Hear Wreck and Reference Side Project Hand Model’s Biting New Industrial Song – Revolver Magazine

Posted on by

Over 11 years, seven releases and numerous collaborations with everyone from How to Dress Well and La Dispute to fine art photographer Wolfgang Tillmans L.A. duo Wreck and Reference have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of experimental metal. Enter hand model, the solo project of the group's Ignat Frege, who contributed production, acoustic drums and vocals to Wreck and Reference's twisted, abrasive soundscapes. Due out October 9th on Bandcamp, the project's debut LP, manufactured joy, explores similar ground as Frege's main band, but with the instrumentals pushed into what he calls a "kinda maximalist" frame. Today (October 7th), hand model have teamed with Revolver to unleash "American Brain Worms," one of the album's most punishing cuts. Blast it below.

Frege comments of the track: "The awful contradictions that pervade life in America. The nihilism, the sadism, the ambivalence. Always chasing the imaginary."

The rest is here:

Hear Wreck and Reference Side Project Hand Model's Biting New Industrial Song - Revolver Magazine

Inflection Point? How Much Change Are We Really Facing? – JD Supra

Posted on by

I am trying to figure out how much I care, as a businessman (as opposed to an actual living, breathing human being), about the chaos swirling around us. Every days news seems more the stuff of a dramatic conceit of someones next thriller than reality. Throw in a car chase and some sex, and weve got a movie. (The North Carolina sexting scandal doesnt really get us there for this purpose.)

I watched the whole Presidential Debate the other week (I passed on watching the warm bucket of spit (bowdlerized version) debate this past week). The debate made me feel like Malcolm McDonald in A Clockwork Orange. You know the scene; eyelids pinned back, forced to watch a re-education video over and over again; it still gives me nightmares. Ugh! Between a truly ugly and chaotic election, war, insurrection, sedition, plague, fire, storms, flooding, locusts (and, ugh, lantern flies), grotesque incivility, and the collapse of norms, where are we going? What next? Human sacrifice and dogs lying down with cats? Terrific.

Talking heads like to talk inflection points because hey, drama sells. The SNL headline from years ago that Generalissimo Francisco Franco Is Still Dead is pretty thin stuff for the 6 oclock news hour. So, we bloviate and bloviate about the fraught state of the world. This is the stuff that very serious people (we know that they are serious people, because they tell us how very serious they are all the time) pontificate, hand wring and generally tut-tut about every day.

Uncertainty makes this easy. Questions about the state of the world and the state of business abound. Asking questions designed to be without answers, fans the flames of anxiety, which of course garners ratings which is probably the point.

I will, for the moment, put aside geopolitical adventurism, space aliens and the possibility that the New York Giants might actually win a football game. You know, the truly unlikely, and focus instead on the election and COVID-19.

Every day we hear: Who will win the election? Is it a blue wave? Do we care? Does the business year effectively end on November 4 if we have no clear winners? What happens if we dont know whose hands are on the levers of power for a considerable period of time? What happens when, no matter who prevails, half the country is convinced that the process was flawed and unfair? Constitutional crisis in the making? Electoral college collapse? Whats the consequence of a new sheriff in town at Justice, at Treasury, at the CFPB, at HUD? What will the Fed do? Is it still really independent? Will we have 104 senators soon? Eleven members of the Supreme Court? Will we really have a green revolution? Is the oil business toast? Is trade policy and in general the countrys geopolitical posture going to change radically (again)? What sort of recession are we really in? Did we come out and were going back? Are we actually in one at all? Has the US economys capacity to grow been secularly reduced? How about the worlds?

Will political and social norms continue to erode, and does that mean that the political pendulum will swing even more wildly between left and right as Democrats replace Republicans and Republicans replace Democrats? What happens if the customary progression of somewhat left of center and somewhat right of center collapses? Is there a chance the Republican alternative has been so badly scrambled by the past four years that we may see a semi-permanent one-party government for a considerable period of time? What will that mean for us all?

Will this plague ever end? Might there be a next one (lets face it, there surely will be, but when)? Will COVID-19 get worse? Are we in the middle of a second wave right now? Does the election matter for how we respond? Is a vaccine more likely to show up after a blue wave? Are major cities likely to reopen sooner after a blue wave? Or not? Should we expect sustainedsocial unrest; a never-ending 1968?

Will we ever return to a semblance of the time before?

If you are inclined to worry about these sorts of things, no matter how finely you grind, you will find more to confound. This is an anxiety fractal.

I take some comfort (again, with my businesspersons hat screwed tightly on) that continuity is more common than discontinuity. Inertia, habit, routine, convention, capitulation, and indeed human nature in general all argue that incremental change is easier and hence more to be expected than rapid or discontinuous change. A rift or abyss from what was to what is, is a rare thing in history.

What will that likely mean for us in 2021? Im expecting a blue wave. Thats certainly the consensus view, though 2016 should give us a hardy dose of humility in the election predicting business. Yet, my guess is that this election drama will not wildly change how our polity is organized, how our country is governed, or how our economy works. It will not radically change the shape of 2021. Sure the arc of many of these things which make up the American experience, which define how the American capital markets function, may change a bit, but while they may be nudged onto a slightly different orbit, they will not be radically reimagined. Taxes will likely go up, but not become confiscatory. Business interest will continue to be deductible. In general, the US Tax Code as it applies to commercial real estate and capital formation will remain largely as it is right now (with the exception of carried interest, the elimination of which is, of course, a democratic shibboleth). The laws affecting capital formation will be essentially unchanged. Corporate law will not radically change. Stakeholders will not be elevated to shareholders, at least formally in most states (though Im watching California, Oregon and Washington, the capital of the woke). The partnership code will not change. The rules governing forbearance, foreclosure and enforcement of remedies, will re-stabilize in pre-COVID-19 form. We will still have the opportunity to play with opportunity zones. 1031? Maybe (a lot of big Biden donors own a lot of real estate).

Capital formation will continue apace, lending and borrowing will progress largely as before. The basics fundaments of our largely capital system will not change radically but might become a bit more mixed la our European friends. After this curious recession is done, GDP will continue to repair (albeit probably more slowly than we would like). The Fed will continue to be accommodative. Many of our friends and colleagues will undoubtedly spend more quality time on Capitol Hill with the various and sundry select committees, but, notwithstanding the continued weaponization of statutes affecting business, I am not predicting that orange jumpsuit will become the new white cuff and collar of Wall Street.

Will animal spirits survive? Probably.

But of course, that all might not all be true.

Are we on the cusp of a chasm where what follows will be radically different than what was? After the current caesura, will we discover that 2021 will be radically different than 2019?

Thats really the question, isnt it? In some ways, while it matters why we might confront discontinuity (is it a geopolitical event, political upheaval at home, more bad medical news, space aliens, or something else?) the big predicate question for planning purposes is whether any of these Four Horseman of the Apocalypse will ride into town at all.

I have always been fascinated with discontinuities. Think about the years leading up to 1914 and the years that followed the War. The world radically changed and strikingly, once radical change began to occur, it seemed to metastasize. Start with a war with millions dead, boundaries scrambled, empires fallen. Arguably enough change for a lifetime but look what else happened. The voting franchise was expanded, prohibition (Good Lord), rapid acceleration of technology in transportation and electronics, radio and the movies, the explosion of the consumer society, the expiation of the gold standard (well, until the British in a fit of moronic sentimentality about their lost empire, returned to it briefly in 1925), changes in literature, mores and public morals, artistic sensibilities, jazz, nihilism, Wall Street bombings (a tad more challenging than recent sit-ins ), radicalism of all sorts including the rejection of new found democracy in much of the developed world, (think Italy) . And thats just some of the change. Looking back, the decade following the war was extraordinarily transformational. While theres not particularly strong causal relationships between war in Europe and much of this, it seems that change is itself an enabler and multiplier of change.

So, as we sit here on what might well be the cusp of something fairly consequential, we should be eyes wide open to the fact that cascading change might be soon our reality.

Theres not really much to do about all that, is there? Unless youve a mind to become a prepper, buy a go-bag, dig a hole, sell your FANG stocks for gold bullion and stockpile MREs, we really have to continue to believe that, in large measure, the past is prelude.

As I sit here, my best bet is that none of the more awful or even more disruptive things that could happen in 2021 will happen in 2021. (As making predictions about the future is particularly fraught, Im comforted by the fact that if massive disruption occurs, no one is likely to have the time or energy to remember this commentary.)

So small-ball change is almost certain and small-ball change is what Im going to prepare for. Im looking at a return to a more regulatory-minded government, more institutionalized hostility toward Wall Street and finance writ large, the probability that the prudentially regulated institutions will be more risk adverse (creating a potential dividend for the alternate lending marketplace).

A reinvigorated CFPB and more focus on protecting consumers will make consumer lending more difficult. Were not done with forbearance, foreclosure bans, rent control and the like, but we will rebalance when it becomes apparent that these threaten to make the delivery of homes to regular people well-nigh impossible. It will be harder to develop both urban and suburban sites. We will all need to recognize and embrace the green agenda. A more redistributive federal policy will obtain. Lots more debt (sometimes I hope that Modern Monetary Theorists are right), and a Fed that will make all that possible will be our reality. Zero bound interest rates for as far as the eye can see. (Lets not even talk about negative rates because I still dont understand them.)

So, I am focusing on getting ready for a sustained period of economic slow or negative growth. If theres economic growth in the United States in the next year or so, it will be uneven. Im expecting to see significant amount of mortgage debt and corporate and industrial debt default. Retail is not coming back. Hospitality episodically. Assets will need to reprice. Values of fixed assets are generally going down and while thats a cyclical change, the cycle may be so long as to be effectively secular. The supply of capital to capital markets will be more volatile as politics continues to intersect with finance and banking in new ways. The alternate or non-bank sector is almost surely to grow in importance. Well see new winners and new losers. And sadly, well see many of our friends and colleagues whipsawed as political toys by our gloriously elected representatives. As I have said so often, it is so easy to blame the financial sector for maladies whose birthing was far away from our world.

So what to do? We will build workout capacity and develop workout strategies and asset repricing strategies and make that part of our practice more robust. Well be prepared to spend a great deal more time with the Bankruptcy Code. Weve dusted off our liquidating trustand securitization structures and thought about how liquidity could be brought to non-performing and sub-performing assets in a difficult environment. Were ready to see loan pools start to trade, either NPL or sub-performing pools. Trades will occur because of asset repricing. Many will become highly motivated sellers because of business or regulatory externalities. Well be alert to how regulated institutions behave and the flow of investable funds into what may be a disproportionately growing alternate lending space. Were watching regulatory change with utmost care. Some of the changes affecting the banking world that had been put on the back burner over the past four years may be re-accelerated into reality. Basil in full, which is almost a certainty if we have a globalist-minded administration next spring. Were trying to think around the corner and see how change will impact markets.

