The Network Of Applied Pharmacognosy

What The Network Of Applied Pharmacognosy does

The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded in 2023 by PhDs Riley Kirk and Miyabe Shields. It runs community-led, longitudinal real-world evidence studies on cannabis and adjacent natural products (including Kratom and Kava), partnering with MoreBetter (Releaf App) for mobile data capture and with industry sponsors such as DaySavers, Custom Cones USA, the Cannabis Research Coalition (Clemson University / The Hemp Mine), Controlled Chemistry, Operator Academy, and Leafwell to scope and resource specific studies. NAP's research portfolio spans dosing (including a flagship n=2,857 longitudinal study and a 4,591-participant concentrate dataset), neurodivergent and autistic cannabis use (2.2M+ datapoints), hemp-derived cannabinoid beverages (18,000+ reports), intimacy, and the Science of Smokeability pre-roll study, with findings published through a blog, whitepapers, the Bioactive Podcast, and conference panels at NECANN, MJUnpacked, and Emerald Cup.

The organization funds operations through tax-deductible donations (collected via the Zeffy platform), in-kind product donations from concentrate and pre-roll manufacturers, and collaborative research partnerships that supply funding and shared resources. It also operates adjacent programs — the Higher Potential Scholarship Coalition with DaySavers (200+ awards, $25K+ in 2025) and the Weird Brains science advocacy tour with Future4200 — that extend reach into both consumer and industry segments. NAP is governed by its co-founders and a Scientific Advisory Board spanning cannabis cultivation, public health, endocrinology, and medical cannabis education, and operates as a distributed organization with no publicly disclosed office.

Name

The Network Of Applied Pharmacognosy

Legal name

Network of Applied Pharmacognosy

Website

https://appliedpharmacognosy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2023 that runs community-led longitudinal real-world evidence studies on cannabis and natural products, partnering with MoreBetter for data infrastructure and industry sponsors for study funding, and publishing findings via blog, podcast, and conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabis and Natural Products Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Real-World Data (RWD) / Real-World Evidence (RWE) & Observational Research Platforms (HLACAOAM)

Keywords

• Cannabis research
• Natural products research
• Real-world evidence
• Pharmacognosy studies
• Community-led science

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-3946895), NAP relies on tax-deductible donations from the community to fund independent research. The organization conducts crowdfunding campaigns such as 'Stoner Science Breaks the Stigma' to raise funds for research initiatives.
2. Collaborative Research Partnerships: NAP collaborates with aligned industry and academic partners on research projects, which may include funding support, in-kind donations of products, or shared research resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts community-led, longitudinal observational research on cannabis and natural products by collecting real-world evidence directly from consumers and patients through mobile surveys and the Releaf App platform (via MoreBetter). The organization also produces public education resources, hosts the Bioactive Podcast, runs the Higher Potential Scholarship program with DaySavers, operates the Weird Brains science advocacy tour with Future4200, and partners with Leafwell for medical cannabis card access advocacy.

Product overview

The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization that operates as a community-centered research and education platform rather than a traditional product company. Its core offering is a real-world evidence research platform that collects longitudinal cannabis and natural product consumption data directly from consumers via surveys and the Releaf App, producing large-scale behavioral datasets. Supporting services include public education resources (blog, whitepapers, lectures), the Bioactive Podcast, a Scientific Advisory Board, the Weird Brains Science Advocacy Tour, and the Higher Potential Scholarship program. NAP also partners with Leafwell for medical cannabis card access advocacy. Together, these programs bridge academic research, the cannabis industry, and lived-experience-led science to empower community-led, inclusive cannabis research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Real-World Evidence Research Platform A citizen-science research platform that collects longitudinal, real-world cannabis and natural product consumption data directly from consumers and patients via mobile surveys and the Releaf App, generating high-resolution behavioral datasets for cannabis and natural products research. The platform serves researchers, industry partners, and academic collaborators seeking real-world evidence on actual consumer use patterns.
• Bioactive Podcast A bi-weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Riley Kirk covering the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products including cannabis, psychedelics, pharmaceuticals, and other bioactive substances. Special NAPTIME episodes feature NAP research updates. It is targeted at cannabis consumers, researchers, and industry professionals seeking accessible natural product science education.
• Higher Potential Scholarship

