Anthropology

…legal strategy…csa [controlled substances act]

After determining that the UDV’s settlement and resulting exception were too intrusive, three Santo Daime churches based in Oregon sued the DEA, seeking protection under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act rather than an exemption to the CSA. The decision in the 2008-9 case, Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey, ruled in…

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Science

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

…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…

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Science

Active vs. passive coping distinguishes antidepressants and psychedelics

The potential for psychedelics to induce emotionally labile, or sensitive states, can be a great agent of therapeutic change (and can also lead to neuroplasticity and increased creativity). 5-HT1AR signaling offers basal control, moderating emotion and anxiety; 5-HT2AR signaling engages more during times of crisis.2 5-HT1A and 2AR signaling are endogenous pathways that drugs like…

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Politics

Psychedelic decrim bill SB 519…

[SB 519 proposes] language that would specifically allow someone who is providing for a group to possess, transport and gift far in excess of a personal amount…  …the hypothetical person noted in their letter who wants to gift a pound or two for group use is in fact clearly protected. For example, if a given group…

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Politics

…move to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level

For the first time in history… move… to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, proposing to the remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances… The bill automatically expunges federal non-violent marijuana crimes… The federal legislation would allow states to craft their own cannabis laws, just as states do with alcohol… a new federal…

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Politics

California [SB 519] advances again…

The Assembly Public Health Committee advanced the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D), in a 8-4 vote. This comes weeks after the Public Safety Committee approved the measure. While “social sharing” would have been allowed under the bill as introduced, those provisions were also reframed in the new committee amendment to provide for “facilitated…

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Modern Culture

..falling in love with psychedelics…

…the most important thing to remember about all drugs is that they offer both opportunities and risks.  What we really need… is new kinds of social norms that can guide the use of drugs without falling back on prohibitionist moralising… it appears the war on drugs is petering out… though that the view from the…

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Anthropology

Decriminalization of psychedelics bill met… legislature

…the legislation would also repeal provisions in the California criminal code that prohibit the cultivation and transportation of spores of mushrooms associated with the psychoactive ingredient. …note that police unions and their lobbyists opposed marijuana legalization vociferously, making several claims about how the legalization of the drug would lead to an increase in crime and…

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Politics

…California psychedelics bill…

“Since we passed this resolution in Oakland, California in June of 2019, the amount of people that are brewing their own mushrooms has expanded exponentially,” [says Carlos] Plazola “And people are sharing with no intention to sell.” “If suddenly we set limits that are very low, then we will see those people in danger of…

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