RegulatoryDEA files post-hearing brief recommending marijuana be moved to Schedule IIIRegulatoryGermany's medical cannabis insurance reform descends into regulatory disputeStudyPhase 3 trial of full-spectrum cannabis extract VER-01 for chronic low back pain published in Nature MedicineStudyUniversity of Sydney trial: cannabidiol significantly reduces chronic pain in people with nerve damageRegulatoryTGA responds to medicinal cannabis review, signalling overhaul of Australian access pathwaysBusinessFDA grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to plant-derived cannabis extract for pain treatmentBusinessTilray expands cultivation capacity and updates guidance on German medical cannabis marketBusinessDunbar Pharma launches first plant-derived dronabinol in UK through IPS PharmaStudyAnanda Pharma's ENDOCAN study explores pharmaceutical-grade CBD for endometriosis careRegulatoryCongressional researchers note FDA has missed deadline to publish hemp cannabinoid lists and container guidanceRegulatoryDEA files post-hearing brief recommending marijuana be moved to Schedule IIIRegulatoryGermany's medical cannabis insurance reform descends into regulatory disputeStudyPhase 3 trial of full-spectrum cannabis extract VER-01 for chronic low back pain published in Nature MedicineStudyUniversity of Sydney trial: cannabidiol significantly reduces chronic pain in people with nerve damageRegulatoryTGA responds to medicinal cannabis review, signalling overhaul of Australian access pathwaysBusinessFDA grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to plant-derived cannabis extract for pain treatmentBusinessTilray expands cultivation capacity and updates guidance on German medical cannabis marketBusinessDunbar Pharma launches first plant-derived dronabinol in UK through IPS PharmaStudyAnanda Pharma's ENDOCAN study explores pharmaceutical-grade CBD for endometriosis careRegulatoryCongressional researchers note FDA has missed deadline to publish hemp cannabinoid lists and container guidance
Educators

Educators leading the science and practice of cannabinoid medicine.

Clinicians, scientists, published authors and regulatory experts — drawn from across the world and selected for scientific credibility, clinical experience and teaching excellence.

Meet our Director of Education
Professor Kylie O'Brien, Director of Education at the Institute for Cannabinoid Therapy

Professor Kylie O'Brien

Director of Education
PhD (Chin Med), MPH, BAppSc (Chin Med), BSc (Optometry), Grad Cert Tertiary Education

Trained originally as an optometrist, after 15 years in clinical practice Kylie career-changed to Chinese medicine, developing a career as an academic and later holding senior administrative roles in universities and private education institutions.

She entered the medicinal cannabis industry in 2018, where she became one of Australia's leading doctor educators, creating the first medicinal cannabis courses to receive Category 1 CPD approval from the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners. She is actively involved in clinical research into medicinal cannabis, and has authored three books — one on integrative oncology and two on medicinal cannabis (mental health, women's health) — all published by Springer.

She is an Adjunct Professor at Torrens University and an Adjunct Associate Professor at NICM Health Research Institute (Western Sydney University), a member of the Australian government's TEQSA Expert Panel, and sits on the Policy and Regulation Committee of the Federation of International Hemp Organisations (FIHO).

Dr. Shabnam Sarshar, phytopharmacist and women's health strategist

Dr. Shabnam Sarshar

Phytopharmacist & Women's Health Strategist
PhD in Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry · Certifications in Endocannabinoid Medicine and Natural Women's Medicine

Dr. Shabnam Sarshar is a phytopharmacist and women's health strategist specializing in cannabinoid science and female-specific physiology. With a PhD in Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, and certifications in Endocannabinoid Medicine and Natural Women's Medicine, she has spent over a decade working across pharmaceutical research, medical advisory, and women's health entrepreneurship.

Her work translates complex hormonal and sex-specific biological mechanisms into clinically actionable insights for research, product development, and medical education. She advises medical and wellness companies on women-focused innovation, bringing a rigorous, evidence-based lens to the rapidly evolving field of cannabinoid therapeutics.

She is the founder of The Recalibration, a platform redefining midlife as a biological recalibration, not a decline. Her teaching bridges molecular pharmacology with practical clinical application, with a particular focus on the endocannabinoid system, hormonal health, and the development of cannabinoid-based interventions for women.

Associate Professor Janet Schloss, clinical researcher and oncology educator

Associate Professor Janet Schloss

Clinical Researcher & Oncology Educator
PhD · Naturopath · Clinical Nutritionist

A/Prof Janet Schloss has a background as a naturopath and clinical nutritionist and completed her PhD at the School of Medicine, University of Queensland. She has worked extensively conducting clinical trials and led one of the world’s first trials on cannabis and brain cancer, as well as the largest cannabis and sleep trial in Australia.

In addition to her research, Janet has maintained a private practice for over 25 years, predominantly in oncology. She has focused on oncology for more than 20 years and works closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons. She brings extensive knowledge of trial design, trial implementation, and both quantitative and qualitative research, alongside deep industry experience.

