Two Decades of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines: 20 Years of Supporting Research and Activities Toward the Medicinal Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids

Abstract

Emerged from the German Association for Cannabis as Medicine (ACM), a handful of enthusiastic medical doctors from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria supported by experts from other countries established the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) in March 2000. During the past 20 years until today, it evolved toward the most important scientific society for clinical research in the field of cannabis-based medicines. The overarching aim of the IACM is to advance the knowledge on cannabis, cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and related topics especially with regard to their therapeutic potential, which would allow more patients to profit from a treatment with cannabis-based medicines and ease legislators to adopt their policies. To reach this goal, the IACM organizes international scientific conferences, biweekly publishes the IACM-Bulletin—currently in six different languages—reaching more than 5000 people worldwide, and is working closely together with patient associations, international partner organizations, and IACM ambassadors. In 2019, a collaborative partnership with the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research was established.