For the moment, stay nimble, my friends. Be mindful that banking and capital formation tend not to be popular during periods of economic stress and as I was saying last week, be ready to protect our industry from real or ginned up assault and calumny. Sticks and stones arent the only things that hurts these days.

See original here:

Inflection Point? How Much Change Are We Really Facing? - JD Supra

Bitcoin battles and jurisdiction under the Defamation Act 2013 – Lexology

Posted on by

A recent decision by the Court of Appeal has clarified when a claimant can bring an action for defamation against a person domiciled outside of the UK.

In the case of Wright v Ver [2020] EWCA Civ 672, the Court considered (1) the proper interpretation and effect of section 9 of the Defamation Act 2013, and (2) whether England and Wales was clearly the most appropriate place for the claimant to bring an action for defamation.

The claimant, Dr Craig Wright, was a prominent computer scientist, Australian national and citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, who moved to the UK in 2015. He famously claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto the creator of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. However, this was not an issue in the dispute and Nakamotos true identity remains unproven. Roger Ver, the defendant, was the Bitcoin investor and commentator US born, resident in Japan and a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis. Formerly colleagues, Dr Wright and Ver fell out in a disagreement over how to develop Bitcoin. As a result, Ver published a video on YouTube on 15 April 2019, claiming that Dr Wright falsely claimed to be Nakamoto.

Dr Wright commenced an action for defamation against Ver. At first instance, the High Court ruled that England and Wales was not clearly the most appropriate place to bring his action. Dr Wright appealed to the Court of Appeal.

The Court considered section 9 of the Act. Dingemans LJ, in his judgment, considered a number of factors that were relevant in determining whether England and Wales was clearly the most appropriate jurisdiction in which to bring an action for defamation. These factors included:

Based on these factors and the evidence before it, the Court concluded that England and Wales was not clearly the most appropriate jurisdiction for Dr Wright to bring the claim. The YouTube video had been published almost four times more in the US than the UK. Dr Wright had a global reputation, which was just as likely to be affected in other jurisdictions where the publication took place. The question of whether Dr Wright was the inventor of Bitcoin was a global issue. Although Dr Wright claimed that most of his business peers were based in the UK, the evidence indicated strongly that his most important relationships were based in the US. Dr Wright was employed by a UK based company however, that company was part of a multinational group.

This judgment is particularly relevant to individuals who have global reputations. It is not enough for a claimant to claim a tenuous link to England and Wales. It is for precisely this reason that section 9 was enacted. What is clear from this case is that evidence at this early stage is key. Claimants will have to consider carefully whether they can prove a clear link with England and Wales, by taking the factors above into consideration and showing that it is the most appropriate jurisdiction. This is an important strategic question, but also one that is highly fact specific.

In particular, a potential claimant should consider whether a statement has been more impactful inside England and Wales, or elsewhere. Evidence of the statements impact in England and Wales will be critical to the Courts assessment. The reach/readership of the publication, social media reactions, witness statements and media publications are all types of evidence that a claimant ought to collate when making their case.

Read more here:

Bitcoin battles and jurisdiction under the Defamation Act 2013 - Lexology

Hey Max Keiser, Who’s the bigger con? – CoinGeek

Posted on by

In the wake of John McAfees arrest in Spain this week, RT host and alt-finance commentator Max Keiser asked his 234,000+ Twitter followers Whos the bigger con? John McAfee or Craig Wright? Maybe he should look at the ideas hes been selling over the years himself.

Keiser is in the only BTC is Bitcoin camp. He once ran a campaign to become mayor of London, promising to base the citys economy on Bitcoin. Though he touts BTCs infrastructure as an alternative to todays financial system, much of his commentary is on the topic of BTC price (he has at various times predicted $28K, $100K, even $400K per unit).

CoinGeek has a whole article on the raging War on Bitcoin, for background. In it, we can see the motives and whats at stake for those involved.

Unlike Dr. Wright, Keiser is neither a software developer nor a computer scientist with a deep understanding of the technologies he promotes. Though the Maxcoin asset carries his name, he wasnt part of the development team. He is a media personality. His job is to be popular, contrarian, and provocative. It has also involved a lot of digital asset promotion, much of which is about where he sees their prices heading.

The only assets Keiser hasnt ever been particularly bullish about are national fiat currencies. Hes anti-big bank and central banking, and often exhorts his viewers to look at alternatives, such as cryptocurrencies and precious metals.

Maxcoin: His name is on the label

Keiser was/is most famously involved with the Maxcoin projectan altcoin named after himself that launched in 2014. The coin eventually crashed and was rebooted in 2017, and still exists today. Though Keiser has at times been close to and distant from the coins developers, hes still listed as a team member on its current website.

Keisers commentary on Maxcoin also frequently mentioned price increases coming soon. Some of his tweets regarding Maxcoins price in the earlier days appear to have been removed.

For the record, Maxcoins price as of October 7, 2020, is $0.00194569. Tough luck if you were a long-term holder who bought on the advice of Max Keiser.

Heres a chart showing the all-time price history of Maxcoinif it looks familiar, its because almost every altcoin has followed a similar trajectory:

Did Keiser truly believe Maxcoin ran on superior technology, and that its price would go up? Or did he know that, just by saying so on TV, it would generate more buzz and consequently higher prices, at least temporarily?

Maxcoins David Serrano, who says the following history of the coin is just his opinion, gives the following description on the current Maxcoin Project site itself:

Luke & Jordan create and launch Maxcoin. A new alt-coin with fantastic features such as Keccak, Schnorr & KGW. It was widely promoted, and created quite a buzz after the Live launch on the Keiser Report. As you could imagine, the price quickly shot up, but corrected just as hard, leaving many speculators and investors high and dry. With no pre-mine or funds to dig into development, a crowd funding effort was made but unfortunately, after a few unsuccessful attempts, the developers were also left high and dry. Maxcoin was a burning mess of burnt speculators, no funds for future development and a dwindling developers team. Maxcoin as a cryptocurrency may have been ahead of its time with Keccak, Schnorr and KGW, but it was not prepared or backed up for success.

In 2014, Keiser said his portfolio was mostly Bitcoin, but that altcoins offer great ways to gain exposure to different segments of the crypto universe. As I said before, the market as a whole is set for 100x growth so theres plenty of upside.

He was then asked if promoting altcoin investment was ethical, and replied Im like Warren Buffet. I talk about the coins I myself own including Maxcoin.

Keiser has also devoted plenty of airtime in the past to Quark (current price $0.00564) and Startcoin (current price $0.005617).

Keiser is smart enough to know that if he talks about a coin, its price will pump (if only briefly). If, as he said, he talks about the coins he owns, hes increasing the value of his investment by giving it attention.

Keiser has eased off on the altcoin promotion in recent times, probably sensing a shift in regulatory mood post-2017. He has also criticized John McAfee and others who promote the coin of the day scams, as in this particularly prescient post:

In 2019 Keiser switched completely, saying altcoins are finished. Hes gone all-in on BTC and made some more price predictions on BCH and BSV:

Bitcoin Cash, the Roger Ver abomination, is going to ten bucks. Bitcoin Satoshi Vision, from Craig Wright, thats going to ten bucks. Most, or all of these altcoins, are going to pennies, or theyre going to go out of existence, because all of that cash is going to flow to Bitcoin.

Its still all about the price, though. Whether implicitly or explicitly, Keiser is telling his audience what they should and shouldnt invest in.

If Dr. Craig Wright is a conman, hes doing it all wrong

Were not saying Max Keiser has broken any laws. And well assume he declares all his income and pays his taxes. Hes also a lot less reckless than John McAfee. But his attacks on Dr. Craig Wright not only arrive apropos of nothing, its also irresponsible to draw a connection between Wright and paid altcoin promoters.

Dr. Wright does not tell anyone to buy BSV, and he never tells anyone theyll get rich from doing so. In fact, most of his advice is the oppositehe spends most of his media time telling people to build something, and to get out there and work if they want to be rich.

Wrights message has always been that Bitcoin provides the infrastructure, but that even the best infrastructure does nothing by itself. He frequently criticizes speculative trading and HODLing (hoarding Bitcoin in the hope someone else will make the price increase).

Dr. Wright, unlike Max Keiser, has never released a brand new coin. BSV is Bitcoin, traceable all the way back to the Genesis Block of January 2009. Other assets, like BTC and BCH, claim the name Bitcoin and their backers will understandably attack anything claiming legitimacy over theirs. Keiser is a BTC promoter and price pumper, and whether hes paid to do that or whether his gain is simply his own investment, that fact should form the context to any claims he makes about rivals.

Follow CoinGeeks Crypto Crime Cartel series, which delves into the stream of groupsfrom BitMEX to Binance, Bitcoin.com, Blockstream and Ethereumwho have co-opted the digital asset revolution and turned the industry into a minefield for nave (and even experienced) players in the market.

New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeeksBitcoin for Beginnerssection, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoinas originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamotoand blockchain.

Follow this link:

Hey Max Keiser, Who's the bigger con? - CoinGeek

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Closes Last Hour Down $-0.29; Breaks Above 20 Day Average, Price Base in Formation Over Past 14 Days, is Inching Close to 20 Day…

Posted on by

The Hourly View for BCH

Last Updated October 8, 2020, 01:036 GMT

At the time of this writing, BCHs price is down $-0.29 (-0.13%) from the hour prior. The hourly chart shows that BCH has seen 2 straight down hours. As for the trend on the hourly timeframe, we see the clearest trend on the 20 hour timeframe. Of note is that the 50 hour changed directions on BCH; it is now pointing down. The moving averages on the hourly timeframe suggest a choppiness in price, as the 20, 50, 100 and 200 are all in a mixed alignment meaning the trend across timeframes is inconsistent, indicating a potential opportunity for rangebound traders.

The back and forth price flow continues for Bitcoin Cash, which started today off at 223.15 US dollars, up 1.54% ($3.38) from the previous day. This move happened on lower volume, as yesterdays volume was down 44.28% from the day before and down 24.53% from the same day the week before. Bitcoin Cash outperformed all 7 assets in the Top Cryptos asset class since the previous day. Congrats to its holders! The daily price chart of Bitcoin Cash below illustrates.