She regularly presents at conferences in Australia and worldwide and has over 80 peer-reviewed published journal articles to date.

Dr Philip Blair, family physician and cannabinoid medicine educator

Dr Philip Blair

Family Physician & Cannabinoid Medicine Educator
MD · Colonel, US Army (retired) · West Point '72 · University of Miami School of Medicine '78

Dr Philip Blair is a family physician and consultant in complex disease management based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. A graduate of West Point (1972) and the University of Miami School of Medicine (1978), he trained in family medicine and served as a combat physician in the 1990–91 Gulf War, retiring after 25 years in uniform with medical assignments across three continents.

Since 2014, Dr Blair has studied, treated, written and lectured internationally on cannabidiol and the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), consulting with patients, families and professionals worldwide. His clinical focus is restoring health and performance by enhancing ECS function, whose dysfunction appears closely associated with the full range of chronic illness.

In 2021 he co-authored Medicinal Cannabis and CBD in Mental Healthcare and developed BCPlus, an oral non-cannabis CB2 receptor activator derived from caryophyllene.

Daniel Gana, pharmaceutical microbiologist and cannabis educator

Daniel Gana

Pharmaceutical Microbiologist & Cannabis Educator
M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Daniel Gana is a pharmaceutical microbiologist and cannabis educator specializing in the antimicrobial potential of plant-based compounds and cannabinoid science. With an M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and over seven years of hands-on experience with the cannabis plant, he bridges the gap between bench research and public understanding.

His work spans antimicrobial research on medicinal plants and cannabis-derived compounds, alongside compliance education for wellness companies and research teams. He distills dense scientific jargon into accessible language, helping organizations improve regulatory compliance while deepening their grasp of minor cannabinoids and the full therapeutic spectrum of the plant.

Through teaching and advisory work, Daniel equips both industry professionals and community groups with the evidence-based literacy needed to navigate cannabis science with confidence, grounding every conversation in microbiological rigor and a deep respect for the plant's pharmacological complexity.

Dr Adam Abodeely, colorectal surgeon and cannabinoid medicine educator

Dr Adam Abodeely

Colorectal Surgeon & Gastrointestinal Cannabinoid Educator
MD · MBA (Kellogg) · FACS · FASCRS

Dr Adam Abodeely is a double board-certified general and colorectal surgeon, physician executive, educator and entrepreneur whose work bridges conventional medicine, cannabinoid science, gastrointestinal health and integrative wellness.

He serves as President-elect and a board member of the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists, advancing evidence-based cannabis education for healthcare professionals. He has moderated scientific symposia and lectured internationally, including at the WeCann Conference in São Paulo, and has advised the New York State Office of Cannabis Management with a particular focus on inflammatory bowel disease. He also sits on the U.S. Medical Advisory Board of Tikun Olam.

His teaching interests span the endocannabinoid system, gastrointestinal applications of cannabinoid therapy, patient selection, safety and risk reduction, product formulation, dosing and drug interactions — and the appropriate role of cannabis as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, evidence-based medical care.

Clinically, he is founder and CEO of Adirondack Gastrointestinal & Colorectal Surgery and Medical Director of Gastroenterology at Adirondack Health. He earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, trained in general surgery at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, completed fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery, and holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Dr Mitchell Low

Natural Products Researcher & Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetics Educator
Postdoctoral Research Senior Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University

Dr Mitchell Low is a Postdoctoral Research Senior Fellow in Natural Products Research at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia. He specialises in medicinal cannabis, analytical chemistry, and clinical pharmacokinetics.

His research focuses on the development and translation of plant-derived medicines, with particular expertise in cannabinoid pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and regulatory science. Dr Low has led and supported clinical studies of CBD and cannabinoid products across oral, suppository, and intravenous delivery systems and has extensive experience in LC-MS/MS bioanalysis of cannabinoids and their metabolites.

He also lectures on pharmacokinetics in the Topics in Pharmacology program at Western Sydney University and contributes to emerging research on psychedelic therapeutics and natural products-based drug development.

Teaching team

Additional educators are being added to this page as each joins the teaching team.

The Institute is building a teaching team that spans the continents and the full breadth of cannabinoid medicine — from endocannabinoid system biology and clinical pharmacology to pain, mental health, women's health and regulatory science.

Teach with us

Multi-continental

Clinicians and researchers drawn from across every populated continent, reflecting the Institute's international mandate.

Published authors

Educators with peer-reviewed publications, textbook contributions and roles on national and international guidance.

Practising clinicians

Doctors, pharmacists and nurse practitioners who apply cannabinoid therapeutics in real-world practice.

Active researchers

Scientists advancing the mechanistic and clinical evidence base in cannabinoid medicine.

Regulatory experts

Advisors versed in the regulatory frameworks that govern medicinal cannabis worldwide.

Dedicated educators

Experienced teachers selected for their ability to translate complex science into clear clinical practice.