Politics

Berlin, Germany, introduces free and anonymous drug testing

People will get the results back on their drugs three days after submission, with the results sent over to the appropriate counselling centre. Berlin, Germany, has officially launched a legal drug testing scheme, allowing people to anonymously get drugs tested for free. The Senate Department for Health announced the new scheme, named Drug Checking, which carried out…

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Politics

Psilocybin-assisted therapy may provide more cost-effective solution to treating major depression disorder

Psilocybin-based treatment was also found to provide stronger returns in terms of the quality of life of patients following treatment, with psilocybin’s treatment returning a QALY nearly 10% larger than the next most effective treatment, CBT. “We’re calling on health professionals and policymakers to seriously consider these findings which suggest psilocybin could be genuinely ground-breaking…

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Politics

Backers of legalizing psilocybin weigh referendum

A national drug policy group [New Approach PAC] that helped legalize… psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado is now eyeing the Massachusetts ballot with a proposal that would ask voters to authorize the so-called “magic mushrooms” for mental health therapies… On Beacon Hill [Massachusetts], state lawmakers are considering several legislative proposals that call for legalizing psilocybin……

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Politics

Magic mushroom shops…

There are at least four in-person businesses in Ottawa where the public can purchase magic mushrooms or other products – gummies, teas or chocolates – that contain psilocybin, the… ingredient in mushrooms. The first bricks-and-mortar shop in Ottawa — and Ontario — was The Golden Teacher, on Dalhousie Street, which opened a year and a…

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Politics

Massachusetts natural medicine ballot campaign could make bay state psychedelic battleground

New Approach’s strategy has been controversial. By funding local lobbyists and political strategists, the PAC pumps millions into state-level campaigns. Their tactic of colonizing other state ecosystems has drawn criticism from grassroots communities who feel strong-armed by the PAC. In Oregon, groups like the Portland Psychedelic Society and Decriminalize Nature Portland worried that New Approach-backed Measure 109 would create…

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Politics

Oregon legislature… fentanyl… allowing more serious charges…

 The ingestion of just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can prove fatal to adults. …allows prosecutors to treat fentanyl like other hard drugs under Measure 110. The Oregon District Attorneys Association, Oregon Association Chiefs of Police and the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association supported the new legislation… HB 2645… creating a misdemeanor for having more than 1…

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Modern Culture

…the future of psychedelics

…there is so much more we have to learn, and it all begins with talking to one another. Progress relies on an established reality, the proven facts that will convince healthcare providers, politicians and eventually the public at large that these substances can improve our quality of life. Original Article (Rolling Stone):The battle for the…

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Medicine/Healing

Use of psychedelics to treat… chronic pain…

What have scientists discovered about whether these drugs are effective in treating… chronic pain? New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs [ie, psilocybin] might help in treating… chronic pain. The drugs so far appear to be quite effective. Original Article (KRQE):Use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic pain – a researcher discusses recent…

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Science

Magic mushroom chocolate…

“Similar to cannabis edibles, if psilocybin products look like candy and/or are labeled like candy, and have no protective packaging…” says Dr. Sudakin… a medical toxicologist… “When you’re looking at toxicology you’re looking at how much you’re ingesting compared to the patient’s body size,” says Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist at Johns…

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