Call for papers - Advances in cannabis and cannabinoid research

Guest Editors

Mike Armour, PhD, BSc(Hons), BHSc, Western Sydney University, Australia
Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl, MD, Hannover Medical School, Germany
Natalia Szejko, MD, PhD, University of Calgary, Canada

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 27 May 2025

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies is calling for submissions to our Collection on Advances in cannabis and cannabinoid research.

The earliest known reference of cannabis traces back the seventh century BC in Assyrian writing tablets. Over the years, modern research and developments looking into cannabis and cannabinoids have gained significant attention owing to their potential therapeutic benefits and growing acceptance and legalization across various regions. Pharmacological research into cannabinoids has paved the way for innovative treatments for a range of conditions. However, despite promising results, there remains a need for robust scientific evidence to guide clinical practice and policy-making.

We encourage researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to contribute their insights, innovative studies, and critical reviews to this Collection, fostering a deeper understanding of the potential challenges and advancements of cannabis and cannabinoid therapies.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Mike Armour, PhD, BSc(Hons), BHSc, Western Sydney University, Australia

Dr Mike Armour completed his honors degree in biomedicine at the University of Auckland and a PhD in Dysmenorrhea. Mike is an Associate Professor in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute, where he is currently running several medicinal cannabis clinical trials on endometriosis, primary dysmenorrhea, and menopause. Mike has published over 110 peer reviewed articles on various aspects of women’s health including medicinal cannabis and is the author on several textbook chapters related to medicinal cannabis including an upcoming textbook in 2025 on medicinal cannabis for women’s health and gynaecology.

Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl, MD, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Dr Kirsten Müller-Vahl is Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Medical School of Hannover (MHH), Germany. She is a specialist in neurology and adult psychiatry. Since 1995, she has been head of the outpatient department for Tourette's syndrome at MHH. She chairs the National Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (ACM) and the International Alliance for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM). At the 9th IACM Conference, she received the "2017 IACM Clinical Research Award for special achievements in the reintroduction of cannabis and cannabinoids as medicine". Dr Müller-Vahl has published more than 200 scientific articles, is author of several book chapters and textbooks. She is associate editor of the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and a member of the editorial board of the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Natalia Szejko, MD, PhD, University of Calgary, Canada

Dr Natalia Szejko is a Clinical and Research Fellow in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Canada. She is also a neurologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioethics at the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Her main focuses of clinical and scientific interest are tics, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), movement disorders, and neuropsychiatry. She graduated from Medical University of Warsaw where she also completed her ScD dedicated to clinical phenomenology of tics in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). She finished her residency in Neurology in Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw. In parallel, she also has graduated from the University of Warsaw, where she was granted B.A., M.A., and PhD in Spanish Philology. She is co-author of more than 30 publications about tics and GTS. She received the following awards: nomination for Adam Rojszczak Scientific Award by Foundation for Polish Science, Scientific Award by Journal “Polityka”, Research Fellowship by the Kosciuszko Foundation, Clinical Fellowship by European Academy of Neurology, and Joint Fellowship by European Huntington’s Disease Network and Movement Disorders Society.

About the Collection

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies is calling for submissions to our Collection on Advances in cannabis and cannabinoid research.

The earliest known reference of cannabis traces back the seventh century BC in Assyrian writing tablets. Over the years, modern research and developments looking into cannabis and cannabinoids have gained significant attention owing to their potential therapeutic benefits and growing acceptance and legalization across various regions. Pharmacological research into cannabinoids has paved the way for innovative treatments for a range of conditions. However, despite promising results, there remains a need for robust scientific evidence to guide clinical practice and policy-making. We welcome studies that investigate the different aspects of cannabis and cannabinoid research, including, but not limited to:

Investigations into the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids, including their interactions with the endocannabinoid system
Research evaluating the efficacy and safety of cannabis and cannabinoids in the treatment of various health conditions, such as chronic pain, epilepsy, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases
Results from clinical trials assessing the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, dosing strategies, and patient-reported outcomes
Investigations into the societal, economic, and cultural implications of cannabis legalization and its use in complementary and integrative medicine
Research on novel delivery methods for cannabinoids, such as transdermal patches, inhalation devices, and nanoformulations
Research into the long-term impacts of cannabis use on mental health, including potential risks and benefits

We encourage researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to contribute their insights, innovative studies, and critical reviews to this Collection, fostering a deeper understanding of the potential challenges and advancements of cannabis and cannabinoid therapies.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Advances in cannabis and cannabinoid research" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.