Politics

…revolutionize [universal access to basic] mental health care

When I ask about the rationale for patenting something that grows freely out of wood chips, Compass Pathways CEO George Goldsmith [responds] “Well, the synthesized psilocybin is the highest levels of purity, so it doesn’t grow out of wood chips. The wood chips and the mushrooms are free.” There are… activists railing against anyone perceived…

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Biography/Memoir

…psychedelic companies are about to go public

Compass Pathways declined to comment on whether it’s planning a public listing, but the company is “always looking at options to ensure continued growth and funding,” chief communications officer Tracy Cheung said in an email. The FDA has “given clearance for a variety of trials at this point and it looks like they are going…

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Science

Psychedelics linked to persisting reductions in cannabis, opioid, and stimulant use

Those who reported taking a higher dose, and experiencing more insight and mystical-type effects, tended to report greater reduction in drug consumption.  Johnson and his colleagues found that most of the participants reported using LSD or psilocybin to induce the psychedelic experience in question. Approximately 79% of participants met the DSM-5 criteria for severe substance…

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Anthropology

…freaking out over nothing: report [from Canada]

According to Stats Canada, the rate of cannabis consumption for 15-17 year olds fell from 19.8 percent in 2018 to 10.4 percent in 2019… …[and] the percentage of survey respondents who said they drove within two hours of consuming weed remained the same—13.2 percent. Original Article (Vice):Everyone Scared of Legal Weed Was Freaking Out Over…

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Modern Culture

Scientists confirm taking psychedelics at music festivals makes you happier

“We are encouraged that our study is consistent with previous laboratory findings showing mood benefits of psychedelics in healthy people and in patients suffering from anxiety and depression,” Crockett said. Those who drank alcohol or under the influence of drugs like cocaine and opioids didn’t report the “transformative experiences” psychedelic users did, nor did they…

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Politics

A report from the rocky path to… psychedelics/[entheogens/ethnobotancials]

The movement to end psychedelic prohibition goes far beyond Oregon. Activists in more than 100 cities and counties are working toward decriminalizing mushrooms and other psychedelic plants, while a handful of research institutions are pushing to get these substances approved as prescription therapy tools on the federal level. Field coordinator for Decriminalize Denver, calls anything other…

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