Linda Klumpers
Partner & Clinical Pharmacologist with Verdient Science; Director with Tomori Pharmacology, DBA Cannify; Assistant Professor with the University of Vermont, Vermont, USA
Biggest challenge facing cannabis science?
I think one of the biggest challenges is the lack of research by the industry. Beautiful slogans and promises that sound like: ‘science-based products’ or ‘developed by Ph.D. scientists’ (I will not quote companies literally) are often hot air. Many companies I have interacted with, have larger marketing budgets than budgets for research. Of course there are some exceptions – and I am fortunate that, at Verdient Science, many of our clients are the exception to this rule – but I am talking about the general trend in the industry.
Controversial opinion?
An important issue to mention is talent recognition. I have mentored people in the industry whose talents were not acknowledged by their management, purely because of the lack of an academic grade. I have worked for companies who refused to send out advertisements for an R&D position with a “M.Sc. degree, or equivalent thinking and working experience”, because they would not accept anyone without such a degree. I believe that thinking that a degree is the only option, can be narrow-minded, and can lead to missed opportunities.
Besides, to get more academic experience, there are tons of ways to get this done through coursework and professional certificates, other than the common tertiary education at a young age. I truly hope that people without a degree, but with tons of motivation are not giving up: there are companies out there that recognize your talents!
