Montreal, August 19th, 2026 – The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced last week a $24 million investment to establish Canada's first Consortium on Cannabis and Brain Health, a national initiative bringing together ten multidisciplinary teams to advance understanding of cannabis' effects on the brain across the lifespan.

Researchers from the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‑Justine will contribute to this coordinated effort, which is expected to generate critical evidence to inform prevention strategies, healthcare practices, and public policy.

Understanding the Effects of Cannabis on Young People

Among the selected projects is a study led by Dr. Natalie Castellanos Ryan, and coled by Drs. Sarah Lippé and Nicholas Chadi, involving many members of our research center.

The project aims to improve understanding of the long-term effects of cannabis use on the mental health and brain development of adolescents.

"Despite the widespread use of cannabis among young people, important questions remain about its long-term effects on mental health and brain development. By bringing together unique Canadian longitudinal datasets and the expertise of researchers from multiple disciplines, this project will help us better understand the factors that increase risk or promote resilience, ultimately supporting prevention and intervention strategies that are better adapted to young people's realities," said Natalie Castellanos Ryan, who is also an Associate Professor at the Université de Montréal.

The study will place particular emphasis on populations that may be more vulnerable, including youth who begin using cannabis at an early age and individuals from sexually and gender diverse communities.

A National Effort to Inform Tomorrow's Decisions

By bringing together complementary expertise from across the country, the consortium will generate evidence on the effects of cannabis at different stages of life. The knowledge produced will help guide clinical practice, prevention strategies, and public health policies for the benefit of young people, families, and the broader population.

In addition to the project led by Natalie Castellanos Ryan, several members of our scientific community will participate in one of the ten projects selected through this national initiative. We congratulate all the teams contributing to this important pan-Canadian research effort.

Photo (from left to right) : Dr Nicholas Chadi, Natalie Castellanos Ryan and Sarah Lippé © CHU Sainte-Justine (Véronique Lavoie)