IASIC Speaker Series
The International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC) is excited to present the IASIC Speaker Series. Presented free of charge, this ongoing educational seminar series will focus on the science, data, and peer-reviewed research surrounding marijuana and will be led by international medical experts. This non-partisan and non-political series is continually developed, organized, and guided by doctors.
Past Seminars
Upcoming Seminars
The Lung Health Implications of Cannabis Smoking
Thursday, August 19th @ 1:00 PM Eastern
This session will highlight emerging evidence on the respiratory impacts of cannabis use, featuring newly released Canadian data examining the effects of cannabis smoking on lung health. As cannabis use continues to rise globally, understanding its implications for respiratory function and long-term health outcomes is increasingly critical.
Join us as we examine the evolving evidence base and discuss the implications for prevention, clinical practice, and public awareness.
Speakers: Janice Leung, MD
About the Speaker:
Dr. Janice Leung is a respirologist at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada, and an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. She is the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Translational Airway Biology and the GlaxoSmithKline Chair in COPD. Her research interests are in novel exposures leading to accelerated airways disease, including HIV, vaping, and cannabis smoking. She is supported by grant funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Register here!
Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana: Tracking and Communicating Cannabis Health Effects
Monday, September 21st @ 1:00 PM Eastern
This IASIC Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Devan Kansagara, Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and the VA Portland Health Care System, for a timely presentation titled "Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana: Tracking and Communicating Cannabis Health Effects." As principal investigator of the Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana (STEM) project, Dr. Kansagara will discuss how the initiative translates the latest scientific evidence on cannabis into practical, evidence-based resources for frontline clinicians. He will also provide an overview of the current evidence on the physical and mental health effects of cannabis and highlight ongoing efforts to address critical research gaps. This data-driven discussion offers valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and prevention professionals seeking to better understand the evolving science of cannabis and its health impacts.
Speakers: Devan Kansagara, MD, MCR MACP
About the Speaker:
Devan Kansagara MD, MCR is a Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. He practices and teaches internal medicine in the VA Portland Health Care System. His work in evidence-based medicine has focused on improving the translation of evidence to practice through evidence-based health policy, clinical guideline development, and data use innovations. He has done health policy and guideline development work for the state of Oregon, the American College of Physicians, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He is currently the principal investigator of the Systematically Testing the Evidence on Marijuana (STEM) project whose goals are to empower clinicians to have evidence-informed discussions with patients, and to facilitate more health outcomes research on cannabis.
Register here!
High Stakes: Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use and Psychosis Risk
Monday, October 19th @ 12:00 PM Eastern
The IASIC Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Heather Burrell Ward, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, for a presentation titled "High Stakes: Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use and Psychosis Risk." Dr. Ward will examine the growing evidence on the co-use of cannabis and tobacco, its association with psychosis risk, and its impact on cognitive performance. This evidence-based discussion will provide valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and prevention professionals seeking to better understand the mental health implications of concurrent cannabis and tobacco use.
Speakers: Heather Burrell Ward, MD
About the Speaker:
Dr. Heather Burrell Ward is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Director of Neuromodulation Research. After earning her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, she completed psychiatry residency training at Brigham & Women's Hospital–Harvard Medical School and fellowship training in behavioral neurology and noninvasive brain stimulation at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and neuroimaging to better understand and treat psychotic and substance use disorders, with current studies examining nicotine, cannabis, and opioid use disorders. A nationally recognized investigator, Dr. Ward has received numerous early career awards and was named a 2021 STAT News Wunderkind in recognition of her contributions to neuroscience and addiction research.