California is currently the largest population in the world with legal adult use of cannabis, yet years of research restrictions have contributed to a lack of scientific knowledge about cannabis, particularly in regards to the therapeutic potential. The UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative (UCLA-CRI) is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the wide-ranging health, legal, economic, and social impacts of cannabis. Dr. Chen is passionate about accelerating research into cannabis and its compounds as potentially cost-effective and safe treatments for cancer patients.