MDMA could be a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a new study, with participants showing “significantly reduced” depression symptoms eight weeks after receiving two doses of the drug a month apart.
No serious adverse effects were reported among the 12 subjects in the study, says the report, published last month in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
While prior research on MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has shown promising results for several conditions, authors wrote, most clinical trials have focused on PTSD rather than depression. But in at least one past clinical trial involving people with PTSD, they noted, those given MDMA “showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared with placebo.”
“This overlap suggests that the effects observed in PTSD may apply to subjects with MDD,” the new study says. “However, MDMA-AT therapy has not been studied as a treatment for individuals with a primary diagnosis of MDD.”
The new research looked at patients with a diagnosis of “single or recurrent episodes of MDD.” Subjects were excluded if they were pregnant or had psychotic disorders, mania, personality disorders, eating disorders with purging, substance use disorders or a host of other conditions.
Treatment involved two administrations of MDMA about four weeks apart, as well as follow-up phone calls and three 90-minute integration sessions. Dosage ranged from an 80-milligram dose at the first session to an offered 120-mg dose at the second session, with supplemental doses offered an hour to an hour and a half after the first dose.
Outcomes were measured through a standardized measure of depression symptoms, the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), as well as the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), which measures functional impairment.
The study notes that scores of depression “were significantly reduced post treatment compared with baseline,” while functional impairment scores also “significantly decreased.”
“We observed statistically significant improvements in both depression and functional impairment.”
“Consistent with previous studies of MDMA-AT for PTSD, we demonstrated both statistically and clinically significant reductions in the primary and secondary outcome measures of depression and functional impairment,” it says.
Researchers also “observed a statistically and clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms,” the paper says, though that was not one one of the main aims of the study.
Authors hesitated to draw sweeping conclusions about the drug’s efficacy at treating major depressive disorder, but they said their findings warrant further research.
“Although this small, uncontrolled trial cannot draw conclusions about the efficacy of MDMA-AT for MDD,” they wrote, “the findings suggest that MDMA-AT has potential as a treatment for MDD, and supports future randomised controlled trials.”
As for safety, the team concluded that MDMA can be safely administered to patients with MDD, at least under certain circumstances.
“With careful screening, assessment and psychotherapy throughout the study,” the report says,” we demonstrated that MDMA-AT can be safely administered to participants with MDD.”
“If demonstrated to be effective and safe in RCTs, MDMA-AT could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of MDD,” it adds, “offering an integrated approach where the drug is used several times to catalyse psychotherapy rather than being administered daily as is the case with antidepressants.”
The new report comes as interest continues to grow into the potential for MDMA, psychedelics and other controlled substances to treat certain mental health conditions, including PSTD and others.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the department does “some of the best research work and very specific research work,” noting that he recently visited a VA facility in New York City “discussing MDMA therapies, which have been phenomenal in working with those with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries—these other issues that we have.”
The secretary also disclosed in April that he had an “eye-opening” talk with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine. And Collins said he’s open to the idea of having the government provide vouchers to cover the costs of psychedelic therapy for veterans who receive services outside of VA as Congress considers pathways for access.
In a letter sent to Collins, Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—said they were “encouraged by your recent remarks about the importance of pursuing research into psychedelic treatments and other alternative treatments to improve Veterans’ care.”
In January, former VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said that it was “very encouraging” that Trump’s pick to have Kennedy lead HHS has supported psychedelics reform. And he hoped to work with him on the issue if he stayed on for the next administration, but that didn’t pan out.
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[PRESS RELEASE] – BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 18, 2025 – Canopy USA LLC, a brand-driven organization strategically positioned across the fastest-growing states and highest potential segments of the U.S. cannabis market, announced the appointment of a new executive team responsible for driving the company’s next phase of expansion.
Drawing on extensive industry experience, these leaders will steer Canopy USA forward through a shared vision to elevate the company’s brand portfolio, enhance day-to-day operations and execution, and advance growth initiatives across multiple state markets.
Casey Rash, chief financial officer, will oversee centralized functions including finance, human resources and IT. Rash brings deep expertise in regulated industries and a strategic approach to driving organizational scale and efficiency.
Rebecca Kirk, chief operating officer, will lead the company’s operations, innovation and legal teams. Known for building scalable systems and launching category-leading products, Kirk will play a critical role in driving Canopy USA’s performance across its value chain.
Kelly Flores, chief business development officer, will be responsible for marketing, market expansion and product strategy. With a proven track record in cannabis commercialization, Flores will guide brand development and strategic growth initiatives in both existing and emerging state markets.
“These leadership appointments mark the start of a plan to capture growth in the U.S. cannabis market,” Canopy USA President Brooks Jorgensen said. “Within the best of each Acreage, Jetty and Wana, we’ve been aligning systems, teams and processes across markets to create a scalable, efficient organization. With our leadership team now in place, we’re moving forward with purpose.”
Canopy USA’s platform is built to deliver consistent quality, innovative products and trusted brands to consumers and retail partners nationwide. By combining deep market expertise with a focus on execution, the company aims to set the standard for growth and leadership in the evolving U.S. cannabis industry.
Adult-use cannabis sales in Washington state have been falling for five years, according to Department of Revenue data reported by KHQ.
First-quarter sales in 2025 reached $277 million, which is nearly $100 million less than the market’s peak during the pandemic in 2021. Based on current trends, annual cannabis sales this year could be the state’s lowest since 2019 after five straight years of declining sales in Washington.
Regulators attribute the decline to oversupply issues, which drive prices down and make it more difficult for licensees to turn a profit.
