Psychology

…case studies in cultural plasticity and political pluripotency

We suggest that the historical record supports the concept of psychedelics as “politically pluripotent,” non-specific amplifiers of the political set and setting. …we argue that any experience which undermines a person’s fundamental worldview—which we assert includes the psychedelic experience—can precipitate shifts in any direction of political beliefs post-psychedelic session.  Original Article (Frontiers):Right-wing psychedelia: case studies…

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Science

Stability of tryptamines in psilocybe… mushrooms

…to prevent the degradation of alkaloids, the most suitable conditions were to dry the mushrooms whole and store in the dark at room temperature. Regardless of storage, rapid degradation of all tryptamines was observed in powder form. In the first month [re: powdered mushrooms] the greatest decrease occurred and through the second month the overall…

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Biography/Memoir

…[the evolving] vocabulary of the psychedelic experience

Compared to other psychotropic drugs available in the 1950s, LSD induced “something phenomenal, … of unimaginable intensity,” according to its creator Albert Hofmann. Speaking in an interview in 2004, he continued, “There is a vast difference between the emotional experience of this sensation and its purely abstract, philosophical description. It would be like trying to…

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Anthropology

Detroit to vote on decriminalizing psychedelics…

..[a] spokesperson for DN Detroit, confirmed… that the voters will be deciding the future of personal psychedelic possession for the city on November 6, 2021. Unlike most local Decriminalize Nature initiatives that were approved via city council resolutions, Detroit activists are opting for a ballot measure and letting the voters have a say. “The ballot would allow…

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Anthropology

Where there’s weed, there’s a way

So many Eugeneans have access to the cannabis plant… Another important step in preparing cannabis is decarboxylation, a chemical reaction that converts cannabinoid acids like THCA into activated cannabinoids like THC… Curing involves storing cannabis in airtight containers to prevent the loss of moisture and optimize flavor, though some prefer to keep cannabis dry when…

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Science

[National Institutes of Health 2021 Grant]; psilcoybin in the treatment of tobacco use disorder…

“The funding side of the government has been the last to the party for a long time,” says Matthew Johnson, who studies psychedelics at Johns Hopkins University. Grant Project Number 1U01DA052174-01A1: We hypothesize that psilocybin (compared to niacin) will cause increased biologically-confirmed 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 12-month follow-up. Based on pilot data, we will test cognitive/psychological mediators…

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Politics

DEA still insists marijuana has no ‘accepted medical use’

[The United States 91st Congress’ (which met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1969, to January 3, 1971, during the final weeks of the presidency of Lyndon Johnson and the first two years of the first presidency of Richard Nixon) enacted]… Controlled Substances Act [CSA] gives the Drug Enforcement Agency [DEA] the authority to reschedule…

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Psychology

…on Easthampton decrim…

The upcoming vote on the part of Easthampton, Mass. is expected to decriminalize possession of all drugs, while enabling adult residents to cultivate [entheogens]. Owen Zaret, Easthampton council member and sponsor of the decriminalization resolution. “It’s time that we recognize their different therapeutic uses as well as the lack of harm of recreational use,” he…

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