Science

Psychedelics can relieve chronic pain, new survey suggests

A new study published in the European Journal of Pain last month [July 2023] found that both macro and micro doses of classic psychedelics — LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline — led to better pain relief compared to conventional medication in volunteers surveyed. “Participants reported that full doses seem to achieve better perceived results in pain relief than…

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Science

UC Berkeley… psychedelics survey

The majority of American voters support policy reforms for psychedelics, the survey revealed… over half of voters (56%) polled support obtaining FDA approval for psychedelics by prescription. Almost half (49%) support removing criminal penalties for personal use and possession with support for spiritual and religious use polling at just over four out of ten (44%)……

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Science

Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period

Juvenile mice find social experiences more rewarding than do adults. The discovery [is] that psychedelics can re-engage the social neural circuits for varying durations in adults… Gül Dölen, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.; …ibogaine, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin, can reopen the “critical periods” of brain…

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Science

Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB

…psychedelics spurred new growth in both baby and mature neurons. But the mind-bending substances were 1,000 times more efficient than Prozac at grabbing onto a key molecular hub, TrkB. With just a single dose, the drugs elevated mood in mice under chronic stress and reduced a previously-established fear. Psychedelics produce fast and persistent antidepressant effects…

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Medicine/Healing

Can psychedelics save a failing relationship?

…psychedelics, such as magic mushrooms, 2CB, LSD or MDMA.  Juan-Carlos had been violently abused by his father and… realised that it had led him to become absent, jealous and insistent that Sophie was unfaithful. Their marriage had been on the brink, but now — following further psychedelic therapy sessions and structured psychiatric integration – it has…

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Psychology

The three types of psychedelic high

The Ohio State University College of Social Work conducted a study where they asked 1,000 participants to report the types of high some psychedelics gave them. They experimented with the effects of LSD, psilocybin… mescaline, ayahuasca, and 5-MeO-DMT (a close relative of DMT)… the research yielded 3 distinct types of psychedelic highs. (High scoring) –…

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Biography/Memoir

Oregon lawmakers seek to recriminalize psychedelics and other drugs by repealing Measure 110

Two years after Measure 110 was enacted, four state senators want to repeal it [against the will of Oregon voters who supported the measure]. Sponsored by Representative Lily Morgan… would reinstitute criminal penalties for possessing small, personal amounts of controlled substances. Representatives Jami Cate, Rick Lewis, and Anna Scharf, have co-sponsored the bill. …would eliminate the Class E violation…

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Politics

New Hampshire lawmaker files psychedelics legalization bill

…psilocybin mushrooms have been found to be some of the safest recreational drugs, even compared to alcohol and cannabis… …an act legalizing certain controlled substances for persons 21 years of age or older… would legalize the possession and use of a list of psychedelics including psilocybin, mescaline… also reduces the penalties for the possession and…

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Biography/Memoir

…on the leading edge of a ‘shroom boom

Long-time drug reform advocate Dana Larsen… was at the forefront of cannabis activism. “Vancouver had a convergence of activism in the 1990s,” he says. Legal cannabis activism, alongside drug user liberation groups like VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users), helped to shift the local climate from one where bong shops were raided to one…

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