Biography/Memoir

At the Sackler gallery, this… statue…

On Sept. 9, 2015, a Buddhist deity arrived at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler gallery in a wooden crate … The two-foot-tall sculpture of the ­bodhisattva Gwaneum — was once considered a living being, says Keith Wilson, the Sackler’s curator… “A princely figure, the bodhisattva Gwaneum has not yet renounced worldly possessions.” Original Article (Washington…

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Psychology

Two magic mushroom studies suggest psychedelics increase spirituality, decrease criminal behavior

Oh, the irony. While using psychedelics in the U.S. could land you in prison, experiences with… [naturally occurring psilocybin-producing] mushrooms may help keep you out. According to research which suggests that [these mushrooms] may make you less likely to steal or be violent. Other recent research also suggests that psychedelics can increase spiritually significant events…

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Politics

…psilocybin mushrooms up for debate at Vancouver City Hall

The motion was questioned for hours… and was ultimately rejected. [A] Councillor suggested council work with police and public health officials to address businesses and dispensaries that may… [be providing access to] psilocybin whole mushrooms… Her hope was the group would file a report back to the city on criminal activity, possible public health impact…

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Biography/Memoir

After bankruptcy filing, Purdue Pharma… not be off hook

The company and members of the Sackler family, which owns it, expressed sympathy but not responsibility. “Like families across America, we have deep compassion for the victims of the opioid crisis,” family members said in a statement, calling the settlement plan a “historic step towards providing critical resources that address a tragic public health situation.”…

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Modern Culture

Magic Mushrooms… soon be used

This is one reason why some advocates believe that decriminalization is… even necessary… “A very large percentage of the people interested in psychedelic medicines can, with the right education and settings, do this work safely on their own or with a peer”. -Daniel McQueen “…decriminalization lets us begin to have that dialogue. When we take…

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Psychology

Behind the numbers: Alcohol is killing more people than the opioid epidemic. Why aren’t we talking about it?

Make no mistake, we are in the midst of an alcohol epidemic. Social drinking has increased dramatically since the early 1990s, accompanied by a similar increase in problem drinking and alcohol use disorder, especially among women and minorities. The alcohol-related death rate for women increased 85% from 2007 to 2017! This may have started with…

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Anthropology

Kratom… available in Colorado

Thailand… does… allow domestic consumption of kratom. The FDA [claims it]has linked fifteen deaths between 2014 and 2016 to kratom, [however] fourteen of the victims had other substances in their system, making the actual cause difficult to determine. [Additionally, the “kratom” reported in the 15th case apparently did not distinguish between whole botanical kratom and…

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Spirituality

Could psychedelics become the new medical marijuana? Inside the potential benefits and risks… of ‘magic mushrooms’

Psychedelic mushrooms were decriminalized in Denver and Oakland, not legalized. In other words, the ballot initiatives didn’t legalize the selling or manufacturing of mushrooms — rather, they made possession of mushrooms the lowest law enforcement priority, citing their therapeutic benefits. On May 7, residents of Denver, Colorado, voted to decriminalize the use and possession of…

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