August 12, 2026
Drs. Rachel Rabin and Lena Palaniyappan will play a leading role in a major new national initiative to advance understanding of the relationship between cannabis use and brain health across the lifespan.
The Government of Canada has announced a $24 million investment through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium (CCBHC), Canada’s first national research consortium dedicated to investigating the effects of cannabis on brain health. The consortium brings together researchers from across the country through 10 multidisciplinary research teams.
“Good health policy starts with strong evidence. 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.”
The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health
Among the funded teams is Youth Cannabis Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental and Clinical Trajectories (Y-CONECT), led by Dr. Rachel Rabin, Researcher at the Douglas Research Centre and Associate Professor in McGill University’s Department of Psychiatry, and Dr. Lena Palaniyappan, Researcher at the Douglas Research Centre and Professor in McGill University’s Department of Psychiatry.
The Y-CONECT project will contribute to a growing body of evidence on how cannabis use affects youth, with a particular focus on neurodevelopmental and clinical trajectories. The research is expected to help inform prevention strategies, clinical care, and evidence-based public policy related to cannabis use among young people.
The project also brings together a strong team of Douglas Research Centre investigators, including co-applicants Drs. Mallar Chakravarty, Associate Professor at McGill University, and Romina Mizrahi, Professor at McGill University.
The Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium was created to address critical knowledge gaps regarding the effects of cannabis on brain health. Through coordinated research efforts and a national data infrastructure, the consortium will examine topics ranging from mental health and neurodevelopment to sleep, pregnancy, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, epilepsy, and the therapeutic potential of cannabis.
“As cannabis use and products continue to evolve, so must our understanding of their effects on health. The Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium will help researchers build a stronger understanding of how cannabis affects people’s health at every stage of life, generating knowledge that can guide prevention, care and evidence-informed policies for years to come.”
Dr. Patricia Conrod
Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
The participation of Douglas researchers in this landmark initiative highlights the Centre’s continued leadership in advancing mental health and neuroscience research. By helping to generate robust evidence on the benefits, risks, and long-term effects of cannabis use, the Y-CONECT team will contribute to a stronger scientific foundation for improving the health and well-being of Canadians.