Interest in microdosing has grown with the evolution of laws on psychedelics and cannabis

Public interest in the microdosing of psychedelics and cannabis has increased significantly in tandem with legislative reforms. A recent study published by the’American Medical Association (AMA) in the JAMA Health Forum reveals a dramatic increase in Google searches related to microdosing between 2015 and 2023.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, highlights the influence of local and national political changes on public interest in this testing method.

Key study findings

The study analyzed Google search queries from 2010 to 2023, focusing on the relationship between search trends and legislative reforms. The researchers used an event-based difference-in-differences model to assess the causal effects of policy changes. They found that the research on microdosing remained stable until 2014, then skyrocketed, with a cumulative increase of a factor of 13.4 between 2015 and 2023. In 2023 alone, there will be 3 million searches for “microdosing” in the United States.

The study found that:

• Local laws decriminalizing psychedelics were associated with a 22.4 per million increase in microdosing rates
• State-level psychedelic reform laws have been linked to an increase of 28.9 per 10 million
• State-level laws legalizing adult cannabis use have increased the rate of microdosing searches by 40.9 per 10 million
• The legalization of medical cannabis has led to an increase of 11.5 per 10 million

The study’s authors emphasize the responsibility of the medical community to ensure that patients have access to safe, effective, and evidence-based treatments.

According to the researchers, «while public interest in the use of psychedelics and cannabis for medical purposes »As their use increases, it is crucial that the medical community conduct studies to establish a solid evidence base regarding their safety and efficacy.".

In the absence of rigorous scientific research, individuals may turn to unproven alternative therapies, thereby exposing themselves to potential risks. Eric Leas, an assistant professor of public health and the study’s lead author, highlighted the legal risks and concerns regarding product impurity due to the lack of manufacturing standards for substances such as psilocybin, which remain listed in Annex I of the federal law.

The study concludes that there is an urgent need for rigorous clinical studies to assess the safety profile and potential benefits of microdosing. This research is essential to inform evidence-based practices and the development of policies that serve the public interest. The researchers call for increased population-based monitoring to understand who practices microdosing, why they do so, and how these practices might evolve as the legal landscape changes.

The broader context of psychedelic and cannabis reform

A majority of states have adopted some form of cannabis legalization, and a a growing number of states and localities in the United States are working to reform psychedelic policies. The director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) noted that «the train has left the station» when it comes to psychedelics, reflecting the momentum of the reform movement.

While the federal ban remains in place, another U.S. federal agency recently recognized the potential benefits of psychedelics, particularly for the treatment of alcohol-related disorders, anxiety, and depression. Federally funded research is exploring the effects of psilocybin on pain, migraines, psychiatric disorders, and other conditions.

Recent research on psilocybin, a popular substance for microdosing, has yielded interesting results. A study has shown that a single psilocybin experience is unlikely to alter individuals’ religious or metaphysical beliefs, although it may affect their perception of consciousness in animals, plants, or other objects.

A other study suggests that full-spectrum psychedelic mushroom extract has a more potent effect than chemically synthesized psilocybin. This implies that the experience of entheogenic mushrooms may involve an «entourage effect,» similar to Effects observed with cannabis and its various components.