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Dr. Alan Shackelford, M.D.

Medical Director | Amarimed of Colorado | CMO, Shackelford Pharma

Introduction

A Physician. A Scientist. A Pioneer in Cannabis-Based Medicine.

Dr. Alan Shackelford is internationally regarded as one of the leading physicians in medical cannabis research and application. With a career spanning internal medicine, behavioral science, and nutritional therapy, he has worked at the intersection of tradition and innovation for over four decades. Dr. Shackelford has testified before lawmakers, published clinical research, and helped shape cannabis policy across the U.S. and abroad.

“My job is to help patients get their lives back—safely and thoughtfully.”

Education & Medical Training

Education:

  • B.A. – Grinnell College, 1971

  • M.D. – University of Heidelberg School of Medicine, 1984

Postgraduate Training:

  • Intern & Resident, Internal Medicine – Harvard Medical School Hospitals (Brigham & Women’s, Deaconess, 1984–1987)

  • Fellowships in Nutrition, Behavioral Medicine, and Clinical Research – Harvard (1987–1991)

Certifications:

  • Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine (1996)

  • Diving Medicine, German Naval Institute (1997)

  • Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Hong Kong (1999)

  • Colorado Worker’s Compensation Board, Level I (2019)

Publications & Lectures

Dr. Shackelford has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and educational texts. His work has appeared in Lipids, CMAJ, J Clin Neurophysiology, and The Wellness Book, among others.

Featured Speaker at 30+ international medical cannabis events

CNN Documentary: Weed, with Dr. Sanjay Gupta (2013)

Adviser to Lawmakers in Colorado, Connecticut, New York, the U.K., Mexico, and Israel

Peer-Reviewed Publications
  • Immunological studies of chronic prostatitis (Münchner Med. Wochenschrift, 1978)
  • Local immune response to urinary tract bacteria in experimental cystitis (Urol. Res., 1979)
  • Application of immunofluorescence techniques to urinary tract flora (Elsevier Biomedical, 1978)
  • The response to endotoxin in guinea pigs after TPN with black currant seed oil (Lipids, 1990)
  • Nutrition in cancer and HIV infection (The Wellness Book, 1992)
  • Stress and weight maintenance: The disinhibition effect (Obesity: Pathophysiology, Psychology and Treatment, 1994)
  • Cannabis for Pediatric Epilepsy (J Clin Neurophysiol, 2020)
  • Improving Cannabis Regulation for Pediatric Patients in Canada (CMAJ, 2021)
  • Medical Cannabis: What We Know, What We Don’t Know – NORML National Conference, Denver, 2011
  • Cannabis and the Elderly – Colorado Bar Association Elder Law Section, 2011
  • Cannabis Pharmacology & Policy – Foro Internacional, Uruguay, 2014
  • Cannabis as a Medical Treatment Option – Senate of the Republic of Colombia, 2014
  • Cannabis and Veterans’ Well-Being – Canadian Parliament, 2019
  • Cannabis in the Treatment of Workplace Injuries – American Association for Justice, 2018
  • Medical Cannabis: Art of Practice & Research Challenges – University of Colorado Grand Rounds, 2018
  • What School Nurses Need to Know – National Association of School Nurses Webinar, 2019
  • A Brief History of Medical Cannabis – CRIS Symposium, University of Saskatchewan, 2018
  • Cannabinoid Biology & Marijuana Policy – AACPDM Presidential Lecture, 2015
  • Featured in CNN’s “Weed” Documentary with Dr. Sanjay Gupta (2013)
  • Keynote Speaker – CannaTech Forum, Israel (2015)
  • Medical Cannabis in Mexico & Colombia – Senate Hearings (2014)
  • Consultant – UK Ministry of Criminal Justice, German Ministry of Health
  • Adviser – Governors, Senators, and Public Health Departments in Colorado, Connecticut, New York, and Alabama

Current Roles

Principal Physician, Amarimed of Colorado (2009–present)

Chief Medical Officer, Shackelford Pharma, Inc.

Member, Colorado Board of Medicine (2022–present)

Consultant to the Colorado Department of Public Health, Board of Medical Examiners, and Workers’ Compensation Board

Previous Consulting & Advisory Roles

Over the course of his career, Dr. Alan Shackelford has advised lawmakers, health ministries, regulatory boards, and research institutions across the United States and internationally. His work has helped shape cannabis policy, physician guidelines, and research frameworks—while ensuring that patients remain at the center of medical decision-making.

U.S. State & Federal Roles
  • Advisor, Colorado State Senator Chris Romer – Medical cannabis legislation and clinical research, 2010
  • Consultant, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy & Judiciary Committee – Legislative strategy and science communication, 2011
  • Consultant, New York State Senator Diane Savino – Medical marijuana program design, 2012
  • Physician Member, Colorado Board of Medical Examiners – Clinical practice standards, 2022–present
  • Member, Colorado Medical Marijuana Advisory Council & Scientific Advisory Council
  • Consultant, Colorado Attorney General’s Office – Practitioner guideline adherence
  • Consultant, Colorado Worker’s Compensation Board – Cannabis for workplace injury care
  • Advisor, Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Germany – Mind/body medicine integration, 1990
  • Presenter, British Consulate Denver – UK Minister for Criminal Justice, 2013
  • Keynote Presenter, Mexican and Colombian Senate Hearings – Medical cannabis in Latin America, 2014
  • Panelist, Canadian House of Commons, Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, 2019
  • Representative, Harvard’s Mind/Body Medical Institute – Germany medical collaborations, 1990–1991
  • Consultant, One World Cannabis (Israel) – Clinical development & research frameworks, 2014–2015
  • Chief Medical Officer, Shackelford Pharma, Canada – Cannabinoid drug development, 2018–present