The Government of Canada is investing $24 million to investigate how cannabis affects brain health.
Canada’s first national cannabis and brain health research consortium will bring together researchers and expertise from across the country to study how cannabis affects brain health across one’s lifetime.
The program will also create a coordinated national research infrastructure to harmonize data from multiple sources and access across provinces and territories, forming a national resource that researchers throughout Canada can reference on an ongoing basis.
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced the $24 million investment on August 12, 2026, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, Canada’s first national cannabis and brain health research consortium.
“Good health policy starts with strong evidence,” said the Minister of Health. “This $24 million investment will bring together researchers from across the country to advance our understanding of how cannabis affects brain health and generate knowledge that helps improve care, inform policy and supports the health of Canadians.”
More than one in three Canadian adults reported having used cannabis in 2025. While the government notes that many people use cannabis without experiencing serious adverse effects, it also highlights what it says are important questions about its impact on brain health at different stages of life, particularly for youth, pregnant people, frequent users and people at increased risk of mental health harms.
Government of Canada Launches $24 Million Cannabis Research Initiative
