CSU Pueblo director of Institute of Cannabis Research wins national safety award
Marion McNabb earns the 2026 Discovery Award, one of 21 national honors.
PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 30, 2026) Marion McNabb, director of the Institute of Cannabis Research at Colorado State University Pueblo, received the 2026 Discovery Award from Americans for Safe Access on Oct. 29 for research on cannabis safety.
McNabb was appointed in August 2026 to lead the university’s multidisciplinary research and academic impact on cannabis science and policy. Her research focuses on real-world evidence, patient and consumer experiences, public health outcomes and evidence-based policy.
The Discovery Award recognizes researchers whose work expands scientific understanding of cannabis safety, therapeutic applications and potential risks. Those findings help inform patient care, professional practice and public policy. The honor comes as federal cannabis rescheduling has renewed national debate over medical value and public health. For Pueblo and southern Colorado, the award places local research inside that conversation.
Americans for Safe Access, a national nonprofit founded in 2002, named 21 recipients of its 2026 Cannabis Safety Awards from 66 nominees across 17 categories. Winners were announced during the group’s Oct. 29 webinar, “Cannabis Safety: Fears & Facts.” McNabb shares the Discovery Award with Kyle Boyar, who was also recognized for research advancing cannabis safety.
The awards follow Cannabis Safety Month, which the organization created to address community concerns about youth exposure, impaired driving, product quality and potential health risks. Researchers across the country are studying both therapeutic benefits and potential harms.
“Winning public support for medical cannabis is not the same as keeping public trust,” said Steph Sherer, Founder and Executive Director, Americans for Safe Access. “Cannabis safety has always been part of our fight for safe access, and we share many of the concerns being raised today. The Cannabis Safety Awards recognize the people doing the work that often gets lost in the headlines, demonstrating that legitimate concerns can lead to stronger protections and better healthcare outcomes rather than new barriers to medical cannabis access.”
About Colorado State University Pueblo
CSU Pueblo is a regional comprehensive university and designated Hispanic-Serving Institution located in Southern Colorado. With an enrollment of over 3,500 students, the university offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, business, nursing, and the sciences. The university serves a diverse, first-generation student body and prepares graduates for leadership and success in a changing global economy.
