Dr. M-J Milloy to Study Cannabis for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence as UBC's First Canopy Growth Professor



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Cannabis is fully legalized in Canada, researchers interested in this plant can finally undertake previously inaccessible investigations, entangled in paperwork.

The overdose crisis is undoubtedly one of the most urgent areas of investigation. It can be argued that cannabis can be used to help some people manage, minimize or even eliminate opioid addiction.

For several years, the High Hopes Foundation has sold cannabis on a street market in the downtown area. Sarah Blyth, founder of High Hopes, explained that some of her clients were using cannabis rather than hard drugs, avoiding the risk of overdose posed by the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl.

While there is some evidence to support these claims, research around this issue can only be described as limited, at best. Until now, the Canadian and US governments have simply made cannabis research too difficult to do without encountering tough regulations.

But the Canadian cannabis law came into effect last October. Now the B.C. The government has said that he took this idea seriously and wished to have more and better information on the subject. It is revealed that a UBC project announced last June will be led by M-J Milloy, a highly respected substance abuse epidemiologist from the BC Center on Substance Use.

"Examining the potential of cannabis to cope with the opioid overdose crisis and other substance use disorders is a top priority for Dr. MJ Milloy, a leader in the treatment of opioid overdose and other substance use disorders. recognized in the field of epidemiology and Canopy Growth's first cannabis science professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), "reads a November 23 press release.

"This Chair will lead clinical trials aimed at exploring the role that cannabis can play in helping people with opioid-related disorders to stay on their treatment plan."

Milloy is quoted in the release pointing out that there is a lot of work to be done.

"The therapeutic benefits of cannabis are just beginning to be understood," he said. "Early research has shown that this could have a stabilizing impact on people with opioid-related disorders, improving their quality of life and enabling them to find long-term treatment solutions." In times of overdose, we have a scientific imperative to build on this research. "

According to the government's press release, 1,143 people died as a result of an illegal drug overdose in British Columbia. in the first nine months of 2018. This should enable the province to sustain about 1,500 deaths by the end of the year, probably exceeding the 1,458 deaths overdoses that occurred in BC in 2017.

"We need everyone on the bridge to save lives and help people find treatment and recovery services that will benefit them in the long run," said BC Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Judy Darcy quoted in today's press release. "Our government has been bold and innovative in providing treatment options – based on evidence – to people living with addictions." This unique faculty chair will lead research and clinical trials on how cannabis-based products can be used to cope with the overdose crisis it takes three to four lives a day. "

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