Notably, Bitcoin Cash crossed above its 20 day moving average yesterday. Trend traders will want to observe that the strongest trend appears on the 90 day horizon; over that time period, price has been moving down. Also of note is that on a 14 day basis price appears to be forming a base which could the stage for it being a support/resistance level going forward. For another vantage point, consider that Bitcoin Cashs price has gone down 5 of the previous 10 trading days.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Bitcoin Cash for the past day were:

The last time someone asked me my opinion on a crypto chart (had about 75% of their savings in it) was 2017-18 bitcoin cash at about 1500. Told them i thought it would hit mid to low 200s and that I would take my profit and run. He argued all the reasons why i was wrong

The year is 2035: All office jobs are now work from home, with former office buildings being converted into low-rent housing. Every day is another data breach, but everything is public anyway. Your boyfriends toaster gets hit with ransomware. Bitcoin Cash still isnt popular.

@rogerkver @BitcoinCashA yes. Thank you @deadalnix Amaury Sechet and ABC for all the real work you have done and will continue to do for Bitcoin Cash as P2P Digital Cash. And thanks for your efforts too Roger Ver. No one really knows how much youve suffered, do they.

As for a news story related to Bitcoin Cash getting some buzz:

Bitcoin Cash BCH Hard Fork Scheduled For Nov 15, 2020, What you Need To Know?

Once again the community becomes oppose to the consenses between miners and developers, so again hard forking the BCH blockchain and slipping into a new chain will occur to distribute another BCH forked copy to the holders of parent BCH.This hard fork will seem like short benefits to the holders of BCH on the snapshot of Hard fork time.

Go here to see the original:

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Closes Last Hour Down $-0.29; Breaks Above 20 Day Average, Price Base in Formation Over Past 14 Days, is Inching Close to 20 Day...

What Psychedelic Mushrooms Are Teaching Us About Human Consciousness – Discover Magazine

Posted on by

The scientific world is in the midst of a decade-long psychedelic renaissance. This revolution is expanding our understanding of one of the most captivating scientific puzzles: human consciousness.Numerous research fields are revealing new insights into how psychedelics affect the brain and which neural processes underly consciousness.

Multiple studies testing psychedelic drugs for treating mental illness provide compelling evidence of their therapeutic benefit. Treated disorders have included depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, obsessive compulsive disorder and addiction. Dozens of clinical trials are underway, the majority investigating the therapeutic effect of psilocybin, the active component in so-called magic mushrooms.This natural compound belongs to the class of serotonergic psychedelics those that activate serotonin (type 2A) receptors.

Researchers are examining the distribution of serotonin 2A receptors to help pinpoint the brain areas affected by psychedelics. The greater the density of these receptors, the greater the likelihood that a particular brain region contributes to the psychedelic experience, according to a study published in Neuropsychopharmacology.Knowing this helps us understand how psychedelics exert their positive therapeutic effect, as well as which brain regions are involved in various states of consciousness.

The claustrum is one of multiple brain regions that is rich in serotonin 2A receptors and organizes brain activity.Cognitive neuroscientist Frederick Barrett and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research recently examined how psilocybin affects neural activity in the claustrum.

Published in NeuroImage, their breakthrough study used real-time brain scans in humans to show that psilocybin reduces activity in the claustrum by up to 30 percent. This coincides with people's subjective feelings of ego dissolution and oneness with their environment while under the influence of the drug. The less active the claustrum, the stronger the psychedelic effect reported by participants, including mystical and emotional experiences, and a reduced sense of self.The authors write that the work supports a possible role of the claustrum in the subjective and therapeutic effects of psilocybin.

In this mysterious part of the brain, a thin sheet of neurons sends and receives signals to and from other brain regions. Growing evidence suggests the claustrum orchestrates consciousness gathering, sending and integrating information from almost every brain region. Some, like neuroscientist Christof Koch, believe that the sense of self and ego rest here.

Several years ago, Koch and colleagues of the Allen Brain Institute for Brain Science found anatomical evidence in mice to support this idea. They identified several large neurons projecting from the claustrum, with one wrapping around the circumference of the brain.Around the same time, they published a paper in the Journal of Comparative Neurology describing the vast connections between the claustrum and various brain regions in mice.

Read More: This Is Your Brain On Magic Mushrooms

Barrett says that while the claustrum has received attention as a potential mediator of consciousness as well as psychedelic experience, our current thinking is that the claustrum helps to integrate and orchestrate the coherence of brain networks as they support perception and cognition.

Variations in activity levels of the claustrum are associated with different states of consciousness.For example, the claustrum coordinates synchronized slow-wave activity in the brain. This particular state of consciousness is a feature of certain deep sleep stages during which the brain maintains synapses and consolidates memories. Neuroscientist Yoshihiro Yoshihara and colleagues of the RIKEN Center for Brain Science recently published a compelling study in Nature Neuroscience. They showed in mice that increased neural activity in the claustrum mediates a global silencing of brain activity through resting state slow-waves.

Psilocybin likely subdues the so-called gate-keeper function of the claustrum, causing a loss of organized, constrained brain activity, according to neuroscientists Robin Carhart-Harris and Karl Friston. Such desynchronization increases connectivity between brain regions that are otherwise not engaged with one another, producing a change in consciousness.

Combined with supportive psychotherapy, such expansive, unconstrained cross-talk between brain regions is believed to help break habitual patterns of thinking and behavior, leading to psychological breakthroughs. This mechanism may also explain how psilocybin can affect positive change in such a wide variety of psychiatric conditions. Neuropsychopharmacologist David Nutt and colleagues of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London discuss these ideas in a paper published in Cell.

Though anecdotal, Albert Einstein believed that his most profound scientific breakthroughs happened because he played the violin. He said this practice encouraged communication between different parts of his brain in unique ways that were otherwise inaccessible to his conscious mind. Is it possible that Einstein was describing a state of consciousness invoked by creative pursuits that mimic, albeit to a far lesser extent, the effect of psychedelics in the brain?

Barrett believes that listening to and playing music require a similar presence of mind to deep meditation a connection to the here and now. Barrett says that one of the unique anecdotal effects of psychedelics is said to be complete absorption in the present moment, and to this degree, I do believe that musical experiences can involve similar states of consciousness (albeit to a far lesser extent) to the effects of psychedelics.

Regarding the role of the claustrum, Barrett adds that its function during musical experiences has not yet been studied.Theoretically, this brain structure would be necessary for helping to coordinate brain states during musical experiences. He points out that the claustrum would need to function like a highly controlled orchestra conductor in order to support musical experiences unlike psychedelics, which undermine claustrum activity.If musical experiences and psychedelic experiences both involve the claustrum he says, they may do so in very different ways.

Psychedelic-like experiences and altered states of consciousness can occur in the absence of mind-altering drugs. For example, sensory deprivation is known to trigger hallucinations. In fact, sensory deprivation therapy may help treat some of the same psychological disorders as psychedelic therapy, such as depression and anxiety. Given the claustrums role in integrating multisensory inputs, investigating its function in drug-free, psychedelic-like experiences may answer some intriguing questions in the future.

Barrett suggests that the claustrum probably plays a fundamental, yet different, role in all of these experiences: Lack of sensory input may indeed lead to an imbalance in or disruption of the typical networks and circuits that are involved in claustrum function, however the mechanism by which this might happen is unclear.

While we have yet to crack the code of human consciousness, incremental discoveries from different disciplines may stimulate scientific creativity and enable ongoing progress.Perhaps it is precisely such expansive, unconstrained communication between research areas that will lead us towards the most profound breakthroughs.

Read this article:

What Psychedelic Mushrooms Are Teaching Us About Human Consciousness - Discover Magazine

Psilocybin for depression, MDMA for PTSD: The future of mental health? – Vox.com

Posted on by

Around the world, peoples mental health is in trouble. Even before the pandemic hit, rates of depression and anxiety were rising globally. Now that we also have Covid-19 to contend with, the problem is even more glaring.

Studies show that all the virus-induced losses of life, of jobs, of social connection have come with serious upticks in mental illness worldwide. In the US, for example, the prevalence of depression is four times as high as it was in the second quarter of 2019.

The pandemic has highlighted the inadequacy of our existing tools for coping with these problems. Its not just that a health crisis can easily disrupt access to mental health services, though weve definitely seen that to be true. Its also that drugs like traditional antidepressants are, at best, only a partial solution. While their effectiveness has been hotly contested over the past decade, the evidence now shows that they are more effective than a placebo, but not that much more effective. (Once we account for the placebo response, the effect size of the drugs themselves is modest.) And for some folks who have treatment-resistant depression, the drugs dont work at all.

So if you want to invest in the mental health of people around the world, making us all more resilient to future crises, what can you do?

Believe it or not, your best bet might be to fund drug development for psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments. At least thats the upshot of a new in-depth report by Founders Pledge, an organization that guides entrepreneurs committed to donating a portion of their proceeds to effective charities.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being investigated as a potential treatment for depression. Over the past decade, a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of psilocybin for treating depression and end-of-life anxiety in cancer patients, and found that the psychedelic had a surprisingly large effect.

Meanwhile, the drug MDMA (also known as ecstasy) is being studied for use in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. MDMA, which affects serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, is best known as a party drug. But research suggests it can also relieve depression and help users access and process memories of emotional trauma. The users in studies participate in psychotherapy sessions where a therapist helps them integrate what they experienced while taking MDMA which often includes increased feelings of empathy and bonding into daily life.

Theres some evidence to suggest that ingesting these substances, in a safe setting and under the supervision of trained therapists, can be more helpful with depression and PTSD than traditional drugs; in some studies, the reported effect sizes for psilocybin, say, are greater than the effect sizes of the current best treatments for depression (though these studies have limitations, so we would need more data to establish this with certainty). Psychedelics might also be helpful for anxiety, addiction, and other issues.

If this seems surprising, its worth noting that medical research into psychedelics has been going on since the late 1800s. In the 1940s and 1950s, psychiatrists used LSD to treat pain, anxiety, and depression. (There are promising preliminary results from studies of LSD for anxiety, though larger controlled studies are needed.) And in the 1970s and 1980s, psychotherapists and psychiatrists administered MDMA to thousands of patients. As psychedelics became popular for recreational use, though, MDMA was banned in 1985 in the US, and the research slowed in many countries.

As Michael Pollan detailed in How to Change Your Mind, research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs has been undergoing a renaissance over the past decade. These therapies are now gaining traction in some quarters. In Oregon, Measure 109 is on the ballot in November, and if passed, the state will be the first in the US to allow psilocybin therapy to be administered by licensed facilitators.

We still need a lot more research on these treatments, though and one of the benefits of funding the drug development process is that that process will involve doing high-quality studies to prove efficacy and safety. We also need organizations willing to do the hard work of getting a drug approved for medical use nationwide.

