Spirituality

British Medical Journal calls for legalisation of drugs

“Change is coming, and doctors should use their authority to lead calls for pragmatic reform informed by science and ethics.​ It said the ban on the production, supply, possession and use of some drugs for non-medical purposes was causing huge harm. “There is an imperative to investigate more effective alternatives to criminalisation of drug use…

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Spirituality

Activists plan marijuana ceremony inside D.C. Basilica during eclipse

Cannabis churches have emerged around the country. Courts have not granted such organizations protection under the First Amendment to violate drug laws, though the Supreme Court in 2006 found religious use of ayahuasca is allowed under religious-freedom legislation passed by Congress to allow American Indians to use peyote. Armstrong believes a case her organization has…

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Spirituality

Court: growing hallucinogenic mushrooms not illegal in New Mexico

Growing hallucinogenic mushrooms isn’t prohibited by a New Mexico law against manufacturing an illegal drug. That’s the legal conclusion of the state Court of Appeals, which has overturned the felony drug trafficking conviction of an Alamogordo man for growing psilocybin mushrooms in his home. Under state law, drug trafficking includes the manufacturing of illegal drugs.…

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Spirituality

How the amazonian tea ayahuasca affects mental health

Working with ayahuasca seems to enhance both self-awareness and the ability to detach from maladaptive thoughts and emotions in the day-to-day, potentially creating more space to respond to stressful situations or life events in healthier ways. So far, mechanisms of action have been identified in the domains of neuroscience, psychology, spirituality, and physical health, and…

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Spirituality

Horticulturalist wants magic mushrooms legalised

The magical effect of magic mushrooms was hailed in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, during an application by a horticulturalist, who is fighting to have this fungi legalised … Vandenberg said she is not a criminal, yet she is treated as one because of her beliefs. Channelie Vanderberg (corr) turned to the court for a…

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Spirituality

Legal challenge launched to legalise ‘magic’ mushrooms

Vandenberg’s submission mirrored Cromhout’s contention that the criminalisation of psychedelic mushrooms was absurd, as there existed no evidence that it was harmful or addictive; it punished offenders for a victimless offence; and it disregarded documented beneficial effect in combating mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Vandenberg said in court papers she intended challenging the constitutionality…

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Spirituality

Psychedelics, personality and political perspectives

Further work is needed to investigate the nature of the relationship between the peak psychedelic experience and openness to new experiences, egalitarian political views, and concern for the environment. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that lifetime psychedelic use (but not lifetime cocaine use or weekly alcohol consumption) positively predicted … openness and nature relatedness, and…

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