Dr. Nikolas Fokialakis, Assistant Professor Division of Phamrcognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens, Greece, will be presenting at FIU's MMC Campus.

About the Seminar:

Psychoactive plants and mushrooms have been used for centuries for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational purposes. The prohibition of those plants and mushrooms over the last century has prevented scientific research and medical exploration of their potential therapeutic benefits. However, with recent advancements in scientific research, there has been a growing understanding of the possible positive impacts of these substances on mental and physical health. This has led to an increased interest from scientists and medical professionals in exploring the potential benefits of these substances. Researchers have conducted clinical trials and published studies that demonstrate the potential of Cannabis and other psychoactive plants like Kratom or Salvia sp. and mushrooms like Amanita sp or Psilocybe sp to treat a wide range of mental health disorders, including addiction, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, these substances have shown promise in treating chronic pain and other neuropathic disorders. As a result, many regulatory bodies are revising their frameworks to allow the controlled access to these substances for medicinal purposes. This shift towards legalization or at least decriminalization is driven by the recognition of the potential benefits of these substances and the general acceptance of those plants and mushrooms by patients and the wider public. Overall, the emerging scientific research on the potential therapeutic benefits of those plants and mushrooms is leading to a shift in attitudes towards these substances, as policymakers and regulators acknowledge the potential benefits and seek to create updated legal frameworks that reflect the evolving landscape.

Questions? Contact Marisol Torres from the Biomolecular Sciences Institute at matorr@fiu.edu.