The Usona Institute is one such organization that the Founders Pledge report highlights. Its currently working on drug development for psilocybin as a depression treatment in the US, and its already got a preliminary Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA. Thats an acknowledgment that the FDA thinks the early evidence shows psilocybin may have an advantage over available therapy, and it means the FDA offers Usona intensive guidance on its drug development so that it may gain expedited approval. Founders Pledge thinks Usona will put your dollars to better use than any other organization in this space. If interested, you can donate here.

A close runner-up is the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, which is carrying out drug development for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in the US, Canada, Israel, and soon Europe. If interested, you can donate here. This treatment is already in phase 3 trials, which means approval of MDMA as a therapy could be granted in these countries in a few years.

But the large-scale rollout of new drugs takes a long time. Founders Pledge estimates that for MDMA, itll take six to nine years, while for psilocybin the timeline will be more like eight to 11 years.

Investing in causes that may have a big positive impact in the long term is a wise thing to do. But during a pandemic, some people will want to relieve the suffering they see happening right now.

The psychedelics drug development wont be done for years. So in terms of having an impact now, thats not the way to go, Aidan Goth, who co-wrote the Founders Pledge report, told me.

He emphasized, though, that investing in global mental health during the pandemic is a worthy cause. Mental illness can feed into physical illness, and in itself may cause as much suffering as physical illness in some cases. It can also harm peoples ability to hold a job or care for their dependents. Plus, we should not fall prey to the misconception that mental health is a so-called first-world problem.

Weve looked at the burden of mental health globally, and it is a really, really big problem in lower- and middle-income countries as well. Its not true that its just affecting people in high-income countries, Goth said.

If youre itching to improve peoples mental health while the pandemic is in full swing, youd do well to invest in a project that gives you an immediate return on your investment. For that purpose, Founders Pledge recommends a couple of organizations: StrongMinds and Action for Happiness.

Theres a serious lack of mental health professionals in many developing countries in Africa. StrongMinds, a Uganda-based organization, understood that in order to treat the millions of African women suffering from depression, it would have to train laypeople.

Since its founding in 2013, its scaled up pretty quickly. Lay facilitators have led group talk therapy sessions reaching a total of 70,000 women. Over a 12-week period, the women learn to identify the triggers of their depression and devise strategies to overcome them.

As demonstrated in two randomized controlled trials, this is a powerful and cost-effective intervention, Founders Pledge researchers say. They estimate that StrongMinds prevents the equivalent of one year of severe major depressive disorder for a woman at a cost of around $248 a pretty good deal, especially when you consider this helps the woman as well as her dependents.

StrongMinds says it is uniquely positioned to meet the demand for depression treatment in sub-Saharan Africa during the pandemic. Its offering teletherapy, a chatbot, and other treatment approaches in line with social distancing requirements.

Like StrongMinds, Action for Happiness brings people together in small groups and its run by volunteers in each local community. But this one is a UK-based organization that mostly operates in Europe, though its also reached countries like the US and Australia.

Action for Happiness provides eight-week courses, called Exploring What Matters, where participants talk through strategies for crafting a happier life, such as developing a mindfulness practice. The course has been shown to improve subjective well-being, with reductions in depression and anxiety and increases in happiness and life satisfaction. Based on a randomized controlled trial, Founders Pledge found this program to be extremely cost-effective, with high potential for scale-up.

During the pandemic, Action for Happiness has gone from in-person courses to virtual ones, launching a free online coaching program to improve wellbeing.

Given that Founders Pledge evaluated StrongMinds and Action for Happiness before the pandemic, you might wonder whether these organizations are still helping people cost-effectively now that theyve had to shift from an in-person to an online methodology.

Goth explained that when Founders Pledge researchers evaluate an organization, they examine not only the specific programs its running but also the organization as a whole whether its leadership is strong and whether its management can be trusted to competently carry out its mission. So the researchers still believe in StrongMinds and Action for Happinesss ability to serve people effectively now.

We trust that theyre well-run and we think theyre doing good work given the circumstances, Goth said. Theyre the best were aware of.

If this cause speaks to you, you can donate to StrongMinds here or donate to Action for Happiness here.

Sign up for the Future Perfect newsletter. Twice a week, youll get a roundup of ideas and solutions for tackling our biggest challenges: improving public health, decreasing human and animal suffering, easing catastrophic risks, and to put it simply getting better at doing good.

Help keep Vox free for all

Millions turn to Vox each month to understand whats happening in the news, from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is, quite possibly, the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources. Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers, your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work. If you have already contributed, thank you. If you havent, please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world: Contribute today from as little as $3.

See the original post here:

Psilocybin for depression, MDMA for PTSD: The future of mental health? - Vox.com

Thanks to the Shroom Boom, This Small Stock Could Soar – InvestorPlace

Posted on by

Oftentimes, the best way to score enormous returns in the stock market is by buying leading stocks in emerging megatrends before those megatrends go mainstream.

Thats why you should consider buying psychedelic stocks today.

Arguably the most defining pharmaceutical megatrend of the 2020s will be what we like to call the Shroom Boom or the mass de-stigmatization, legalization and utilization of psychedelic-inspired medicines for the treatment of various mental health disorders.

Antiquated beliefs that psychedelics like magic mushrooms and MDMA are bad for you are being thrown out the window, and replaced by a wave of academic research which shows that the active ingredients in these psychedelics can actually provide meaningful benefits for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, anorexia, addiction, etc.

Over the past few months, the Shroom Boom has started to go mainstream.

Multiple Netflix documentaries like Have a Good Trip: Adventure in Psychedelics and The Business of Drugs have shone a favorable light on psychedelics in 2020.

Last month, UC Berkeley launched a new center for psychedelic science and education, with its media relations department saying in a press release:

Fifty years after political and cultural winds slammed shut the doors on psychedelic research, UC Berkeley is making up for lost time by launching the campuss first center for psychedelic science and public education.

Last week, widely followed Freakonomics did a podcast on psychedelic-inspired medicines.

Also last week, Joe Rogan the king of podcasts highlighted psychedelics in a segment.

The barriers are being broken. It has started. The Shroom Boom is going mainstream.

This is a $30+ BILLION market in the making and multiple stocks will score 1,000%-plus returns over the next decade as this market disrupts the mental health treatment status quo.

There is a small-cap stock that is pioneering a new era of psychedelic-inspired medicines. Like others in the sector, it could soar by much more than 1,000% over the next few years.

A few months ago, MindMed (OTC:MMEDF) was the most established public company pushing forward on psychedelic-inspired medicines.

I say at the time because thats no longer true.

In mid-September, the true leader of the Shroom Boom COMPASS Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS) finally came public via an IPO that was a huge success.

For a few reasons, COMPASS Pathways is the unrivaled leader in psychedelic-inspired medicine commercialization and, by extension, the best bet on the Shroom Boom.

First, the company has a leading, proprietary psychedelic treatment that is already going through clinical trials.

COMPASS is hyper-focused on using the active ingredients in magic mushrooms something called psilocybin to treat treatment-resistant depression, or TRD.

The company has created a proprietary psilocybin formulation dubbed COMP360 which completed Phase 1 trials in 2019, in which the treatment was shown to be well-tolerated. Phase 2 trials have commenced in 2020. Results are expected in late 2021.

Importantly, this timeline puts COMPASS miles ahead of everyone else in this space. Most of COMPASSs peers are in the experimentation phase, still trying to come up with their own proprietary psychedelic-inspired medicines meanwhile, COMPASS is in the midst of clinical trials.

Second, COMPASSs board includes some of the pharma industrys brightest stars, and its early backers include some of the worlds most well-respected VCs.

The former Chairman of Johnson & Johnson sits on COMPASSs board. So does the former Director of the US National Institute of Mental Health. And the former executive director of the EMA. The board also counts leading psychiatry professors from Stanford, Harvard, and Imperial College London as members.

As if that roster werent enough, legendary VC investor Peter Thiel best known as Facebooks first investor also owns a 7.5% stake in COMPASS.

So if anyone is going to crack the code of making a best-in-market psilocybin treatment for depression its going to be these guys.

Third, the company has a clear pathway to being first-to-market and first movers advantage matters in the Shroom Boom.

Because COMP360 is already in Phase 2 trials and because the team here knows a thing or two about commercializing therapeutics, COMPASS has a clear pathway to being first-to-market with an FDA-approved psychedelics-inspired treatment.

Thats a big deal, because FDA approval takes a long time, meaning that COMPASS will likely have a two- to three-year window in the 2020s in which COMP360 will be the only psych treatment out there a period long enough for COMPASS to establish dominance in the market.

How big is this market?

Well, the global anxiety and depression treatment market measures somewhere around $20 billion. Plus, COMPASS can leverage its psilocybin treatment to address other markets like addiction and ADHD, which together comprise a $12 billion treatment market.

So, youre talking a total addressable market north of $30 billion.

COMPASS projects as the leader in that market.

Is 20% market share doable? Absolutely. That would put COMPASS annual sales at $6 billion.

Pharma stocks today fetch around a 5-times sales multiple. That implies a potential future market cap for COMPASS of $30 BILLION.

The companys current market today is $1.2 billion.

Not many stocks out there have a realistic chance to rise 30X over the next several years COMPASS is one of them and for that reason alone, this stock should be on your radar today.

On the date of publication, Luke Lango did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.

The New Daily 10X Stock Report: 98.7% Accuracy Gains Up to 466.78%.InvestorPlaces brand-new and highly controversial newsletter is rocking the industry delivering one breakthrough stock recommendation each and every trading day delivered straight to your inbox. 98.7% Accuracy to Date Gains Up to 466.78%. Now for a limited time you can get in for just $19.Click here to find out how.

Continued here:

Thanks to the Shroom Boom, This Small Stock Could Soar - InvestorPlace

5 Reasons I Switched To The Psychedelic Business – Green Entrepreneur

Posted on by

October7, 20205 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

After attending Burning Man in 2018, I decided to leave the cannabis space and create the first psychedelic wellness brand, Delic. My partner, Jackee Stang, and I are seasoned executives in the cannabis space, but we felt it was time to transition and use the lessons learned in cannabis and apply them to the emerging psychedelic space. Burning Man, 2018, is when Delic journeyed from fun idea to brick and mortar.

Here are five reasons why I decided to leave cannabis and move to psychedelics.

Psychedelics have always been a part of my adult life, including my professional history. Most notably, my partner and I were both executives at High Times, which originated in the 70s as a place to get people high, not just as a magazine to disseminate information about cannabis.

