Zelda Therapeutics Ltd. Phase I Opioid Reduction Trial has been formally approved by the St Vincent's Hospital Ethics and Governance Committees. The primary end-point is to assess the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in reducing opioid dependence in patients with chronic non-cancer pain. The Phase I trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of whole plant extract following single and repeated doses in nine patients with chronic non-cancer pain on long-term opioid analgesia. Secondary outcomes include pharmacokinetics and the effects on pain, mood, sleep and opioid use over the duration of the trail. The outcomes from the Phase I trial will inform a subsequent larger scale Phase II study that will assess the impact of oral whole plant extract on patient ability to tolerate a stepped opioid tapering protocol. Prescription opioids treating chronic pain are linked to serious side effects including physical dependence, which is an acknowledged growing global crisis. In the United States an estimated 49,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2017. The Phase I trial will commence immediately with preliminary results expected by late third quarter of 2019 and final results in fourth quarter of 2019.