Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1470128
Psychedelics: New Frontiers in Alternative Medicine | vol. 5 no. 5 cannabissciencetech.com 30 feature / research So, in short, my laboratory is so fo- cused on creating this foundation for longevity and sustainability. It's my goal to make this a transgenerational type of study so that even after I leave this time construct, that it's continuing and growing. Q: Is the study nationwide? A: Dr. Vidot: The study is global, actually. Yes, it was an inter- net-based study, and I have collabora- tors in multiple countries and we, basically, collaborated together and dispersed it. So, as of the last time that I looked at the numbers, we have over 3000 participants, and I would say about 1000 of them are not in the United States. The majority of the global respondents are from New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, and there's one other country that was overwhelming that I can't recall off the top of my mind now. Q: Where can patients go if they're interested in joining the next phase? A: Dr. Vidot: They can look up a bit.ly link, it's very easy to remember. It is bit.ly/cannabiscovid and that'll bring you straight to our survey, and you can fill it out then for sure. Q: So back to the conference, what were you most excited to learn at the Cannabis Science Conference West? A: Dr. Vidot: I was excited to learn how my friends, col- leagues, and collaborators are being innovative in this field of psychedelics and cannabis. You know, especially with COVID. We keep talking about this, but, you know, with COVID, I feel that science blossomed so fast. It exploded, right? I'm just so excited to watch them live, present their research and knowing what our colleagues were going through during the pandemic, trying to still conduct research, trying to help our patients, helping our study participants. So, it's kind of like a show and tell of the family. Let's see what we got, you know, so I'm really excited and I know I keep saying that, but really, I'm just excited to get back and network and see the cannabis and psychedelic family. Q: What do you hope to see happen in the next five years regarding cannabis and psychedelic research? A: Dr. Vidot: Well, regarding the next five years with research, I would like to see lots more studies going on in our lab. No, just kidding. But for real, I would like to see rigorous studies. I would like to see more randomized controlled trials. This would require, of course, the removal of the federal block against cannabis and scientists. But for sure, I would love to see randomized controlled trials. And with psychedelics, I would like to see scientists be authentic. I would like to see scientists that are not just making assumptions and making sure that they're making strategic, intentional research, because this is not a game. I know we should approach any type of research as not a game. You know, life is not a game. Right now, we are at a point in time where it's so pivotal on how we treat psychedelics, especially with how we know it happened with cannabis. Let's not do the same thing with psychedelics, please. Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add? A: Dr. Vidot: I guess the last thing I'd like to add is for anyone who attended the conference or plans to attend future events that I'm speaking at, please make sure you stop by and say hello. Just say hello to me because there's nothing better than making these connections because you never know who you say hello to. If 10 years from now, and number one, if you're going to see them again or in the future, you're going to collaborate. There are some people who I met five years ago and now we talk all the time doing research and I never imagined that we would, so be sure to say hello. For more information on Dr. Vidot's research, please visit http://herbalheart- study.com/denise-c-vidot-phd/.