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RIGHT TO SCIENCE AND FREEDOM OF RESEARCH  ON NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES

International Conference organized by Associazione Luca Coscioni, hosted by the University of Turin

September 29, 2017, Campus Luigi Einaudi – Torino

 

CONFERENCE WEBCAST – WATCH HERE

On the occasion of the fourth meeting of the G7 Ministers of Science and Technology in Turin, UNITO will host a conference organized by the Associazione Luca Coscioni on the ‘Right to science and freedom of research on narcotic and psychotropic substances’.

Overview of the ALC Conference

The purpose of the conference is twofold, as it will address the legal and scientific profiles of the right to science and the freedom of research, with special reference to narcotic and psychotropic drugs and their therapeutic application.

The conference aims at exploring the notion of the ‘right to science’, both as the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications, especially as regards health, and the freedom of research at the benefit of scientists. The discussion will include legal implications for the right to science deriving from the UN Drugs Control Conventions (the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol; the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, and the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988) and their implementation in domestic legal systems.

The conference will also provide update on recent clinical trials on substances under the international drug control regime. Lastly, a specific session of the debate will be entirely devoted to medical cannabis in Italy.

Program

9 am. Registration of participants
9.30 am – 9.45 pm Presidency:
Marco Perduca – Tania Re: Introduction
Gianmaria Ajani: Greetings
Filomena Gallo: Opening remarks
 9.45 – 10.05 Cesare Romano: Right to Science and the Rights of Science: What Are They?
10.05 – 10.20 Andrea Boggio: Presentation of research and self-determination index
10.20 – 10.40 Tom Blickman: Historical Conventions Framing with a specific focus on cannabis
10.40 – 11.00 Francisco Thoumi: Logical weaknesses of the International Drug Conventions and the consequences for policy interpretations
11.00 – 11.15 Coffee Break
11.15 – 11.35 Constanza Sanchez: Traditional Psychoactive Plants: Legality, Culture and the Practice of Research
11.35 – 11.55 Michael Collins: Drug Policy Reform in The United States: Research Barriers and Treaty Challenges
11.55 – 12.15 Christopher Hallam: Conventions and Ketamine
12.15 – 12.45 Debate
12:45 – 14:45 Lunch break
14.45 – 15.00 Chair: Tania Re – Marco Perduca
15.00 – 15.10 Introduction Raphael Mechoulam: An Overview of Cannabis Research  (via video)
15.10 – 15.30 Simona Pichini: Cannabis medical use in Italy
15.30 – 15.50 Natalie Ginsberg: The History of MDMA Research
15.50 – 16.10 Jose Carlos Bouso: Science-Based Evidence vs. Patient-Based Evidence: The Special Cases of Cannabis, Ibogaine and CBD (cannabidiol) as Examples of New Regulatory Challenges
16.10 – 16.30 Erritzoe David: Psilocybin for Depression: the experience of research at Imperial College (UK)
16.30 – 16.50 Chris Timmerman: Dynamics of the experience and brain activity induced by DMT
16.50 – 17.00 Coffee Break
17.00 – 17.20 Gilberto Camilla: Allucinogenesis in therapy: a historical retrospective and theoretical perspectives
17.20 – 17.40 Riccardo Zerbetto: Short Intensive Residential Program (PRIB) in the Treatment of Functional Dependencies (Gambling, Sex-Emotional Addiction, Net-Addiction, Psychodrogheus Abuse)
17.40 – 18.00 Nicola Bragazzi: Are there enough scientific evidences to recommend psychotropic substances for medical use? Implications of a critical umbrella review
18.00 – 18.20 Francesco Vaccarino: Analysis of the topological variations in the human brain connectome under Psylocibin
18.20 – 18.40 Angelo Gemignani and Andrea Zaccaro: Breathing and non-ordinary states of consciousness
Cannabis in Italy
18.40 – 19.00 Paola Brusa: Cannabis for therapeutic use: normative framework in Italy and available products
19.00 – 19.20 Paolo Poli: Medical Cannabis in Patients with Chronic Pain: Effect on Pain Relief, Pain Disability, Psychological aspects. An Observational Study
19.20 – 19.30 Vidmer Scaioli: The experience in Lombardy
19.30 – 19.50 Questions
19.50 – 20.00 Re – Perduca: Future discussion of plans

Speakers:

Scientific Committee of the Conference:

Marco Perduca & Filomena Gallo (Associazione Luca Coscioni)

Tania Re (UNESCO Chair “Antropology of Health, Biosphere and Healing Systems”, University of Genoa)

Cesare Romano (Loyola University, Los Angeles)