Among the 100 or so phytocannabinoids that have been identified in the Cannabis sativa herb, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been explored the most for pharmacological use. Although 33 states have approved the use of cannabis in the U.S. for medicinal purposes, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes it as a Schedule I drug.

This has impeded the use of cannabis in clinical research, potentially obscuring physicians and nurses about its safety, efficacy, and dosage for pharmaceutical applications through rigorous double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies. Besides, cannabinoid-containing substances obtained for research purposes are not chemically or physically representative of the legal cannabis market.