Expertise
Neuroscience, chronic pain, cannabis, opioids, addiction, and harm reductionEducation
Washington State UniversityHighlights
Assistant scientist at Legacy Research Institute
Vice chair of the Oregon Cannabis Commission
Co-founder of Smart Cannabis (technology firm)
The therapeutic properties of cannabis are undeniable. I am deeply grateful to play a role in this field by making research discoveries, sharing my findings with the world, and distilling these complex ideas for the layperson.
— Adie Rae, PhD
Experience
Adie Rae, PhD, is a neuroscientist known for her extensive expertise on cannabis. She has been conducting peer-reviewed research about cannabis since 2004. Her work has been consistently supported by multiple grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
After completing her postdoctoral training, Dr. Rae was an instructor at Washington State University, St. Louis. She has been an assistant scientist at Legacy Research Institute (Portland, Oregon) since 2019, and she has a joint appointment at Washington State University. Dr. Rae’s preclinical and human studies focus on the ability of cannabis to relieve pain and reduce the harms of opioids.
In addition to her faculty appointments, she has also served as a volunteer and consultant to government agencies, nonprofits, political campaigns, and private entities. She is currently a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society and the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She serves as the vice chair of the Oregon Cannabis Commission (OCC) and chair of the Research and Leadership Subcommittee of the OCC. She is also on the advisory board for the Ethical Data Alliance and the executive committee of the Cultivation Classic cannabis competition. Dr. Rae is also the co-founder of a technology company, Smart Cannabis.
She has published in top academic journals under the surname Wilson-Poe, and her diverse publication history includes layperson-facing media outlets, book chapters, and peer-reviewed manuscripts with her highly cited papers appearing in top academic journals such as Neuron.
Education
Dr. Rae received her BS in psychology and PhD in neuroscience from Washington State University, where she studied the brain mechanisms of the pain-relieving properties of cannabinoids and opioids.
She received 5 years of postdoctoral training at the University of Sydney, Columbia University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Her postdoctoral training focused on the neurophysiology of pain and addiction, with an emphasis on opioids and cannabinoids. She is also an alumnus of the Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience and the Alan Alda Science Communication program.
