Evidence-based cannabis information for adults 50 and older Peer-reviewed citations · Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist · No product sales

Editorial Standards

Evidence hierarchy (NASEM, Cochrane, peer-reviewed RCTs, named clinicians), how we flag emerging research, and how we update pages when evidence changes.

Evidence Hierarchy

Not all evidence is equal. We prioritize sources in this order:

  1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) — Comprehensive evidence reviews commissioned by Congress or federal agencies. The 2017 NASEM report on cannabis remains the gold standard.
  2. Cochrane systematic reviews — Rigorous, independent reviews that synthesize evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials.
  3. Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) — Studies where participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo, with neither group knowing which they received. The strongest form of individual study evidence.
  4. Named clinician protocols — Dosing and treatment recommendations from identified physicians and nurse practitioners with verifiable credentials and documented patient experience (for example, Dr. Dustin Sulak's protocols based on 18,000+ patients).
  5. Observational studies, case reports, and surveys — Useful for identifying trends and potential concerns, but cannot establish causation. We note these limitations when citing such research.

Evidence Badges

Throughout this site, you will see colored badges next to medical claims. These indicate the strength of the underlying evidence, adapted from the NASEM 2017 framework:

  • Strong evidence — Conclusive or substantial evidence from multiple high-quality studies. Example: cannabinoids for chronic pain in adults.
  • Moderate evidence — Limited but consistent evidence from several studies pointing in the same direction. Example: cannabinoids for short-term sleep improvement.
  • Limited evidence — Small studies or mixed results. Not enough evidence to draw firm conclusions. Example: CBD for osteoarthritis.
  • ⚠️ Emerging — Preclinical or single-trial evidence only. May be promising but has not been confirmed in rigorous human studies. We flag these claims with a warning symbol to prevent overreliance.

How We Handle Emerging Research

Cannabis research is evolving rapidly, and some of the most interesting findings come from early-stage studies. We include emerging research when it is relevant to seniors, but we always:

  • Flag it clearly with the ⚠️ Emerging badge
  • Identify whether the study was conducted in animals, cell cultures, or humans
  • Note the sample size and study design
  • State explicitly that the finding has not been confirmed in rigorous human trials
  • Avoid presenting preclinical results as treatment recommendations

Sourcing Standards

Every medical claim on this site is traced to a specific source:

  • Named studies with authors, journal, and year of publication
  • Named clinicians with verifiable credentials and institutional affiliations
  • Specific data points with their original context (sample size, study population, effect size)

We do not cite anonymous sources, unpublished claims, or industry-funded research without disclosing the funding source. We do not present marketing materials as evidence.

How Pages Are Updated

Cannabis evidence changes. When new research is published that materially affects a claim on this site, we update the relevant page and adjust the evidence badge if warranted. We do not silently change content — significant updates are noted on the page.

If you believe a claim on this site is inaccurate, outdated, or inadequately sourced, we welcome corrections. See our contact page.

  • Our Sources — The specific studies and publications this site draws from
  • Our Mission — Why this site exists and our editorial independence
  • Reading List — Journals and books for your own research