Jahan Marcu PhD

Dr. Jahan Marcu, PhD, has over 15 years of experience in research, policy, and operations. He is also among a select group of professionals globally that has earned a PhD focused on the endocannabinoid system (with research on the structure and function of cannabinoid receptors, molecular pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system). He has been a passionate advocate focused on consumer safety. His efforts also include developing international certification and training programs and co-authoring American Herbal Pharmacopeia’s Cannabis Monograph.

He is credited with assisting in the creation of the first nationally adopted standards for the cannabis and hemp industry as the laboratory committee chairman of the cannabis committee for the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA).  His dedication to consumer safety is further evident in his work to co-develop a biotech application to predict drug-drug interactions between cannabis and commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs. Additionally, Dr. Marcu co-authored one of the first product safety studies on CBD products. Dr. Marcu also provides advising services to regulatory offices in the United States.

Dr. Marcu’s work has been instrumental in facilitating and supporting fact-based, scientific approaches vital to industry and patients. This has included research focused on solving the structure and function of cannabinoid receptors, the anti-cancer properties of cannabis compounds, as well as method development and validation for analyzing complex formulations.  He is also a court-qualified expert witness on cannabis and cannabinoids. Dr. Marcu has published basic and clinical research.

He is the founding Editor-In-Chief of the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine. He is also founder and past chair of the Cannabis Chemistry Sub-division of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest and oldest professional scientific society.  Further illustrating the recognition earned through his efforts, he has been asked to serve on multiple expert government advisory and trade association committees, as well as scientific organizations including ASTM (D37 Subcommittee chair), ACS Cannabis Chemistry Subdivision (CANN), and IACM (past BOD).

Reflecting his dedication to the field, Dr. Marcu has received numerous awards including the Mahmoud Elsohly Award for excellence in cannabis chemistry and the Billy Martin Research Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society for his work on THC and CBD synergy in aggressive brain cancers. His work has been published and covered in publications such as Rolling Stone, Science, Nature, JAMA, the Washington Post, CNN, and many other media outlets.