In my personal experience, psychedelics have done more for my wife in a few years of using them in a clinical setting than 20 years of traditional psychotherapy or SSRIs did for her. My first-hand experience of watching her positive change in anxiety and depression has been extremely motivating to help others achieve the same benefits. My love for the plants and the potential value they can bring to our society has turned into a deep passion for educating people and helped destigmatize and normalize the substances.

If we look at the state of the Universe, it is quite remarkable that humans exist in the first place and can communicate and love one another. Despite the cosmic beauty of our existence and the amazing things that happen in the world every day in front of our eyes, we are stuck in a societal mental health epidemic.

Even beforeCOVID, our society has been living in a mental health epidemic. A person commits suicide every 40 seconds around the globe. Mental health issues like anxiety and depression are pervasive throughout our society, affecting people regardless of age or background. Not only is the issue widespread, but the current treatments are not adequate and oftenonly cover up the symptoms rather than treat the underlying cause.

More university and government-backed studies are looking into the benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in the U.S. than studies are looking into cannabis. These studies have had remarkable results for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. The data shows us that the medical and research fields are taking this seriously, which tends to be an early sign of something becoming mainstream and universally accepted.

Related:Psychedelics: The Next Wave For Investors?

Everyone in the US universally agrees with the First Amendment freedoms, but cognitive freedom is not one of those fundamental freedoms. By cognitive freedom, we mean the freedom for individuals to control their consciousness, including psychoactive substances like psychedelics. If we dont have the freedom to control our consciousness, how can we ever truly have freedom of speech?

The caveat to cognitive freedom is we live in a civilized society and need to keep each other safe. To do this, rules, boundaries, limitations, and regulations are sometimes necessary. In cannabis, we saw rapid regulations created mainly by people who didnt understand cannabis or the experience it creates. We want to take this lesson learned and make sure the psychedelic industry doesnt make the same mistake, which is why were proud to be one of the leaders in psychedelic education. We are striving to make sure everyone can have cognitive freedom to maximize safety between all of us.

While some analysts were still predicting a bullish market for cannabis, we became aware that the green bubble was getting ready to burst several years ago, in a similar parallel to the dot com bubble. Cannabis companies had massive losses, advertising and branding dollars werent generating brand awareness, especially in Canada, and high valuations didnt accurately reflect companies performance.

The public markets were dropping with investors losing confidence, and smaller companies felt the strain of the regulatory hurdles and lack of access to standard business services like banking. In our eyes, the next natural step from cannabis was the psychedelic industry, and we wanted to take our lessons learned and apply them to the new market, so we dont make the same mistakes.

When looking at cannabis, were talking about a single plant that can be broken down into over 100 different cannabinoids, each with their own physiological effects and potential medical and health and wellness benefits.

Most people think of psychedelics as only a handful of substances, but the sky is the limit for this unique class of drugs in reality. Within psychedelics, we can look at different categories like tryptamines, phenethylamines, lysergamides, or dissociatives. Each of these distinct categories has dozens of substances and analogs within them. Each of those substances has its unique effect, similar to how every cannabinoid has its outcome.

This market will need to approach regulating many different substances that do other things for different people. It will behoove us to take our time and learn about each substance in various trials and experiments. We are excited to be at the forefront of educating people about all psychedelic substances, not just the popular ones.

Related:Will Cannabis Entrepreneurs Switch To Psychedelics?

See the article here:

5 Reasons I Switched To The Psychedelic Business - Green Entrepreneur

Field Trip Health, Another Psychedelic Therapy Company, Goes Public – Forbes

Posted on by

The cofounders of Toronto-based Field Trip Health. From left to right: Mujeeb Jafferi, Hannan Fleiman, Ryan Yermus, Joseph del Moral, and Ronan Levy.

Welcome to the era of psychedelic stocks. Toronto-based Field Trip Health became the third psychedelic therapy and drug development company to hit the public markets on Tuesday.

Field Trip went public through a direct listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange after it completed a reverse takeover of oil and gas company Newton Energy Corporation.

Ronan Levy, a cofounder and the executive chairman of Field Trip, says psychedelic drugs, which are currently illegal under federal law but show promise in clinical mental health studies, will become the next blockbuster pharmaceutical products.

As you look at psychedelics, these molecules stand poised to fundamentally revolutionize how we consider mental, emotional and behavioral health, says Levy.

Before going public, Field Trip closed a $12 million private placement deal, which brought the total amount it has raised since founding to $20 million. On Tuesday, the stock opened at 3.50 Canadian Dollars and closed at 2.70 Canadian Dollars. After the first day of trading, Field Trips market cap was $102 million.

MindMed, a psychedelic drug development company based in New York, was the first company of its kind to test the public markets in March on Canadas NEO Exchange and the Peter Thiel-backed Compass Pathways, which is pursuing FDA approval for its synthetic version of psilocybin, went public on the Nasdaq in September. Compass Pathways has a market cap of $1.37 billion, while MindMed is approaching $200 million.

Field Trip, which is not profitable and incurred a net loss of $2 million, has a three-pronged approach to the psychedelics markettreatment clinics, drug development, and drug manufacturing.

The company currently operates three ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinics in Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York. Field Trip plans to scale up to 75 clinics in the next few years, says Levy.

Tripping In Style: Patients receive intramuscular ketamine injections at Field Trip Health's high-end clinics in Los Angeles and New York. Patients are given ketamine lozenges in Toronto.

Patients receiveketamine, a dissociative psychedelic approved by the FDA as a fast-acting anesthetic, at Field Trips clinics off-label to treat anxiety and depression. Ketamine is the only legal psychedelic drug at this moment. The FDA approved Johnson & Johnsonsketamine-derived nasal spray Spravato for suicidal ideation and treatment-resistant depression last year, but Field Trip sells intramuscular ketamine injections in the U.S., which produces a more intense psychedelic experience. (A program of six ketamine injections and 11 therapy sessions costs nearly $5,000. In Canada, the therapy involves ketamine lozenges.)

Field Trips big plan is bring its own hallucinogenic compound to market. Its developing its own novel psychedelic molecule, FT-104, and plans to pursue FDA approval. Field Trip is being tight-lipped about which mental disorder FT-104 will target, but the compound does engage the serotonin 5HT2A receptor in the brain, which is believed to be responsible for psychedelic experiences.

Levy says FT-104 is similar to the chemical structures of known psychedelic substances like psilocybin. Field Trip filed a provisional patent and the company hopes to launch clinical trials by the end of 2021.

The third strategy Field Trip is pursuing is psilocybin cultivation. It partnered with the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, where psilocybin is legal, to build a magic mushroom research and cultivation facility.

For the time being, Field Trips clinics only offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Eventually, as certain compounds gain FDA approval or become legal through state initiatives, Levy says the companys clinics will expand to other psychedelic therapies. (In Oregon, psilocybin could be legalized for therapeutic use through a ballot measure in November.)

Youll see a robust suite of psychedelic molecules available to people, whether its MDMA, psilocybin, DMT, peyote, or synthetic molecules like FT-104, all of these will be incorporated into our system, says Levy. Through our clinical hubs, well be agnostic as to which molecules we use as long as they lead to the best outcomes for patients.

Field Trip was founded by Levy, Joseph del Moral, Hannan Fleiman, Ryan Yermus and Mujeeb Jafferi in April 2019. All of the cofounders except for Jafferi worked together previously in Canadas cannabis industry, where they cofounded medical marijuana companies Canadian Cannabis Clinics and CanvasRx, the later of which was acquired by Aurora Cannabis for $37 million in 2016.

Dieter Weinand, former head of Bayers pharmaceutical division, has joined Field Trip as a member of the board. Over a 30-year career, Weinand worked at Sanofi, Otzuka and Pfizer. Weinand helped bring to market drugs like Liptor and Abilify, which is used to treat schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Weinand says hes been convinced by the studies coming out of academic institutions including Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London that psychedelic drugs have significant potential in treating mental health disorders.

When you look at people who have major depression or schizophrenia, each time they have an episode there are structural and chemical changes in the brain that become permanent, says Weinand. That has to be reversed somehow and we have nothing right now that changes that. There seems to be clinical evidence that psychedelics can intervene in that progression and potentially reverse these structural changes over time.

Nearly 30% of people with major depression dont respond to current medications, says Weinand. A drug that could help this patient population could be quite significant, he says.

The psychedelic renaissance underway is creating an industry worth around $100 billion, according to a report written by Canaccord Genuity Corp. analyst Tania Gonsalves. From depression to post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction tochronic pain, about one billion people are afflicted by disorders that studies have found could be treated by psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The legal cannabis market, which is expected to hit $19 billion in annual sales this year, has nothing on the hallucinogenic drugs, says Levy.

Psychedelics as an industry is much larger and more significant than cannabis, he says. The way to frame the psychedelic industry is what chunk of the $240 billion U.S. mental health market are psychedelics going to take? I think itll be most of it.

Link:

Field Trip Health, Another Psychedelic Therapy Company, Goes Public - Forbes

Are Psychedelic Drugs Canada the Next Wellness Trend? – The Kit

Posted on by

Would you do a ketamine-assisted therapy session? Ever considered microdosing magic mushrooms? As research mounts on the health benefits of psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, ayahuasca, ketamine and mescalineand government restrictions on them begin to easewere taking a look at whether psychedelics are the next cannabis in our Psychedelics Now series.

Its amazing the difference a few years makes. Remember when cannabis was mostly seen as a seedy street drug that belonged in stoners basements? Now, sleek storefronts sell slickly marketed CBD oils and edibles like fizzy drinks and gourmet chocolates purporting to do everything from improve your sex life to enhance your at-home movie night. So dont be surprised if what comes to mind when you think of psychedelic drugs shifts just as much in the next few years. In cannabiss wake, a movement to decriminalize and perhaps ultimately legalize psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (which is responsible for the psychedelic effect of magic mushrooms), ayahuasca and mescaline is gaining steam in Canadawith the focus, for now, on what they can do for our mental health.

The process is well on its way. In August, federal health minister Patty Hajdu granted four end-of-life patients exemptions from current drug laws to use psilocybin to help deal with the anxieties of their terminal illness. (Fifty-three-year-old Laurie Brooks, who has colon cancer, was one of themread her story next in our Psychedelics Now series). Three more exemptions quickly followed, perhaps a harbinger of restrictions being eased.

We might see an even bigger shift on psychedelics status this fall: The government is currently considering a petition that calls for the decriminalization of psychedelic drugs, which was signed by 15,000 people and sponsored by a Green Party MP; a Liberal MP is also introducing a private members bill that aims to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. These efforts have been strongly supported by the Canadian Psychedelic Association, which aims to usher psychedelics into the mainstream in a conscious and considered way. I feel more strongly than ever that decriminalization will happen, says Trevor Millar, its executive director. Were 10 years ahead of where I thought wed be at this stage of the game five years ago.

