Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), said that psychedelic substances have promising potential for therapeutic uses, particularly for treating severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction.
Accelerating Research
At a Senate hearing, Volkow acknowledged that research into psychedelic drugs had been halted for many years due to cultural stigma and drug war criminalization.
However, she noted that the situation has changed, and NIDA is partnering with the National Institute of Mental Health to expand and accelerate research in this area.
“We’re actually engaging the scientific community to try to understand how psychedelic drugs can be potentially utilized for the treatment—how they affect the brain, and also how to deploy them in ways that are going to be safe and very effective,” Volkow said.
Meanwhile, Volkow also expressed concern about the frequent use of high-THC cannabis products and the need to understand the consequences of their use.
Photo: WOKANDAPIX On Pixabay.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
Click on the image for more info.
Cannabis rescheduling seems to be right around the corner
Want to understand what this means for the future of the industry?
Hear directly for top executives, investors and policymakers at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, coming to Chicago this Oct. 8-9.
Get your tickets now before prices surge by following this link.