Science

New study provides insights into the neurophysiological basis of psilocybin-induced alterations in consciousness

“We disproved our initial hypothesis that psychedelic states (here with psilocybin) produce higher complexity,” Ort explained. “Unlike the observed reduction of complexity during dreamless sleep, anesthesia or minimally conscious states, the psychedelic state has the same quantitative complexity as in normal waking – even though the quality of the conscious experience has massively changed.” Ort…

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Politics

Magic mushrooms are a legal gift…

In most of these decriminalized places, it’s not a crime – or a very minor one – to grow mushrooms and give them away… in more than 20 cities, states and counties – from Ann Arbor to Somerville, MA, to Santa Cruz, CA… some psychedelics… are decriminalized or legalized. Colorado legalized mushrooms for personal use…

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Politics

Governor Jared Polis signs Colorado psychedelics bill

Proposition 122. [“People can grow it for their own use… there’s no criminal penalties if you grow it yourself for recreational…” said Governor Jared Polis.] [Subsequently] Senate Bill 23-290… passed… before the 2023 session ended… puts guidelines on Proposition 122, the landmark psychedelics ballot initiative passed by Colorado voters last November [2022]. Although the bill received plenty of attention…

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Science

Chinese labs are selling fentanyl ingredients for millions in crypto

The Elliptic report notes that the tens of millions of dollars worth of precursor sales it tracked on blockchains would likely be enough to manufacture enough fentanyl to, if distributed efficiently, kill every person on earth… the US government may be increasingly aware of the activity of fentanyl precursor sellers in China and of cryptocurrency’s…

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Politics

The psychedelic renaissance is at risk of missing the bigger picture

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) founding constitution defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Leaving psychedelics in the hands of the biomedical industry and state-regulated facilities can undermine their potential by excluding more diverse “sets and settings” (a term describing how…

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Washington State… drugs…

A law signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday [5/17/2023] would make possessing or publicly using drugs a gross misdemeanor offense… Under the new law, the penalties for a person’s first two drug offenses will be lower than for most gross misdemeanors – up to 180 days in jail… the maximum fine will also be… $1,000… encourages prosecutors…

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Modern Culture

…dispensaries openly sell ‘magic mushrooms’

…there’s a thriving market for the fungi and other psychedelics in L.A… gummies containing a psychedelic “mushroom blend” come in colorful toadstool-shaped pouches in flavors including Passion Tango Lemonade… there’s growing support… …a few miles from the first, customers hand their driver’s licenses over to a receptionist who asks them to turn their hats around…

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Science

How long to wait between mushrooms trips…

When consuming psilocybin mushrooms, it’s important to consider the development of tolerance. Tolerance refers to the body’s adaptation to the effects of a substance, resulting in a diminished response over time. The tolerance that builds with psilocybin is specifically called tachyphylaxis, which is a rapidly diminishing response to successive doses of a drug, thus rendering it…

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Politics

Salem, Massachusetts, will no longer arrest people for psilocybin mushrooms…

Lucas Miller, the Chief of Police for the City… endorsed the measure before the city’s final vote… Members of the City Council voted unanimously… to pass an activist-led measure making it the local government’s official policy to deprioritize enforcement of laws prohibiting the possession and cultivation of psilocybin. Salem just became the sixth Massachusetts city…

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