Events
June 2019
Medicinal cannabis and psychoactive plants (and related substances) for mental health and addiction
This one-day research forum took place on Friday 28 June at the University of Melbourne and was hosted by the School of Social and Political Science and Department of Psychiatry, in partnership with the Penington Institute (please see the event flyer (380kb pdf)). The event brought together invited researchers, policy makers and regulators working across mental health, addiction and medicines regulation to hear from eminent local and international researchers on the potential use of cannabinoids and medicinal psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Event recordings
Keynotes
- Associate Professor Matthew Johnson, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Therapeutic potential of psilocybin for psychiatric and substance use disorders
- Dr Rick Doblin, Executive Director and founder MAPS, and Board member MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, Making MDMA into a prescription medicine for the treatment of PTSD
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Session 1
Introduction and context, Dr Daniel Perkins – School of Social and Political Science
MDMA assisted psychotherapy for severe PTSD: Therapeutic approach in a phase 3 trial, Dr Ingmar Gorman – Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research (BST) Program, New York University
Medicinal cannabis and Kava: potential applications in psychiatric disorders, Professor Jerome Sarris–NICM, Western Sydney University; and Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne.
Psilocybin for the treatment of anxiety among terminally ill patients: the first Australian clinical trial at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Dr Martin Williams –Monash University; and PRISM
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Session 2
Regulatory requirements: clinical trials, access to un-approved medicines and the TGA registration process (slides only), Adjunct Prof John Skerritt – Deputy Secretary, Health Products Regulation, Department of Health
Medicinal Cannabis for psychiatric conditions and addictions: The current state of play in Australia, Dr Melissa Benson –Lambert Institute of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney
Ayahuasca as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders? Dr Daniel Perkins–School of Social and Political Science, University of Melbourne
Swiss research exploring the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, LSD, MDMA and DMT and the Swiss compassionate use framework, Dr Milan Scheidigger – Department of Psychiatry, University of Zurich