Over the past decade, cannabis has become widely accepted and celebrated for its medicinal uses. But much like many other medicinal substances, when used in excess, it can present other physical, mental, and emotional challenges. Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) describes the continued use of cannabis despite impairment in psychological, physical, or social functioning. Reports estimate that anywhere from 10% to 30% of cannabis users develop CUD. This is especially problematic for younger populations whose brain is still in development.
Amongst novel treatments for addictive disorders, Psilocybin has been gaining momentum. A recent study demonstrated that psilocybin significantly reduces heavy drinking days for patients with Alcohol Use Disorder. Another study linked psilocybin use with a reduced risk of developing an Opioid Use Disorder. While an NIH-funded study is currently exploring psilocybin for smoking cessation. Can psilocybin also be a potential treatment for CUD?
LOVE Pharma, a Vancouver-based psychedelic and alternative therapies biotech company has partnered with John Hopkins University to study the efficacy of psilocybin for the treatment of CUD. The study is to be conducted by Dr. Garcia-Romeu and colleagues, as a part of a larger research initiative to study and develop addiction treatment solutions.
Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D. is a member of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Garcia-Romeu studies the effects of psychedelic drugs in humans, focusing on psilocybin as an aid in the treatment of addiction.
LOVE Pharma President and CEO, Zach Stadnyk, commented: “LOVE is actively working to identify and assess biotechnology and pharmaceutical solutions to address addiction, with intent to grow its pharmaceutical presence in the underserved addiction treatment market.”
This is the first study of its kind to explore the efficacy of psilocybin for CUD. The results of this pilot study will serve as the foundation to support advanced research, large-scale trials, and future development of pharmaceutical solutions and protocols for CUD.
