YC-SCAN2 January 2026 Webinar

The January 2026 YC-SCAN2 webinar titled “Sex Differences in Cannabinoid Pharmacology” featured Dr. Mohini Ranganathan, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Ranganathan presented an in-depth overview of sex differences in cannabinoid pharmacology, highlighting longstanding research gaps related to the historical underrepresentation of women in cannabis studies and recent efforts to address these disparities. Drawing on over two decades of research, she discussed biological and clinical factors underlying sex-specific responses to cannabinoids, including differences in receptor availability, hormonal influences, and patterns of cannabis use. Her presentation emphasized emerging human laboratory and PET imaging data, showing that women may be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of THC at lower doses, and underscored the critical need for intentional, sex-specific and interdisciplinary approaches in future cannabinoid research.