Biography/Memoir

[New York] legislator eyes medicinal ‘magic’ mushrooms

Assemblyman… recently introduced A.8569 in the Assembly to allow the medical use of psilocybin and create a $2 million fund to help state residents who qualify pay for the mushroom-based treatment.  …proposes creating a section in the state Public Health Law titled Medical Use of Psilocybin. Patients or caregivers could receive identification cards lasting one…

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Biography/Memoir

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director… ‘Train has left the station’ on psychedelics as reform movement spreads

The comments came at a psychedelics workshop Volkow’s agency cohosted with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) [in Jan. 2022]. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow said people are going to keep using substances such as psilocybin—especially as the reform movement expands and there’s increased attention being drawn to the potential…

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Biography/Memoir

DEA ends five decade federal monopoly on research cannabis production, approves two companies to harvest plants

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)… authorized two cannabis companies to harvest marijuana for research purposes… ending a five-decade federal monopoly. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) director Nora Volkow told the outlet that it would be “valuable” for researchers to use marijuana from dispensaries to examine what kind of weed is being consumed to better…

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Biography/Memoir

Psychedelics: the newest tool in nuclear negotiations?

…that’s just what Rick Doblin and Carol Rosin say they did – and they still believe introducing psychedelics into nuclear negotiations can produce positive results. Reached for comment about the impact of Doblin and Rosin’s covert action, author Michael Pollan said: “I think it’s highly unlikely Rick’s gift reached its intended recipient – surely someone…

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Biography/Memoir

Hemp batteries are eight times more powerful than lithium, scientists discover

“We’re making graphene-like materials for a thousandth of the price – and we’re doing it with waste.” Tesla’s new million-mile battery is made from lithium-iron phosphate, which is supposed to last twice as long as conventional lithium-ion batteries. While more abundant and cheaper than lithium-ion, lithium-iron-phosphate still can’t compete with the apparently far-more-powerful (and renewable) hemp… Original…

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Biography/Memoir

Sackler [opioid] ruling… [rejected & overturned]

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in Manhattan found that a bankruptcy judge overstepped his authority by approving the plan that gave the Sacklers immunity in return for $4.5 billion for those harmed by Purdue… has overturned a bankruptcy settlement worth more than $4 billion which granted immunity from opioid lawsuits to members of the Sackler…

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