Officials with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) recently announced the largest expansion of cannabis dispensaries since the market’s launch over a decade ago, offering up to 52 new retail social equity licenses.
Meanwhile, a report from the state’s legislative auditor found that “Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023,” and that “inaccurate and incomplete data” had hampered regulators’ capacity for “data-driven regulation.”
The auditcalls on the LCB to submit a plan to lawmakers by December 31, 2025, containing strategies to improve data accuracy.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Graham is Ganjapreneur’s Chief Editor. He has been writing about the legalization landscape since 2012 and has been contributing to Ganjapreneur since our official launch in…
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During an interview with Delaware Public Media, Gov. Matt Meyer (D) also discussed a conversation he had with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about regulating the marijuana industry, drawing a contrast between their respective responsibilities given the fact that Colorado is much larger with more local jurisdictions to interact with compared to Delaware, which has just three counties.
Delaware’s adult-use cannabis market launched at the beginning of this month, but legislation awaiting Meyer’s action would make a key change related to local control of where marijuana businesses could operate. And the governor has indicated he’s still wavering on the proposal.
Asked about the fate of the bill from Sen. Trey Paradee (D), who also championed the state’s legalization legislation, Meyer said: “Stay tuned. You’ll hear soon. We will be taking action very shortly.”
“Listen, I have local government background. I don’t think it’s appropriate that, when state government likes local government regulation, they say, ‘Yeah, we support it,’” the governor said. “And when they don’t like local government regulation, they overrule it.”
“At the same time, it’s important for communities that this moves forward,” he said, referring to the implementation of the adult-use cannabis market.
The response didn’t clearly indicate where Meyer currently stands on the proposal, but he also said it’s “always on the table” that he could allow the bill to take effect without his signature.
“I was talking to Governor Polis of Colorado about marijuana regulation just the other day and he’s just like, ‘Just let the counties do it.’ He has too many counties to know,” Meyer said. “I was asking, ‘What’s the regulation of counties?’ He’s like, ‘I have no idea.’ He’s like, ‘Some do it, some don’t. I don’t really know.’”
The Delaware Public Media host said: “But he’s not going to run into the problem, though, where if there’s enough zoning laws, there’s literally no place to put the facilities. That’s probably not a problem for him.”
The governor agreed, saying “Colorado is much larger” with a “three-mile [zoning] limitation from schools,” which would be less feasible in the smaller state of Delaware. “We’re going to see what we can do,” he said.
On the topic of broader regulatory responsibilities, Meyer said the state is “very lucky” that the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OCM) is headed up by someone who comes from outside of Delaware who is “one of the leading thinkers on this issue.”
“He looks at it from a business and community aspect, whereas traditionally Delaware has looked at it as a public safety issue,” the governor said. For his part, Meyer said revenue generated from cannabis taxes is “clearly third” on his list of reasons to support legalization.
The first priority, he said, is ensuring that “communities are sustainable and they’re safe and they’re protected.”
“I think there’s a lot of concern in communities. I have small children. What are we doing? Do we want this thing all around our kids? I don’t know how many of you have been to New York or San Francisco lately, but you go outside and there’s that stench,” he said. “That’s not Delaware. We’re doing everything to make sure that we continue to retain the same communities we have.”
“We also have a historic obligation. Marijuana and marijuana enforcement in this state has not been equitable. There are people in our communities today, almost all Black and brown people, who have been imprisoned for years and years for using and selling marijuana, where people of different colors of skin have not had that same experience. We need to make sure we use whatever revenue we have to address that historic wrong going forward.”
“We’re continuing to watch and monitor to make sure communities are being protected as this economic opportunity grows and make sure people are safe,” Meyer said.
While marijuana revenue might be “third” on his list, the governor recently touted the state’s first “successful” weekend of adult-use cannabis sales, with total purchases for medical and recreational marijuana totaling nearly $1 million—and compliance checks demonstrating that the regulated market is operating as intended under the law.
Delaware’s first adult-use marijuana shops officially opened for business on August 1, with a handful of existing medical cannabis operators able to service consumers 21 and older.
Ahead of the sales roll-out, the governor last month toured one of the state’s cannabis cultivation facilities, praising the quality of marijuana that’s being produced, which he said will be the “French wine of weed.”
Dozens of other would-be retailers that have either already received licenses or are still awaiting issuance will need to wait for further regulatory approvals until they can open their doors—a situation that’s frustrated some advocates.
The idea is to identify any hiccups that lawmakers might need to address when they return for next year’s legislative session.
OCM initially projected that recreational sales would start by March, but complications related to securing an FBI fingerprint background check service code delayed the implementation. Lawmakers passed a bill in April to resolve the issue, and the FBI subsequently issued the code that the stat’s marijuana law requires.
A total of 125 licenses will ultimately be issued, including 30 retailers, 60 cultivators, 30 manufacturers and five testing labs. Last year, regulators also detailed what portion of each category is reserved for social equity applicants, microbusinesses and general open licenses.
The then-governor last year signed several additional marijuana bills into law, including measures that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses in the state to begin recreational sales on an expedited basis, transfer regulatory authority for the medical program and make technical changes to marijuana statutes.
The dual licensing legislation is meant to allow recreational sales to begin months earlier than planned, though critics say the legislation would give an unfair market advantage to larger, more dominant businesses already operating in multiple states.
The policy change removes limitations for patient eligibility based on a specific set of qualifying health conditions. Instead, doctors will be able to issue cannabis recommendations for any condition they see fit.
The law also allows patients over the age of 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis access without the need for a doctor’s recommendation.
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