac.uk.
¹³ Primitiv, MI, USA.
¹⁴ Primitiv, MI, USA. Electronic address: calvin.johnson@gmail.com.
¹⁵ Flavocure Biotech, USA. Electronic address: ngeh.toyang@edscientific.com.
¹⁶ Flavocure Biotech, USA. Electronic address: mlowe@mediaone.net.
¹⁷ University of Tetova, North Macedonia. Electronic address: bashkim.ziberi@unite.edu.mk.
¹⁸ Vigia AG/Cannavigia, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: press@cannabis-europa.com.
¹⁹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama, Panama. Electronic address: sandra.carillo@uniroma1.it.
²⁰ Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: Stephen.Avery@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
²¹ Biomedical Emporium, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: dpretorius@biomedicalemporium.com.
²² Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences division, CSIR South Africa, South Africa. Electronic address: rchikwamba@csir.co.za.
²³ College of Science, Department of Biotechnology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: f.nsolebiteghe@northeastern.edu.
²⁴ Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: pmgrinspoo@bics.bwh.harvard.edu.
²⁵ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: gstrichz@zeus.bwh.harvard.edu.
²⁶ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: sayeda_yasmin-karim@dfci.harvard.edu.
²⁷ John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: wngwa1@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 40935434
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103205

Free article

Review

From farm to bedside: Potential of medical cannabis in global health

Maureen Bilinga Tendwa et al. Complement Ther Med. 2025 Oct.

Free article

. 2025 Oct:93:103205.

doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103205.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Global Health Catalyst, Boston, USA. Electronic address: BTendwa@ghcuniversity.org.
² John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: tappidi1@jhmi.edu.
³ Elpasso Farms, Cullinan, South Africa. Electronic address: brylynec@yahoo.com.
⁴ John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: mmoreau1@jh.edu.
⁵ The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: bokole@csir.co.za.
⁶ The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: lkalombo@csir.co.za.
⁷ Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address: MalloumA@ukzn.ac.za.
⁸ Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: ngoma_tan@yahoo.com.
⁹ Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: docwead1@gmail.com.
¹⁰ Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: eatanifu@texaschildrens.org.
¹¹ Medical Cannabis Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: simon.erridge12@imperial.ac.uk.
¹² Medical Cannabis Research Group, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.sodergren@imperial.ac.uk.
¹³ Primitiv, MI, USA.
¹⁴ Primitiv, MI, USA. Electronic address: calvin.johnson@gmail.com.
¹⁵ Flavocure Biotech, USA. Electronic address: ngeh.toyang@edscientific.com.
¹⁶ Flavocure Biotech, USA. Electronic address: mlowe@mediaone.net.
¹⁷ University of Tetova, North Macedonia. Electronic address: bashkim.ziberi@unite.edu.mk.
¹⁸ Vigia AG/Cannavigia, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: press@cannabis-europa.com.
¹⁹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama, Panama. Electronic address: sandra.carillo@uniroma1.it.
²⁰ Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: Stephen.Avery@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
²¹ Biomedical Emporium, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: dpretorius@biomedicalemporium.com.
²² Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences division, CSIR South Africa, South Africa. Electronic address: rchikwamba@csir.co.za.
²³ College of Science, Department of Biotechnology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: f.nsolebiteghe@northeastern.edu.
²⁴ Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: pmgrinspoo@bics.bwh.harvard.edu.
²⁵ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: gstrichz@zeus.bwh.harvard.edu.
²⁶ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: sayeda_yasmin-karim@dfci.harvard.edu.
²⁷ John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: wngwa1@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 40935434
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103205

Abstract

Introduction: The growing opioid crisis and persistent global health disparities underscore the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Cannabis, with its long-standing historical use and recent legislative developments, presents a potentially significant avenue for addressing these challenges. This review examines the evolving landscape of medicinal cannabis, drawing from historical ethnopharmacological data and contemporary scientific discussions.

Methods: This review synthesized evidence from historical ethnobotanical records, peer-reviewed studies, and outcomes derived from recent Global Health events. These events facilitated discussions among diverse stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, farmers, and patient advocates. Case studies and successful models from the USA and Africa, including the recent FDA approval for first-in-human clinical trials of a medicinal cannabis derivative for pancreatic cancer, were analysed.

Results: Successful models include collaborative platforms fostering stakeholder engagement, such as partnerships between African farmers and biotech firms to standardize cultivation. Successful models demonstrate the potential for adaptation and scaling in diverse healthcare settings. The FDA trial approval exemplifies progress in clinical translation. However, disparities persist, with patients within Africa facing systemic barriers to medical Cannabis certification and higher rates of punitive opioid discontinuation.

Conclusion: Medicinal Cannabis presents a complex yet promising solution for reducing opioid-related mortality and addressing healthcare inequities. Implementing strategic frameworks like CORE (Care, Outreach, Research, Education) is essential for developing safe, high-quality, evidence-based cannabis products. Through fostering collaboration and addressing existing obstacles, the therapeutic potential of medicinal Cannabis can be harnessed to mitigate the opioid crisis and reduce global health disparities, effectively translating research from farm to bedside.

Keywords: Africa; Cannabis; Evidence-based-medicine; Global health; Medical Cannabis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Simon Erridge is Head of Research at Sapphire Medical Clinics; Mikael H Sodergren is Chief Medical Officer at Curaleaf International; Ngeh Toyang is CEO at Flavocure Biotech, Inc.; Henry Lowe is Executive Chairman at Flavocure Biotech, Inc.; Gary Strichartz is a consultant for Flavocure Biotech, Inc; Eric Tanifum owns stock at Alzeca Biosciences, Inc.; Luc Richner is the CEO & Founder of Vigia AG / Cannavigia.

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From farm to bedside: Potential of medical cannabis in global health

Affiliations

From farm to bedside: Potential of medical cannabis in global health

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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LinkOut - more resources

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Medical