An In-Depth Exploration of The Emerging Field of Psychedelics: A Summary of One Keynote Presentation from the Cannabis Science Conference East 2022
In a keynote address for the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, Dr. Andrew Coop, Dr. Chad Johnson, and Dr. Leah Sera of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy presented “There’S Room for Everyone: The Emerging Field of Psychedelic Therapeutics.” The talk focused on the history of psychedelics, “classical” and “nonclassical” psychedelics, the current clinical research studies on psychedelics, and the announcement of a master’s program in the Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Here are some highlights from the session.
To kick off the psychedelics track on the first day of Cannabis Science Conference East, Dr. Andrew Coop, Dr. Chad Johnson, and Dr. Leah Sera gave an in-depth keynote address of psychedelic therapeutics. First, Dr. Coop explained “classical” psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline, and explained their connection to neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. One of his key takeaways was to remember that every psychedelic will be different. In looking toward the future he announced the new Master’s program at the University of Maryland.
“What's the future hold and what's the science behind psychedelics? And the reason we said there's room for everyone was a bit of a pun, but that really gets into our philosophy of we want this diversity of individuals in the program so that we can professionalize with diversity of individuals in the field,” Dr. Coop explained in a recent interview with Cannabis Science and Technology.
Dr. Johnson gave an in-depth exploration of the properties of seven major “non-classical” psychedelics: MDMA, ketamine, PCP, salvinorin A, scopolamine, muscimol, and ibogaine.
“If there is one thing I'd like folks to take away from the talk is the fact that the mechanism of psychedelics is not all the same. Different ones work in different ways,” Dr. Chad Johnson explained in the same interview. “That's one thing that we'd like to communicate: different mechanisms of pharmacological action. How these things work. That's important to note, especially if in the future, these are going to be approved and actually used as therapy.”
Dr. Sera gave a brief overview of the history of the therapeutic use of psychedelics starting in the 19th century and continuing today. She explained four examples of current clinical research on the use of psychedelics in treating social anxiety disorder, alcohol and substance abuse, and unipolar and bipolar disorder. One of her key takeaways was a reminder that we are looking at these substances as medicine used to help patients rather than as recreational drugs. She also emphasized the importance of set and setting in psychedelic assisted therapy.
At the end of the hour-long session, the audience asked several questions on varying topics. One question was about the possibility of using the neurogenesis capabilities of psychedelics as a treatment for Alzheimer’s and dementia, another question was how to promote the benefits of psychedelics to increase their availability for treating mental health disorders, and one final question brought up a newly published study on how psychedelics decreased the rate of suicidal tendencies, a study which the panel and several audience members were greatly interested in.
For the full CST interview with Dr. Andrew Coop and Dr. Chad Johnson, please visit: https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/the-emerging-field-of-psychedelic-therapeutics
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