An episode of Goop Lab on Netflix showed staffers travelling to Jamaica, where psilocybin is legal, and sampling it on-camera

Perhaps the main reason psychedelics are gaining public acceptance is because of the mounting clinical research showing their effectiveness at treating a range of mental health conditions, from PTSD and addiction to treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. There are studies out of Harvard and NYU, the University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, often credited with kicking off the research renaissance in this area after its 2006 publication on psilocybins safety and long-lasting positive effects, is now studying its effectiveness as a therapy for even more conditions, like Alzheimers disease, anorexia nervosa and chronic Lyme disease.

While widespread acceptance of psychedelics therapeutic potential is fairly recent in North America, substances such as ayahuasca have long been used traditionally in many cultures, often as part of ceremonies guided by shamans. Theres a Western fascination with this practice and a tourism aspect, too: Gwyneth Paltrows wellness-trend-hunting site, Goop, published a travel guide to psychedelic retreats in Peru, Mexico and the Netherlands, and recently an episode of Goop Lab on Netflix showed Goop staffers travelling to Jamaica, where psilocybin is legal, and sampling it on-camera. A Goop endorsement may not necessarily propel the case for psychedelics as either a sacred traditional ritual or an evidence-based mental health aid, but it certainly helps demystify themand thats something advocates are hoping for.

Most people assume that psychedelics are not available because theyre dangerous or addicting and thats fundamentally not the truth, says Dr. Pamela Kryskow, a medical doctor in Vancouver who works in chronic pain, functional medicine and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. All of these substances were available at one point as a medicine and they were moved out of public usage because of racism and political control reasons, not because of danger. Shes referring to the fact that racialized communities are much more heavily penalized and controlled by drug laws, and the political war on drugs that saw to it that promising research on psychedelic medicine that began in the 1950s was halted by the mid 1970s. It has taken decades for psychedelics to rebuild their reputation.

Being the generation that I am, mid Gen X, I had deeply absorbed all of the messaging of the war on drugs, which were messages of fear and control that I took to be true

Kate Browning, a Vancouver psychotherapist and registered nurse who specialized in mental health and substance abuse, knows what it is to be suspicious of psychedelic drugs. I was not interested in psychedelics at all beforebeing the generation that I am, mid Gen X, I had deeply absorbed all of the messaging of the war on drugs, which were messages of fear and control that I took to be true. So I did assume that these substances were dangerous, and when I learned otherwise it was a complete revelation. Now, shes among the many mental health professionals who want to see psychedelic substances widely available for therapeutic use. We know that making things illegal, withholding information about them, increases the danger of them tremendously, she says. I want to see my psychotherapy patients who really need these medicines have them available to them without risk, without stigma, without secrecy and to just to have a higher quality of life.

That quality of life could include not being dependent on medication long-term. The psychiatric medicines that we use right now are considered lifelong, not curative, says Kryskow. We just dont see that with a psychedelic medicine. It might be one, two or three sessions and thats it. In a therapeutic context, a patient would take a dose of a psychedelic substance such as psilocybin or ketamine with a trusted mental health professional who would help guide and support them through an hours-long trip to help them gain new insights or clarity into the emotions or traumas that underlie their issues. Theyd then talk about their experience with the therapist to help integrate those insights into their life.

Psychedelics tend to be a more intense and unpredictable experience than cannabis, so theyre generally less frequently used and have less commercial potential. But cannabis legalization was similarly helped along by the discussion of its wellness benefits, because its easier to argue that people should have access to a drug to help ease their pain or anxiety. Taking a drug for recreational purposes is typically seen as criminalization-worthy, with one notable exception: alcohol. Compared to alcohol, magic mushrooms are far less dangerous by multiple measures on the personal and societal level, says Millar.

While there is still a lot we dont know about psychedelics, the only way to remedy that is with more research, more funding and more openness. Id like to see a very robust research program across the country so that we can figure out what medicine should be used for what reason for what person, says Kryskow. But she and other psychedelics advocates believe these substances are so safe that they should be available for non-medical purposes, too, like personal growth or simply pleasure. I want us to have an adult conversation on how we can use these plants responsibly in our society to be happier, healthier and more creative.

See the original post here:

Are Psychedelic Drugs Canada the Next Wellness Trend? - The Kit

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Magic of the Mushroom Echonetdaily – Echonetdaily

Posted on by

Science is finally telling us something that a lot of us already knew. Psychedelics are good for us! Mushrooms for mental health! Ah, the healing powers of Mother Earths wonder drug psilocybin! What an incredible world we live in where the best medicines are right at our fingertips! LSD-advocating psychologist, Timothy Leary, had it right after all. Perhaps thats why Nixon thought he was the most dangerous man in America. Tom Robbins called Leary a brave neuronaut for taking steps into psychedelic mind expansion, back in the 1960s.

Back in the 60s the idea of mind expansion wasnt good for business. The last thing anyone wanted back then was people tripping off their nut, getting well, thinking outside the box(wow, you should feel this box, I can hear the colours) and questioning authority. It was when we were busy making lots of lovely pills. Pills that made us quiet. Pills that helped us stay under the line. The system doesnt want you taking substances that make you question its shit! They want to hurry up the sedation! Knock us out. They dont want to turn us on and turn us up. Nope. Numb us. Turn us down. Make us less dangerous. More compliant.

Sixty years ago, Leary, who famously dosed himself a lot, believed that LSD had potential for therapeutic use in psychiatry. We are only just talking about it with seriousness now. Psychedelics scare people. By people, I mean straight people. Its ironic because theyre the people who probably need it the most. It used to be one of my favourite things in my twenties going tripping with a straight person. I just loved watching their mind bend. Better than anything on Netflix.

But research is showing that psychedelic assisted therapy is very effective in treating depression, anxiety and addiction. It is also extremely effective in helping people who suffer with post-traumatic stress disorders. In the US, the treatment is expected to receive regulatory approval by 2021. That bodes well for us. But it needs to happen now. If treatments like these are shown to have such huge success rates, then isnt it cruel or inhumane not to extend them to those suffering, asap?

Perhaps there really is magic in the mushrooms.

Thought leaders in Silicon Valley are mad for micro dosing. Its the way they stay ahead of the creative curve and boost their work performance. In one article, I read that you can pay $2k a month and you get your own psychedelic-trip coach guru to guide you through the windy pathways of your mind. Kind of like a cerebral sherpa. Steve Jobs was rumoured to love the limit-busting power of psychedelics, ribbing his rival Bill Gates for being unimaginative. I mean how much better would Windows have been if Gatesy tripped out! Wed be running Wormholes 10 Zooming our meetings into parallel universes.

Its often the social uses and consequential bad PR of prohibited substances like psychedelics that hinder them being approved for medicinal use. Even if it means lots of people get well, its not good politics. Which seems pretty crazy. You have to be brave to push for change. And if theres one thing our current leaders arent, its brave. Or interesting. Or able to think beyond the next election into that hazy thing on the horizon called a fucking future. Shit, please dose parliament. Lets micro dose Canberra and see if we cant bring on some compassion, some vision and some bloody awesome live streaming when they speak from the floor!

Madame speakerwhy is Mr Morrison curled up in the foetal position?

Hes feeling into the budget.

To find out more about psychedelic assisted therapy and what world leading experts have to say go to mindmedicineaustralia.org

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week or maybe more we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

See the original post:

Mandy Nolan's Soapbox: The Magic of the Mushroom Echonetdaily - Echonetdaily

/REPEAT — New Wave: To Provide Sponsorship for the Documentary "The World on Drugs"/ – PRNewswire

Posted on by

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP. (the "Company" or "New Wave") (CSE: SPOR)(FWB: 0XM2) (OTC: TRMND) an investment issuer that provides capital and support services, announced it will provide sponsorship for the next phase of the upcoming Microdose Psychedelic Insights documentary "The World on Drugs", a Bold Commentary On Drug Policy, Psychedelic Medicine & Mental Health.

At this critical intersection of the pandemic, the opioid crisis and the mental health epidemic, the team at New Wave Holdings is proud to sponsor this international effort to shift policy and public opinion surrounding these major public health concerns. The project is aimed at reframing the context of psychedelic medicines and illuminating the radical hope they offer to humankind during this critical juncture of disruption and evolution.

With exclusive content filmed by the Microdose team in Mexico in the first phase of this project, New Wave Holdings is pleased to announce funding for the film to carry this message in the next step of its journey in Vancouver, British Columbia. As new research emerges to reinforce the idea that psychedelic compounds are poised to revolutionize mental healthcare, so are the powerful and compelling stories of the people who have healed from them. With powerful commentary from prominent voices across Mexico, the next step in production of "The World on Drugs" aims to speak with leading experts in Vancouver - another highly relevant location to this discussion.

The team at New Wave Holdings believes in providing robust mental health treatments to the world and that psychedelics hold immense promise for humanity through this crucial moment in our history. They are proud to support the novel efforts by the Microdose team to explore psychedelics and mental health across borders and through a rich, diverse lens. "The World on Drugs" is meant to not simply just inform, but to inspire actionable change and tangible impact. The team at New Wave Holdings is proud to play a direct role in this necessary effort and feels it to be their corporate social responsibility during these trying times.

ABOUT NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP.

New Wave Holdings Corp. (CSE: SPOR, FWB: 0XM2, OTC:TRMND) is an investment issuer focused on the burgeoning psychedelic and esports sectors. In the psychedelic sector, New Wave will focus on supporting research on active psychedelic compounds, creation of consumer products based on functional mushrooms, and developing an IP portfolio focusing on psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine derived treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.

Investors interested in connecting with New Wave Holdings can learn more about the company and contact the team at http://newwavecorp.com

ABOUT MICRODOSE PSYCHEDELIC INSIGHTS

Microdose Psychedelic Insightsaims to unlock the potential of psychedelics through Industry events, market intelligence, original, evidence-based content, strategy and community. They enable and empower society at large to make better, more mindful decisions about psychedelics and its intersection with healthcare, medicine and personal growth. Microdose work with the industry's most influential stakeholders, some of the world's best-known brands and an unrivalled network of scientists, researchers, analysts, innovators, investors and advisors.

To request media accreditation, or to arrange interviews with key personnel please contact: Kristina Spionjak / [emailprotected]/ https://microdose.buzz

Information relating Microdose Psychedelic Insight contained in this news release was provided by Microdose Psychedelic Insight and/or its agent and has not been independently verified by the Company. The Company does not take responsibility for the accuracy of such information.

