Cannabis

UW-CTRI is interested in conducting research on the health effects of cannabis use and the intersection of cannabis and tobacco co-use, particularly as it relates to tobacco dependence and treatment.

Research Papers

• UW-CTRI has published peer-reviewed research papers related to cannabis. Examples:
  • Rethinking smoking: Cannabis, tobacco, and lung cancer
  • Effects of inhaled tobacco and cannabis co-use on respiratory health and tobacco cessation.
  • Wisconsin young adults’ attitudes, beliefs, motivations, and behaviors surrounding e-cigarette use and cessation.
  • Tobacco-cannabis co-use among cancer patients and survivors: findings from 2 US cancer centers.
  • Cannabis use among adults who smoke tobacco: Relations with switching from combusted cigarettes to e-cigarettes or very low nicotine cigarettes.
  • To view all UW-CTRI publications, click here.

Behavioral health

• UW-CTRI manages a program that examines the interaction of tobacco use and behavioral health. It’s called the Wisconsin Nicotine Treatment Integration Project (WiNTiP).
• Patients have said that tobacco use was the addiction that triggered their other addictions or mental health issues. Hear from them:

• WiNTiP works with health care providers to help their patients address use of tobacco as an essential part of treatment for mental illness or other substance use disorders (including cannabis use disorder).
• UW-CTRI’s Outreach Program provides free training and technical assistance to help integrate tobacco dependence treatment and implement tobacco-free environments in behavioral health settings. To learn more, click here.

Conferences and Presentations

• UW-CTRI was a co-host of the inaugural UW-Madison Cannabis Research Conference. UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Jesse Kaye served on the planning committee and UW-CTRI Director Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria was a panelist. April 22, 2025.
• American Society of Addiction Medicine Regional Conference, Workshop 1.2: Doc, How Do I Use Weed? Discussing Benefits and Harms with Confidence. Panelists included UW-CTRI Director Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria. September 24, 2025.
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) 2026: Tobacco and cannabis co–use through a health equity lens. Chaired by UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Jesse Kaye and Dr. Andrea Weinberger. UW-CTRI Research Director Dr. Megan Piper and UW-CTRI Director Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria will be panelists. March 4, 2026.

Cannabis news 

• UW-CTRI Researcher Jesse Kaye, PhD, is a member of the UW Cannabis Research Work Group that is currently planning for future annual conferences.
• Cannabis use associated with difficulty switching cigarettes out for vapes.
• The PATH study examined cannabis and tobacco co-use.
• For more news on how UW-CTRI is studying cannabis use, click here.

For information on cannabis, please refer to the Food and Drug Administration, American Lung Association, National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Cancer Institute.