A user-informed perspective of the toxicological data gap in India's cannabis landscape.
Muzafar Riyaz
Frontiers in toxicology January 15, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2025.1734313 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | India Toxicology Public health policy Harm reduction Adulteration Cannabis regulation Illicit market User-informed research |
| Key points | Argues that toxicological risks of illicit cannabis products in India arise mainly from unpredictable potency, pesticide contamination, and adulteration rather than from cannabinoids, and that prohibition prevents quality control, precise dosing, and assessment of effects users seek. Proposes chemical analysis of products, qualitative research, user-centered outcome measures, and regulation instead of prohibition. |
Abstract
Clinical research on cannabinoids relies on purified compounds and controlled dosing, creating a data gap that ignores the realities of illicit markets. This perspective, informed by thirteen years of firsthand experience within India's prohibited cannabis ecosystem, argues that unregulated products like Ganja and Charas pose significant, overlooked toxicological risks. These risks arise not primarily from cannabinoids themselves, but from unpredictable potency, pesticide contamination, and adulteration in the absence of quality control. Personal consumption patterns reveal that inconsistent products make precise dosing impossible and that standard clinical assessments fail to capture users' sought-after effects, such as cognitive enhancement. To address this public health challenge, this paper calls for: 1) the chemical analysis of illicit products, 2) qualitative research on real-world use, 3) the development of user-centered outcome measures, and 4) ultimately, a transition from prohibition to regulation as the most effective intervention for consumer safety and informed choice.