The CSE has not in any way passed on the merits of the Acquisition, and neither has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION DISCLAIMER

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information, including but not limited to, applicable regulatory approval in connection with the Acquisition, the closing of the Acquisition, expansion of operations, size and quality of future tournaments and projections regarding attendance at future events. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of competitive factors and competition for investment opportunities, challenges relating to operations in international markets, transaction execution risk, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable based on current expectations and potential investment pipeline, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE New Wave Holdings Corp.

Original post:

/REPEAT -- New Wave: To Provide Sponsorship for the Documentary "The World on Drugs"/ - PRNewswire

Opening the Door to the New Psychedelics Revolution | 2020-10-09 | Investing News – Stockhouse

Posted on by

For the better part of two years, Stockhouse has been covering the steady growth of the psychedelics market and how the mental health & wellness sector has benefited from the scientific and medical development of so-called magic mushrooms.’ Now, the investment community is beginning to drive capital markets in this space to heights few could’ve imagined even two years ago.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is currently being widely studied as a treatment for a range of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

Just over a year ago, Stockhouse covered an intriguing forum at the Extraordinary Future Conference in Vancouver, BC entitled: From the Plant Medicine Frontier - How Psychedelics like Psilocybin could upturn the mental health industry.” Keynote speaker and author, pioneering research pharmacognosist, lecturer, and one of the world’s leading authorities into the medicinal properties and mental health benefits of psychedelics, Dr. Dennis McKenna, had this to say:

Psychedelics are unlike any other kind of medicine that’s ever been introduced into biomedicine. Of all the new drugs discovered that eventually make it through clinical trials and eventually becomes available to people, these (psychedelic) drugs are not like them. They can’t be reduced to just another pill’ because they are connected with history and a cultural context and even a co-evolutionary aspect. No one wants to discourage the research on psychedelics and the development of high quality psychedelics for therapeutic uses, but should also not turn our backs on nature.”

Today, massive amounts of capital are entering the psychedelic health & wellness space. And the biggest splash was recently made by Compass Pathways PLC (NASDAQ: CMPS) a U.K. unicorn start-up backed by tech billionaire Peter Thiel and lead investor Christian Angermayer. Labelled as the industry’s most anticipated psychedelic IPO”, Compass became the first psychedelic medical company to go public on a major U.S. exchange. The drug-maker's shares promptly rose by an eye-popping 70% during their first day of trading on the Nasdaq. At press time, Compass Pathways’ market cap had ballooned to over $1.42 billion, making it the most valuable psychedelics company in the world.

Even celebrity businessmen like former Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton and Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary have gotten into psychedelics the game.

But where real value and opportunity often reside is in the domain of small capitalization companies. Now, savvy investors are looking at a number of aggressively positioned small caps that are moving rapidly to grab attention and gain traction within capital markets.

One such company is Numinus Wellness Inc. (NUMI) (TSX-V.NUMI, OTCMKTS: LKYSF, Forum) a relatively new player in the space that is advancing psychedelic laboratory testing, therapy, and research, and hope to create a lifelong relationship between the Company and its clientsa journey to heal and be well.”

NUMI’s unique ecosystem of health solutions is centered around developing and supporting the safe, evidence-based, accessible use of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat a myriad of mental health ailments, primarily depression and drug & alcohol addiction. The Company recently announced announce it has commenced cultivating psilocybin mushrooms at its 7000 square-foot Health Canada-licensed facility.

In a recent Stockhouse article, our investor audience was introduced to a soon-to-be-CSE-listed Company that’s advancing psychedelic and nutraceutical-based products. Cybin Corp. (P.CYBN, Forum) is launching psilocybin-based products in jurisdictions where the substance is not prohibited. Simultaneously, Cybin is structuring and supporting clinical studies across North America and other regions, through strategic academic and institutional partnerships.

Vancouver BC-based Universal Ibogaine Inc. (UI) (P.IBO, Forum) has a slightly different business model, currently focussed on addressing the opioid epidemic through proven plant medicine ibogaine. The Company operates franchise clinics with a safe and effective, seven-day treatment with ibogaine to deal with the opioid crisis, changing attitudes towards vibrant new medical solutions.

The detox treatment has been developed and tested by Cancun MX-based Clear Sky Recovery and has proven to be a superior alternative to standard treatments, pharmaceuticals, natural medicines, and recovery centreswith success rates estimated between 45 to 60%. With standard treatment centres achieving a typical recovery rate of about 4%, the ibogaine / Clear Sky Recovery method has demonstrated a ten-fold improvement over traditional treatment programs.

With its corporate motto, from Underground to Mainstream” Red Light Holland Corp. (TRIP) (CSE: TRIP, OTC: ACPQF, Forum) has carved out its niche in the magic truffle’ business. With a distinctly different business model from aforementioned treatment-based psychedelics companies, TRIP is now positioned to engage in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands.”

In addition, Red Light Holland recently reached several distribution arrangements for their iMicrodose packs which will be sold in several locations around the Netherlands for adult usage. Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland is very proud to be able to say that they are selling the first legal psilocybin product in the world and he looks forward to reaching new markets in the future, which he doesn’t think is too far off.

The Company is currently growing three different strains of magic truffles and expects to have an initial batch of approximately 100,000 grams of magic truffles available in late October 2020.

Stockhouse investors are gaining increasing insight into the scientific and medical marvels that psychedelic treatment can effectively provide people suffering from a wide variety of debilitating mental health issues, along with drug dependency and abuse.

Stay tuned to Stockhouse in the upcoming months for continuing news updates and investors alerts surrounding the burgeoning psilocybin / psychedelics marketplace.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Red Light Holland Corp., Numinus Wellness Inc., Cybin Corp. and Universal Ibogaine Inc. are clients of Stockhouse Publishing.

Here is the original post:

Opening the Door to the New Psychedelics Revolution | 2020-10-09 | Investing News - Stockhouse

Mind Cure Health: A Glance At The Latest Additions To The Advisory Team – The Deep Dive

Posted on by

Over the course of the last two weeks, Mind Cure Health (CSE: MCUR) has slowly released to the public the makeup of their advisory board. The mental health and wellness firm has managed to amass a series of high profile names as a part of this advisory team, bringing together some of the biggest names within the mental health and wellness space to advise the firm on its path forward.

In connection with this series of announcements, we thought it would be fitting to peer into the latest additions to the team of advisory board members to better understand what they bring to the table for Mind Cure Health.

The first announcement made this month in relation to the advisor team is that of Dr Dan Engle, a world renowned physician that has extensively studied both psychiatry and neurology. Notably, he is known for his psychedelic research, wherein he combines functional medicine with integrative psychiatry. Currently, he is the Medical Director at the Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine.

Given his vast experience in the field, Engle will work towards advancing Mind Cure in the area of psychedelic research, treatment, and integration. His trans-disciplinary approach to medicine, wherein he brings together psychiatry, neurocognitive restoration, and psychedelic research, is expected to push forward Mind Cure in the areas of psychedelic product research and discovery, tech integration, and clinical research.

Engle has had his work featured on a number of platforms given his outspoken advocacy for alternative medicines, with appearances including on well known Youtube channels and podcasts, such as Onnit, Human Biography, and The Joe Rogan Experience.

The announcement of Dr Dan Engle joining the board was shortly followed up by another high profile appoint that of Hamilton Morris. A chemist, filmmaker, and science journalist by trade, Morris is the director of the Viceland documentary series known as Hamiltons Pharmacopeia, wherein he explores the chemistry and traditions involved within psychoactive drugs.

His extensive research had included the study of fungi, chemicals, and psychoactive plants, in addition to the culture that is heavily involved with their use. He currently takes a science-first approach to the topic, serving as an active member of the scientific community while conducting research at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Much like Dr Engle, Hamilton has become a known advocate on the topic of psychedelics, having placed himself in a position of frequent consultation. Aside from his own documentary series in which he directs, he has been a high profile guest on the popular Joe Rogan Experience Podcast, with one of his episodes garnering over 7.5 million views.

Announced the day following the appointment of Hamilton Morris, it appears to be little coincidence that Wallach was also appointed to the advisory board of Mind Cure. Wallach currently teaches in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Substance Use Disorders Institute at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, where he also holds a PhD in pharmacology from. Notably, this is the same facility in which Morris conducts his research.

Acting as an advisor to Mind Cure, Wallach will focus on advising research and drug discovery for both psychedelic and nootropic purposes. Given his interest in how drugs can alter a persons reality while also causing a lasting impact, he currently spends his time researching how existing drugs and new formulations can best help patients, which will be of benefit to Mind Cure as it looks at new ways to treat mental health.

Much like his peers, he has been heavily involved in the psychedelic renaissance. Dr Wallach currently has over 20 peer-reviewed publications to his name, while also being a featured guest on numerous podcasts and seminars related to psychedelics. Notably, he has a history of working with Morris as well given their mutual interests.

The final announcement as of late related to Mind Cure Healths advisory board, is that of Jon Bier. A step away from the trend, Bier is an experienced PR professional, having found Jack Taylor PR, a boutique public relations firm based out of New York with additional offices in LA. Bier also serves as a marketing professor at New York University.

Having served with world leading health and wellness brands, Bier will be tasked with bringing the mission of Mind Cure to life through telling the story of functional medicine and psychedelics. He intends to craft the Mind Cure story in a manner that builds an iconic brand with integrity.

With over fifteen years of experience in marketing and public relations, Bier is said to be an expert storyteller and brand builder.

Our industry needs people like Jon to tell the story of the revolution in mental health care, the value of nootropic products and the momentum in psychedelic research in the right way. We are committed to building Mind Cure the right way, and Jon will help us to share this message of trust and integrity with the market and connect with our future customers.

Collectively, the latest additions will provide guidance to Mind Cure as it continues on its path of enhancing mental health and wellness. The firm aims to identify, develop and bring to market products that work towards this mission of easing suffering, increasing productivity and improving mental health, in both the areas of psychedelics as well as that of nootropics. This enhanced advisory team will look to further push Mind Cure along this path.

Mind Cure Health last traded at $0.76 on the CSE.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Mind Cure Health is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. The author has been compensated to cover Mind Cure Health on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.

As the founder of The Deep Dive, Jay is focused on all aspects of the firm. This includes operations, as well as acting as the primary writer for The Deep Dives stock analysis. In addition to The Deep Dive, Jay performs freelance writing for a number of firms and has been published on Stockhouse.com and CannaInvestor Magazine among others.

