Evaluating the Impact of cannabis to reduce or manage illicit drug use in Vancouver, Canada

In North America, opioid and stimulant use are increasing at an alarming rate and contributing to unprecedented health harms, including an overdose epidemic that has been characterized by multiple levels of government as a public health crisis. Several recent studies have suggested potential uses of cannabis as a substitution or harm reduction strategy for opioid and stimulant use, pointing to the potential of cannabis to lead to reduced harms through the reduced use or outright substitution of potentially toxic illicit drugs. The pending legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada might also have important implications on substitution and drug use patterns. The overarching goal of this study is to examine instrumental uses of cannabis to reduce or manage illicit drug use in the context of an overdose epidemic and its potential use as a therapeutic intervention. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Ryan McNeil

Student:

Jenna Valleriani

Partner:

BC Compassion Club Society

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: