Brain Injury, Cannabinoids, and the Endocannabinoid System

Brain Injury, Cannabinoids, and the Endocannabinoid System - with Dr. Elizabeth Thompson Dr. Elizabeth Thompson holds a PhD in pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan, specializing in cannabinoid science related to concussion, neuroinflammation, and pain. She also holds an MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology (University of Texas) and a BSc Honours in Molecular Biology (University of Waterloo). With over 20 years’ experience in contact sports (both personally and professionally), she integrates athlete health, performance, and policy into her research. She contributes to an NFL/NFLPA-funded clinical trial on cannabinoid use and the therapeutic potential in elite contact sport athletes. Dr. Thompson has published in leading academic journals such as Sports Medicine, BMC Neurology and Sports, and leads Train With Mary Jane (Mary Jane Athletics), an education-based company translating complex cannabinoid science into accessible, evidence-based education. Learning Objectives: • Why the endocannabinoid system matters in brain injury: explore the biological rationale for targeting the endocannabinoid system in concussion and mild traumatic brain injury. • Athletes and Veterans share overlapping clinical needs: understand the shared symptom burden across athletes and veterans, including pain, sleep disruption, mood symptoms, and neurological concerns. • Moving from theory to clinical evidence: review emerging clinical research on cannabinoid-based therapies in elite and retired athletes, and the need for better clinician education in this area.