Amir joined the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London in 2011 when he began his PhD in cannabinoid psychopharmacology. During his PhD he studied the effects of the most common cannabis compounds (cannabinoids), THC, CBD and THCV – in healthy human volunteers. His thesis reported on the cognitive, psychological, and neurophysiological effects of these compounds both in isolation and when combined.

Since completing his PhD, he has been involved in clinical trials of CBD as an add-on treatment to schizophrenia, and most recently a large experimental study exploring if cannabis with higher CBD:THC ratios are safer than cannabis containing only THC.

Research Interests

• Cannabis
• Cannabinoid psychopharmacology
• Cannabis addiction
• Harms of cannabis use
• Medicinal effects of cannabis

Expertise & Public Engagement

• BBC Two - Horizon, 2019, Cannabis: Miracle Medicine or Dangerous Drug?
• Cannabis: The science behind super-strength skunk. (2018, February 28). BBC News.
• Can we make cannabis safer? The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(8), 643–648. 
• Don’t smoke it with tobacco: Scientists suggest ways to make cannabis safer. The Guardian.