Overdose Unknown: How Anebulo Pharmaceuticals Is Working to Solve a Growing Marijuana Overdose Problem

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

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Many people today remain unaware of the risks an overdose of marijuana carries. In fact, some people don’t believe overdosing on cannabis to be possible. For many, even talking about marijuana overdose conjures up images of disingenuous scare-tactic campaigns from the days of old. 

But while it’s true that responsible marijuana use is an enjoyable way for many to relax or socialize, overdosing is, in fact, very real.  The medical term for it is “acute cannabinoid intoxication,” and it carries with it some nasty side effects including psychomotor impairment, agitation, and psychosis.

In a recent survey of 50 U.S. emergency room physicians, it was found that on average, each doctor saw 173 cases of acute cannabinoid intoxication per year. Last year saw 1.7 million emergency department visits in the U.S. alone for cannabis-related issues. And this number is growing rapidly — by as much as 15% every year.

The growth is spurred on in large part by the increasing progress made towards legalization. The change has been swift. While remaining illegal in many states, recreational cannabis use is rapidly being decriminalized and made legal in many others. On November 6, 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. In September 2021, marijuana is legal in 18 states and decriminalized in 13 more.

The Path to Better Cannabis Wellness

With legalization comes a new swath of products that pose a particular danger to children. Edible gummies and candies are colorful and attractive to kids, and many have wound up ingesting them when they believed they were eating a regular snack. Children are at risk for much more serious complications from acute cannabinoid intoxication than adults, including death.

Anebulo Pharmaceuticals ANEB is looking to solve this problem by developing a cannabinoid antagonist that can be administered to patients who have overdosed. Currently, it is moving into Phase II trials of the drug ANEB-001. The drug blocks the effects THC has on the brain. It does so by using a benign compound that competes for the same receptor that THC works on, the CB1. 

The market has generated the possibility of strong demand for a drug like this. From the survey mentioned earlier, 44/50 doctors saw a moderate to high need for the drug. 

Anebulo hopes it is just 5 years from being publicly available. And with no other competitors as far along in trials or with as promising data, Anebulo looks to be the first mover in the space. It could end up as the first to help millions every year suffering from acute cannabinoid intoxication.  

The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. The content that follows is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.