Politics

…decriminalization of [psilocybe] mushrooms and other plants and fungi…

February 23, 2022By

…decriminalizes “the possession, use, cultivation, production, creation, analysis, giving away, and delivery by or between natural persons… psilocybin, psilocyn, ibogaine, mescaline… and dimethyltryptamine” which the Initiative refers to as “natural plants and mushrooms.” Relatedly… [questions about] a change to the definition of the term “drug paraphernalia” to specifically exclude “testing equipment, products, or materials used,…

READ MORE
Medicine/Healing

…ayahuasca healing ceremonies… [and neuroticism]?

January 23, 2022By

Results showed that neuroticism declined substantially the week following the ayahuasca ceremony and remained substantially below baseline levels three months following the ceremony. “We found substantial changes in personality traits, particularly neuroticism, following ayahuasca use,” says Brandon Weiss, a psychologist at Imperial College London and the lead author of the paper. “These changes persisted over…

READ MORE
Psychology

Could magic mushrooms be the next marijuana?

January 3, 2022By

Hudson Valley Psychedelic Society (HVPS) was founded in January 2021… “We wanted to provide local advocacy, education and community support to foster the safe, equitable integration of psychedelics into our region,” Grauer said. “We want to make sure it’s decriminalized, regulated and legalized, and we also want to make sure everyone is as safe as…

READ MORE
Medicine/Healing

Will the magic of psychedelics transform psychiatry?

November 9, 2021By

Unfounded claims that psychedelic drugs have no medical uses, as the US Congress once declared, and are fundamentally dangerous, kept research endeavours in a straitjacket… Decriminalize Nature, which argues humans have an unalienable right to develop their own relationship with natural plants, persuaded US authorities in half a dozen municipalities, including Washington DC, to decriminalise…

READ MORE
Politics

[US City of] Arcata decriminalizes psychedelics

October 7, 2021By

The City Council of Arcata made the decision unanimously to decriminalize the personal possession and growing of psychedelics… Danielle Daniel, Lead Organizer of Decriminalize Nature Humboldt… “The Arcata City Council’s decision to decriminalize entheogens within city limits was both courageous and honorable.. with decriminalization more Arcata residents will have access to the support they need to heal…

READ MORE
Modern Culture

You can now consume, cultivate non-commercial psychedelics without arrest in Seattle

October 4, 2021By

The city had already taken decriminalization steps when it comes to personal drug possession, having a policy to not arrest or prosecute in those situations. The new resolution aims to protect those who cultivate and share psychedelics for “religious, spiritual, healing or personal growth practices.” While the resolution passed, it is not an ordinance, which…

READ MORE
Spirituality

Seattle becomes largest U.S. city to decriminalize psychedelics

October 4, 2021By

Further, it expresses the council’s intent “to determine what changes would be necessary to protect from arrest or prosecution individuals who cultivate entheogens” [ie, cultivating ayahuasca/iboga/psilocybe/san pedro, etc] and to make those changes through a subsequent ordinance. The legislation, passed by a unanimous vote, declares “that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of anyone engaging in…

READ MORE
Science

…health and epigenetic outcomes from a six-month naturalistic study

July 18, 2021By

…these findings are the first of their kind and consolidate indications that SIGMAR1 expression is regulated via an epigenetic process. results suggest that ayahuasca exposure affects the epigenetic regulation of SIGMAR1. However, the mean increase (2.1% increase) in DNA methylation is small, and it remains unclear if this change in DNA methylation has biological impacts…

READ MORE
Science

…psychedelics boost brain growth factor levels?

May 15, 2021By

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal development and survival and triggers adaptive neuroplasticity… animal studies have reported that acute and chronic administration of various psychedelic compounds, including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and other ayahuasca-derived alkaloids, can increase BDNF production and neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons). Importantly, threats to our well-being such as stress, ageing and…

READ MORE