# Ask the expert: Summer outlook for Great Lakes shoreline | MSUToday > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/ask-the-expert-summer-outlook-for-great-lakes-shoreline-msutoday/ > **Published:** 2026-06-12T08:07:15-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-09T10:03:11-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** How federal cannabis research restrictions affect Michigan clinicians and the clinical evidence base for cannabis medicine. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance #75 Strong Clinical Relevance High-quality evidence with meaningful patient or clinical significance. PolicyResearchSafetyPainAnxietyMental HealthDosing Dr. Caplan’s Take “The federal Schedule I classification of cannabis remains our biggest clinical obstacle in the Great Lakes region and everywhere else, because it prevents the rigorous pharmacological research we need to match specific [cannabinoid profiles](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-clinical-trials-mental-health-march-2026/) to patient conditions with the same evidence standard we apply to any other medicine.” Clinical Perspective 💧 This article’s discussion of federal [cannabis research](https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabis-certification-care-children/) restrictions in Michigan highlights a critical infrastructure challenge that clinicians should understand when counseling patients or interpreting emerging [cannabis-based therapies](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-inhibit-keratinocyte-proliferation-non-cb1-cb2/). The federal Schedule I classification creates significant barriers to rigorous clinical investigation, meaning much of the cannabis data available to practitioners comes from observational studies, patient surveys, or research conducted in states with more permissive frameworks rather than from FDA-regulated trials. Clinicians should recognize that this regulatory bottleneck affects their ability to make fully evidence-based recommendations about cannabis for conditions like [chronic pain](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pain-management-opioid-alternative/), anxiety, or chemotherapy-induced nausea, particularly since what’s legal at the state level may still lack robust safety and efficacy documentation. When patients ask about [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) or present with cannabis-related concerns, awareness of these federal research constraints can help providers contextualize the limitations of available literature and set appropriate expectations about what is and is not well-established. A practical approach is to stay 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? 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Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).