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Operator AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026NAP partnered with Operator Academy to collect real-world dab-dosing data at NECANN 2026. Operator Academy, a cannabis workforce training and operations consultancy, hosted the 'Morning Melt' event where attendees participated in NAP's concentrate dosing study.
• Jar Cannabis Co, Cape Cod Grow Lab, Harbor House Collective, Lunar XtractsminorOthers · 1 January 2025Concentrate manufacturers that donated rosin and butane hash oil (BHO) products for NAP's 'Normal Dab Size' research study at NECANN 2026.
• MoreBetter (Releaf App)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAP's primary research collaborator on longitudinal observational studies. MoreBetter, creators of the Releaf App, provides data software infrastructure for NAP's community-based cannabis research. Together they conduct studies on cannabis use patterns, including the largest longitudinal dataset of the cannabis community with thousands of participants tracking daily use, cannabinoid preferences, and health outcomes.
• DaySavers / Custom Cones USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAP partners with DaySavers on the 'Science of Smokeability' (SOS) study, examining how cultivation and processing affect cannabis smoke quality. DaySavers provides funding and compensates 200 participants for qualitative surveys comparing pre-rolls. Custom Cones USA also sponsors experiments on infused pre-rolls analyzing burn temperature and cannabinoid delivery.
• Cannabis Research CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAP collaborates with the Cannabis Research Coalition (CRC), a partnership between Clemson University and The Hemp Mine focused on cannabis cultivation and postharvest challenges. CRC brings expertise in cultivation science to the Science of Smokeability study.
• LeafwellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNAP partnered with Leafwell, the world's largest medical cannabis card provider, to educate the public about medical cannabis cards and help individuals feel more confident about obtaining cards. NAP records interviews with Leafwell's Chief Medical Officer Dr. June Chin and provides referral codes for discounts.
• The Hemp MinecoreOthersThe Hemp Mine, led by Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Allison Justice, is a 20-acre hemp farm, breeding company, and product manufacturer. The company co-founded the Cannabis Research Coalition with NAP and provides expertise in cultivation science.
• University of Maryland Eastern ShoreminorOthersNAP's Higher Potential Scholarship supports PhD student Freweyni Abrha at UMES in researching hemp's molecular defense mechanisms and the impact of insect herbivory on cannabinoid production.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS): 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and conducts rigorous scientific research on psychedelics and marijuana, advocating for regulatory approval and public access. Operates a structurally similar nonprofit research model focused on stigmatized natural products, making it a strong mission and operating-model peer for NAP.
• Drug Science: Independent, science-led nonprofit that provides evidence-based information on drug harms, policy, and therapeutics, including cannabis and psychedelics. Shares NAP's positioning as an independent research/education body outside of commercial industry influence and serves as a comparable model for translating evidence into public communication.
• MoreBetter (Releaf App): Creator of the Releaf App, a consumer-facing cannabis use tracking platform and the primary data infrastructure partner for NAP's longitudinal studies. Both organizations collect real-world cannabis consumption data from consumer/patient users via mobile app, making MoreBetter the closest functional peer in the cannabis RWE category.
• Strainprint: Canadian cannabis patient-tracking and outcomes platform that collects real-world strain-, dose-, and symptom-level data from patients to generate RWE for clinicians and licensed producers. Directly comparable to NAP's longitudinal observational methodology, with overlapping scientific advisory networks and use of patient-generated data.
• Cannabis Research Coalition: Research partnership between Clemson University and The Hemp Mine focused on cannabis cultivation, postharvest, and product-quality science; an existing NAP partner on the Science of Smokeability study. Closely comparable research agenda and stakeholder mix to NAP's cultivation and product-focused studies.

Emerging players

• Leafwell: Largest medical cannabis card provider in the US, offering telehealth certifications and patient-education resources. Listed as a NAP partner for medical-cannabis-card referrals; comparable in audience (medical cannabis patients) and content/education mission but distinct in monetizing certifications rather than research.

Others

• NORML: Long-standing nonprofit cannabis policy reform organization that combines advocacy with public education. Functions as a comparable nonprofit operating model and cannabis-community audience builder, though NORML's focus is policy advocacy rather than scientific research.

Broad incumbents

• Tilray Brands: Large global cannabis and pharmaceutical company with operations across cultivation, distribution, branded products, and pharma-grade cannabinoid research. Represents the broad incumbent counterpart to NAP's niche cannabis research activities and a potential partner for sponsored RWE studies at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBioactive
• Instagraminstagram.com/nap_cannabis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/applied-pharmacognosy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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