Original post:

Mind Cure Health: A Glance At The Latest Additions To The Advisory Team - The Deep Dive

Hacienda Tres Ros is a Strong Candidate in Three 2020 World Travel Awards Categories – PR Web

Posted on by

CANCUN, Mxico (PRWEB) October 12, 2020

Recently the World Travel Awards announced its candidates for the 2020 awards and nominated Sunset World's Hacienda Tres Ros Resort, Spa & Nature Park in three categories, including World's Leading All-Inclusive Resort, World's Leading Family Resort and World's Leading Beach and Luxury Lifestyle Resort.

Every year the World Travel Awards lists nominees on its website and the general public is invited to vote. Voting is open in two stages, at the regional and global level. The latter is open until October 25. It is worth mentioning that the World Travel Awards is an organization that rewards and celebrates excellence in all sectors of world tourism.

In addition, Hacienda Tres Ros was awarded the Gold Crown and Excellence in Service awards from RCI, obtained the Safe Travels seal from the World Travel and Tourism Council and the Protection and Health Prevention Certification in Tourist Facilities from the state of Quintana Roo, making it a favorite vacation resort for the new normal.

We are very excited and proud of the recognitions and certifications that Hacienda Tres Ros has received during this difficult year, said Annie Arroyo, Sunset World Group Corporate Brand and Communication Director, They are the fruits of our staff's efforts and we hope that many people will vote for us in the World Travel Awards, she concluded.

Hacienda Tres Ros is the only environmentally responsible luxury resort that offers exclusive access to the Tres Ros Nature Park in the Riviera Maya and a truly comprehensive All-Inclusive Plan. Enjoy architecturally acclaimed accommodations, fine dining, world-class spa services, and dazzling experiences at the exclusive Tres Ros Nature Park with guided tours through mangrove forests, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking along winding natural rivers or simply unwind on its tranquil beaches.

Sunset World Group is a family-owned Mexican company and a leader in the hospitality industry, offering authentic and unforgettable vacation experiences in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. It was founded more than 30 years ago and has grown to offer six resorts, world-class travel services, amenities and a diverse network of operational and marketing solutions that focus on providing the best vacation experiences for its Members and guests. From cultural excursions to water sports, the Members of Sunset World are never far from their next great adventure.

Share article on social media or email:

See the original post here:

Hacienda Tres Ros is a Strong Candidate in Three 2020 World Travel Awards Categories - PR Web

TCS World Travel Announces Dates for Its First All-Inclusive Luxury Expeditions On Ground-Breaking New Airbus A321neo Private Jet – Business Wire

Posted on by

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TCS World Travel, the worlds leading operator of private jet expeditions, today announced dates for its first scheduled all-inclusive luxury tours on its new private Airbus A321neo-LR aircraft. The new ground-breaking private Airbus will take to the skies for its inaugural flight on an upgraded version of the companys most popular Around the World expedition October 10 November 2, 2021 followed by a second offering December 30, 2021 January 22, 2022. Both expeditions will fly with an 18-person staff and crew, including a dedicated physician who will travel with guests the entire trip.

With TCS World Travels new customized A321 private jet, guests will fly on the most modern and comfortable aircraft in group jet expedition travel. They will venture to nine legendary destinations including Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru; Easter Island, Chile; Nadi, Fiji; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Taj Mahal and Jaipur, India (new city added); Serengeti Plain, Tanzania (third night added); Petra and Wadi Rum, Jordan; and Marrakech, Morocco. The 24-day itinerary is filled with UNESCO World Heritage sites, natural wonders and new unique lodging options, including a luxury tented camp in the desert of Wadi Rum or a luxury riad in the heart of the medina in Marrakesh.

TCS World Travels new Airbus A321neo-LR aircraft features state of the art amenities and comforts including:

Health, Comfort & Style

Environmental Responsibility, Efficiency and Range

As the world starts to slowly reopen, we at TCS see clearly how the benefits of traveling by private jet have become even more desirable. A more controlled environment, smaller airports, private or expedited customs and immigration, and the ability to make changes and pivot up to the last minute are all hallmarks of traveling by private jet and are now more important to our guests than ever, said Shelley Cline, president of TCS World Travel. As the most experienced private jet travel company in the world, we are proud to announce our first expedition of 2021 on our new customized private jet that was designed and guided by research-informed insights so that our guests can continue to explore bucket-list destinations around the globe with comfort, convenience and safety.

Health & Safety Practices

As part of TCS World Travels health and safety practices, an on-trip physician will be screening and monitoring guest health throughout the trip. The company has implemented additional cleanings and hygiene protocols aboard the new private jet and works with its luxury hotel partners and in-country associates to help ensure that they adhere to its hygiene standards. TCS will also be monitoring the situation throughout each trip and if there is an increased risk in any of the countries the group is visiting, the company has the ability to change the itinerary as needed.

Flexible Booking Terms

Travelers can book their group expeditions with confidence with the TCS Refund Promise. If TCS cancels a trip for any reason, guests money, which is protected in a dedicated escrow account, will be refunded in full.

Pricing for the Around the World Luxury Tour is $99,950 per person, based on double occupancy. As with all of TCS World Travels trips, the price of the all-inclusive expedition covers every facet of the trip including travel on its new private jet, exquisite hotels, all meals and ground transportation, daily activities, top-of-the-line guides, beverages and all gratuities.

For more information please call TCS World Travel at 866.875.5238, email at GuestRelations@TCSWorldTravel.com or visit http://www.tcsworldtravel.com.

About TCS World Travel

TCS World Travel leads the industry in private jet journeys with the experience and knowledge built from developing hundreds of trips for over 25 years. The company excels at providing unparalleled local access and exclusive activities tailored to any travel style. Circle the globe or take a dive deep into a region on a luxury private jet expedition or embark on a luxury custom journey by private charter plane created especially for you to any destination in the world. For more information, visit http://www.tcsworldtravel.com or find TCS World Travel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Read more from the original source:

TCS World Travel Announces Dates for Its First All-Inclusive Luxury Expeditions On Ground-Breaking New Airbus A321neo Private Jet - Business Wire

Maldives bags 8 nominations at World Travel Awards – The Edition

Posted on by

Maldives was nominated in eight categories at the 27th annual World Travel Awards, considered one of the most prestigious honors programme in global travel and tourism.

Established in 1993 and recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence, the World Travel Awards chooses winners across several categories from various regions.

This year, Maldives was nominated as the World's Leading Beach Destination, World's Leading Cruise Destination, World's Leading Destination, World's Leading Dive Destination, World's Leading Honeymoon Destination, World's Leading Island Destination, World's Leading Tourist Board and World's Most Romantic Destination.

Voting for these categories will be open until 0000 hrs on October 25, giving the opportunity for interested individuals to choose Maldives as, one of the most loved and preferred destinations in the world.

Votes can be cast via https://www.worldtravelawards.com/register by both travel professionals and consumers globally, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

As Maldives reopened its borders on July 15, 2020, the nominations at the 27th World Travel Awards will aid in strengthening the image and increase the brand presence globally, said Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC)

Additionally, Maldives has secured multiple awards in various categories over the years including the World's Leading Airport Resort, World's Leading Beach Destination, World's Leading Honeymoon Resort, World's Most Romantic Resort and World's Leading Luxury Island Resort in 2019.

The island destination also won the famed Indian Oceans Leading Destination award 12 times within the past 16 years.

See the rest here:

Maldives bags 8 nominations at World Travel Awards - The Edition

Peru, Bahamas and Puerto Rico Added to WTTC’s Safe Travels List – TravelPulse

Posted on by

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced Peru, Bahamas and Puerto Rico are the latest destinations to use the worlds first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp.

WTTC officials recently announced in the three months since its inception, the Safe Travels stamp is being used by over 100 destinations, as the Philippines recently became the official 100th destination.

The stamp enables travelers from around the world to recognize destinations that have adopted standardized global health and hygiene protocols, thus providing a safe experience for tourists.

Trending Now

Puerto Rico was one of the first destinations in the Western Hemisphere to design and implement an industry-specific safety and health program for the entire destination with the creation of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company Gold Star Health and Safety Seal Certification back on May 4, Puerto Rico Tourism Company Executive Director Carla Campos said.

Today, we are proud to join WTTCs Safe Travels global protocols and stamp program, Campos continued.

Other destinations recently added to the WTTC Safe Travel list include El Salvador, Gambia, Guatemala, Paraguay and Zambia. The global protocols have been embraced by over 200 CEOs, including some of the worlds major tourism groups.

Our Safe Travels stamp continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted with its success so far, WTTC President Gloria Guevara said. More than 120 destinations now proudly use the stamp, all of which are working together to help rebuild consumer confidence worldwide.

As the stamp continues to grow in popularity, travelers will more easily be able to recognize the destinations worldwide which have adopted these important global protocols, encouraging the return of Safe Travels around the world, Guevara continued.

See the original post here:

Peru, Bahamas and Puerto Rico Added to WTTC's Safe Travels List - TravelPulse

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) And World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) Announce They Will Bring the Industry Together in Hamburg…

Posted on by

Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of the leading events for the global cabin interiors and inflight services industry, has announced new dates for 2021. Both AIX and WTCE will return to the Hamburg Messe from August 31 to September 2, 2021, moving from the original April dates.

This early announcement allows time for businesses to adapt and plan to ensure that the events continue their critical role in bringing the global industry together again.

Speaking about the announcement, Polly Magraw, Exhibition Director, Aircraft Interiors Expo and World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, said: After consulting with exhibitors and airlines, we recognize the industry needs more time to allow for the reopening of borders, lifting of travel restrictions and resuming of services. It is clear that the industry needs to meet in person later in 2021. Our priority is to deliver an engaging and COVID-secure face-to-face event in September that gives our exhibitors and visitors the additional time to adapt and continue on the path to recovery.

Now, more than ever, there is a strong need to reunite, connect and do business. The importance of AIX and WTCE cannot be underestimated as the largest marketplace that brings together key stakeholders from the global supply chain. We are confident that this decision best supports the industry, and in September we will be ready to regroup and look ahead to the future.

The majority of exhibitors have already confirmed their participation at the face-to-face events in 2021, and we continue to focus on keeping the industry connected during this time, fostering collaboration, promoting new innovative solutions and helping to nurture critical business contacts. We look forward to facilitating this through a further series of virtual events, set to take place in April, details of which will be announced soon.

We once again want to thank all of our exhibitors, visitors, and partners for their support. We believe this extra time ahead of the 2021 events will offer exhibitors reassurance and more opportunity to prepare their fantastic showcases, and for our visitors to be ready to restart planning for the cabins of the future.

For updates and further information, please visit the exhibition websites:

https://www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com/

https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/

Read the original here:

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) And World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) Announce They Will Bring the Industry Together in Hamburg...