Chief Medical Officer; Adjunct Professor, Anesthesia
Canopy Growth Corporation / McGill University · Montreal, Canada
Mark Ware is a physician-scientist who has spent over two decades building the clinical evidence base for cannabis in pain medicine. As a faculty member at McGill University and former Director of Clinical Research at the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, he conducted some of the first rigorous clinical trials of smoked and vaporized cannabis for neuropathic pain. His work on the long-term safety of medical cannabis — including the landmark COMPASS study — has been foundational for regulatory frameworks worldwide. Ware served as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, directly shaping Canada's landmark 2018 Cannabis Act. He is currently Chief Medical Officer at Canopy Growth while maintaining his academic affiliation at McGill.
CMAJ · 2010
Crossover RCT of smoked cannabis (2.5–9.4% THC) for chronic neuropathic pain in 23 patients. Higher THC dose significantly reduced average pain intensity (NRS −0.7 vs. placebo) and improved sleep and anxiety. One of the first rigorous RCTs of inhaled cannabis for pain.
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.091414Journal of Pain · 2015
Prospective cohort study of 431 medical cannabis users and 1,145 controls over 1 year. Medical cannabis users showed no significant increase in serious adverse events vs. controls. Cognitive function and pulmonary function were not significantly impaired. Established the 1-year safety profile of medical cannabis.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.07.014Journal of Pain · 2013
Crossover RCT of vaporized cannabis at 0%, 2.9%, 6.7%, and 9.4% THC for neuropathic pain. Dose-dependent reduction in pain intensity with 9.4% THC producing the greatest effect. Established vaporization as a viable delivery route for clinical cannabis research.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2013.01.010