As cannabis becomes more accepted across the United States, public conversations are changing quickly. But according to Rebecca Cooney, a professor of Strategic Communication at WSU, many people still misunderstand what cannabis research is actually about.

Cooney works in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and is also a co-investigator with the Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, or R3CR. The center helps researchers navigate regulations, research materials and scientific standards.  

Her role focuses on helping scientists communicate complicated findings in ways the public can understand.

“I really love working in the intersection of strategy and science and smart design,” Cooney said. “There’s just something incredibly rewarding about taking highly complex data and transforming it into human centered, actionable digital experiences.”

R3CR serves as a national resource hub for cannabis researchers. The initiative offers workshops, webinars, funding opportunities, regulatory guidance and best-practice resources intended to improve the quality and reproducibility of cannabis studies.  

Cooney said the project is especially important because cannabis researchers often face barriers that other scientific fields do not.

“Our goal is to just empower researchers by providing them with resources and promoting the standards to ensure that their studies are high quality and reproducible,” she said.

She said one feature she is especially proud of is the center’s peer-to-peer materials network, which helps researchers connect with institutions that may already have approved research materials.

“In this world of cannabis research, getting your hands on specific research grade materials can be a really big roadblock,” Cooney said.

That kind of support can save researchers time and help studies move forward faster.

Cooney said one of the biggest public misunderstandings is the idea that cannabis is automatically harmless because it is natural.

“A major misconception is the false assumption that because cannabis is a natural plant, it is universally safe,” she said.

Instead, researchers are studying dosage, potency, long-term health effects, methods of consumption and interactions with prescription medications.

“My job is to help researchers communicate the highly nuanced realities of the science,” Cooney said.

Cooney emphasized that her work is not about promoting cannabis use. Instead, she sees communication as a public health responsibility.

“My role isn’t to really promote cannabis,” she said. “It’s to support the scientific community and provide the public with evidence-based recommendations so they can make informed decisions.”

She added that cannabis communicators should help reduce stigma while remaining objective.

“I would say that communicators have a responsibility to dismantle biases,” Cooney said.

That includes making sure information is accurate and accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Over the next five to 10 years, Cooney expects the national conversation around cannabis to become more mature and evidence-driven.

“I think we’ll see a move away from outdated sort of stereotypes and basic conversations about potency,” she said. “Instead focus on providing clear, objective data.”

So this 4/20, before you hit Apex or Green Nugget, remember that cannabis is more than just a stereotype or a “silly leaf”—it is a substance that deserves informed understanding and respect for the science behind it.