Biography/Memoir

‘It makes me more thoughtful’: Push to decriminalize magic mushrooms gains momentum in Massachusetts

“There is more awareness when it comes to psychedelics, especially mushrooms,” Valera said. Salem City Councilor Andy Varela believes micro-dosing psilocybin has helped him. “And people are trying to do everything they can to put their health in their own hands, and I think that’s why this conversation has changed for the better.” As a…

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Biography/Memoir

Oregon… drug decriminalization… turn

Mr. Holton said the tickets don’t even include a phone number to call for help.  Dwight Holton told me… Mr. Holton, a former U.S. attorney for Oregon, is CEO of Lines for Life, a nonprofit that housed the hotline until last year [2023]. Though law-enforcement officers have issued more than 6,000 tickets in Oregon since decriminalization…

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Biography/Memoir

‘It makes me more thoughtful’: push to… magic mushrooms gains momentum…

[Oregon is poised to legislate the return to recriminalizing personal possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms (as well as LSD and MDMA) on Tuesday March 12, 2024; with citizens awaiting Democratic Governor Tina Kotek’s signature to do so.] “There is more awareness when it comes to psychedelics, especially mushrooms,” Valera said. Salem City Councilor Andy Varela believes…

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Biography/Memoir

As ‘magic mushrooms’ got more attention, drug busts of the psychedelic drug went up

The new study is “an important part of the bigger picture of where we are headed as a nation” with psychedelics, says Dr. Joshua Siegel of Washington University in St. Louis. “It’s important to understand what’s happening in terms of the health care side of things. It’s important to understand what’s happening recreationally and legally.”…

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Biography/Memoir

As investors pile into psychedelics… pharma economics

Wall Street’s sudden exuberance for hallucinogens has rankled longtime advocates and philanthropists, who dreamed of making low-cost psychedelics widely available for mental health and personal growth. Instead, many now see a very different future for drugs like psilocybin and LSD: as expensive, specialty medications controlled by a handful of biotech companies… “We’re a victim of…

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Politics

Oregon psilocybin advocates reflect on [legally binding definition of not being therapy] program’s first year

This year [2023], Oregon became the first state to introduce psilocybin… and… been learning as they go. Since the first facility in Oregon opened to the public this May, 600… [to upwards of 700 adults] have participated in the program. Original Article (Oregon Public Broadcasting & Oregon Live & Seattle Times):Oregon psilocybin advocates reflect on…

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Biography/Memoir

Psychedelics are going mainstream. Investing in them hasn’t

…from a financial perspective, the inconsistency of psychedelic experiences and the fact that they require hands-on psychological therapy make for a difficult investment pitch. Treatment is typically administered in a specialized facility under supervision by psychiatric professionals, which is costlier and harder to scale up than simply providing medicine. The industry’s market performance reflects such…

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Medicine/Healing

Psychedelic biotech MAPS PBC rebrands to Lykos following FDA filing, scores $100M financing

MAPS PBC [Public Benefit Corporation) has rebranded to Lykos Therapeutics [a for-profit public benefit corporation (“PBC”)], (“Lykos”), the greek word for wolf.  MAPS PBC spun out of its parent organization MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)… clinical development effort of MDMA-assisted therapy [midomafetamine capsules used in combination with psychological intervention], which includes talk therapy, and…

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