Spirituality

Congress subpoenas Drug Enforcement Administration for informant policy

In a dramatic display that stretched across two committee hearings…, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) subpoenaed the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration for documents on its confidential sources program. Members of Congress have been seeking copies of the DEA’s informant guidelines since last year, following an eye-opening report by the Department of Justice watchdog. The…

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Spirituality

Meditation and the psychedelic drug ayahuasca seem to change the brain in surprisingly similar ways

Among volunteers who take ayahuasca for studies, scientists have documented a rise in certain key traits that mirror those of experienced meditators. These changes include increases in openness, optimism, and a particularly powerful ability known as decentering. At the end of a dark earthen trail in the Peruvian Amazon stands a round structure with a…

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Protecting the Human Rights of People who use Psychedelics

National and international policies should respect the human rights of individuals who chose to use psychedelics as a spiritual, personal development, or cultural activity. In 2016 the UN will have a special meeting in New York to set the future for international drug policy. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Global Commission on…

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Psychology

LSD… microdosing to enhance creativity

Researchers have found that there is a correlation between psychedelic microdosing and a decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar disorder and even addiction. The analogous nature of the active chemicals in drugs like LSD to serotonin, a chemical in the brain associated with happiness, is a big contributor to this, as it can…

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Anthropology

Israel officially decriminalizes marijuana use

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who led the reform, said that “the government’s approval is an important step on the way to implement the new policy, which will emphasize public information and treatment instead of criminal enforcement.” MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz), the chairwoman of the Knesset Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, said that…

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