Science

The psychedelic research hiatus and its relevance today

[In the 1950’s and 60’s] psychedelics were of little interest to pharmaceutical companies as the intervention seemed to treat illness, rather than alleviate symptoms. Consequently, the financial imperatives were lacking; fully recovered patients would not require continued medication… Sandoz was reluctant to share such proprietary and patented data (Bonson, 2018). When required by the FDA, the company…

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Biography/Memoir

…[should] magic mushrooms..?

Similar to cannabis compassion clubs that served medical cannabis consumers prior to legalization… microdoses of psilocybin [mushrooms] to Canadians who can provide medical documentation with qualifying diagnoses… “Mushrooms are incredibly safe as long as you’re taking it at a good dosage and you’re in a good situation,” [Dana Larsen] says on the phone from Vancouver. “They’re…

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Science

[Does synthetic psilocybin]… cause nausea?

Some participants in studies using pure, synthetic psilocybin report nausea as a side effect of their treatment. This points the finger at [synthetic] psilocybin as a possible cause of nausea… Also, because the body quickly converts psilocybin to its active form psilocin, this suggests that psilocin may play a role in nausea. Original Article (Psychedelic…

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Politics

New York lawmaker files bill to decriminalize [a single, isolated, psychedelic compound found in fungi]

A New York lawmaker recently introduced a bill to decriminalize psilocybin… by removing the main active ingredient from the state’s list of controlled substances. “Many cities, including Denver, CO, Santa Cruz, CA, and Oakland, CA, have already decriminalized the use and possession of psilocybin, and New York should do the same,” it continues. “With the…

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Politics

USDA unveils guidelines for Federal loans to hemp business

Borrowers who are not licensed to grow hemp will be considered in non-monetary default and any losses will not be covered … [Also] hemp that contains more than 0.3 percent THC must be disposed of under the department’s rules.  “While it’s understood that this new commodity will likely produce some servicing challenges because of State…

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Biography/Memoir

Purdue’s Sackler family wants global opioids settlement: Sackler lawyer Mary Jo White

In… public comments on behalf of the Sacklers, White told me why the family believed the litigation against them and their company is legally dubious, factually misleading and politically motivated. The claims are gargantuan: An expert plaintiffs’ witness in the nationwide MDL in Cleveland recently estimated that it will cost nearly half a trillion dollars…

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Biography/Memoir

[Are] psychedelics… making a comeback…

The increasing success of FDA-approved cannabinoid therapeutics helps drive the interest in psychedelics. ClinicalTrials.gov lists more than 400 trials involving cannabinoids. As its effectiveness is shown, the compound gains traction within the pharmaceutical industry as a possible active ingredient in a variety of therapeutics. “We were fortunate to watch the cannabis industry grow into a…

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