Monthly Archives: March 2022

Activists submitted language for a proposed ballot measure to legalize natural psychedelics in Michigan last week, launching a statewide effort that has seen significant progress at the local level.

The initiative proposal was submitted to state officials on February 1 by the Michigan Initiative for Community Healing, a ballot committee made up of drug policy reform groups including Decriminalize Nature and Students for Sensible Drug Policy, as well as organizers of local psychedelics decriminalization efforts in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

We are thrilled to have filed our language with the State of Michigan and we look forward to approval by the State Board of Canvassers and hitting the ground with petitions, said Myc Williams, co-director ofDecriminalize Natures Michigan chapter.

If passed by voters, the proposed ballot measure would decriminalize the possession, use, cultivation and transfer of entheogenic plants and fungi by adults 18 and older. The legislation would apply to natural plants and mushrooms and their active ingredients including psilocybin, psilocyn, mescaline, ibogaine, peyote and dimethyltryptamine. Religious organizations and groups designated by state-certified hospitals would be permitted to cultivate and sell entheogenic plants and fungi.

Its a true decriminalization, Williams said. Everyone over the age of 18 would be allowed to grow, possess, use, cultivate, share, etc.

The proposed ballot measure also includes broader drug policy reform provisions, including easing criminal penalties for simple possession of all Schedule I and II controlled substances. Possession of 1,000 grams or more of any drug would be reduced from a felony with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment to a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000. Penalties would get incrementally smaller for possession cases involving lower amounts of controlled substances.

The initiative would also remove testing equipment and supplies from the states legal definition of drug paraphernalia. Organizers said the provision would help protect people from harmful additives including fentanyl.

People who choose to use drugs can be charged with another crime to test their substance to know in fact what they are ingesting, Williams said.

In a time of heavy fentanyl overdoses, its really important for people who do use drugs to know what theyre consuming regardless of their legality from a public safety perspective, Williams explained. The state supports harm reduction in the distribution of Narcan and fentanyl strips, which fentanyl strips are technically illegal. Theres a contradiction there and were just clearing it up.

Psychedelics reform efforts in Michigan have already seen significant progress at the local level. In last Novembers election, voters in Detroit approved a psychedelics decriminalization measure with the support of 61 percent of the electorate. Ann Arbor passed a similar measure in 2020 and at least a dozen other municipalities have passed psychedelic decriminalization proposals or are in the process of doing so.

The effort has also received support from some law enforcement officials, including Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who made Ann Arbors psychedelics decriminalization measure countywide policy. He noted that the vast majority of people who engage in substance use are able to do so without criminal consequences.

But for an unlucky few, their decision to use substances results in harsh, life-changing penalties. The War on Drugs has thus created a cruel roulette wheel of sorts, Savit wrote in a message of support published on the Decriminalize Nature Michigan website. And its a weighted wheel, as the data clearly shows that Black people and people of color are far more likely to face criminal consequences related to drug use than white people.

For the psychedelics decriminalization initiative to become state law, the summary of the ballot proposal must be approved by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. Organizers would then have to collect about 340,000 signatures from registered voters for the measure to qualify for the ballot.

See more here:

Michigan Activists Submit Psychedelics Decriminalization ...

Over the past several years, we have witnessed a psychedelic renaissance, and a growing body of evidence suggests that several psychedelic compounds hold strong therapeutic potential for a wide array of mental health conditions.

Once dismissed as dangerous and having little therapeutic potential, psychedelic drugs are gaining mainstream acceptance. Research data continue to demonstrate that, on the whole, these medicines are not only safe, but mostly well tolerated. Although more research is needed to better understand safety, especially in the context of at-risk conditions, these favorable safety profiles are enabling deeper exploration of these medicines.

The term psychedelic was coined in the 1950s by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, MD, and it literally means mind-manifesting. This class of drugs produces changes in perception, thought, and mood with minimal disorientation or confusion. Unlike alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates, psychedelics do not lead to a slowing of cognitive processes or an acceleration of cognition as seen with stimulants.

Several US states and cities are in the process of legalizing or decriminalizing psychedelics like psilocybin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and others for therapeutic or recreational purposes. In 2020, the Oregon Ballot Measure 109 was passed,1 allowing licensed service providers to administer psilocybin products to individuals 21 years and older and making Oregon the first state to legalize psilocybin. The drug will not be available commercially or for home-based use, as strict regulations are in place to ensure psilocybin will be used only under the supervision of trained facilitators. This was a major milestone in psychedelic medicine, as it opened the door for more widespread access to psilocybin therapy in a safe and legal manner.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also shown interest in prioritizing the approval of certain psychedelic drugs. Both psilocybin- assisted psychotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression,2,3 as well as MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),4 have received the breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA to fast-track the approval process because of the growing clinical evidence demonstrating substantial improvement over currently available therapies.

Safety Issues and Scaling Up

The growing research results continue to confirm that psychedelic medicines are not only safe, but well tolerated by the majority of recipients. A psilocybin study found that cases of mental health complications following a psychedelic are rare (<0.1%) even in vulnerable populations (<0.2%), and rarer still with proper screening.5 Another study examined the classical psychedelics, LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. It found no evidence of increased rates of mental health problems; in fact, it demonstrated psychedelic use was associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality.6 Additionally, results of studies examining psychedelic substance use patterns in humans as well as self-administration in animals suggest that classic psychedelics possess little or no abuse liability and may even be antiaddictive.7

Results of other studies suggest psychedelics may have protective effects when it comes to mental illness in general. Pooling more than 190,000 adults, researchers evaluated the relationship of classic psychedelic use and psychological distress and suicidality. They found that lifetime psychedelic use was associated with significantly reduced odds of past-month psychological distress, past-year suicidal thinking, past-year suicidal planning, and past-year suicide attempt.8 This offers new insight into the potential promise of psychedelics in helping to prevent suicide.

More research is still needed to fully understand safety, especially in the context of at-risk conditions and mechanisms of action. However, the favorable safety profiles are opening doors for deeper exploration of these medicines.

MDMA

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, the psychedelic treatment closest to receiving FDA approval, is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials in patients with PTSD.9 The study included 90 patients with severe, chronic PTSD from a variety of different causes (eg, abuse, combat, sexual trauma). It is worth mentioning that this was a treatment-resistant group, meaning patients had suffered with PTSD for an average of 14 years without relief. All participants completed a 12-week treatment program composed of 3 full-day sessions, during which they received either MDMA or a placebo, plus weekly nondrug psychotherapy sessions. No serious adverse effects were detected beyond transient, mild symptoms during drug treatment such as nausea or sweating. No increases in suicide risk or potential for abuse were noted in the MDMA group relative to placebo. Two months after treatment, 67% of the MDMA cohort no longer qualified for PTSD diagnosis, compared with 32% of the placebo group. In addition, 88% of those in the MDMA group experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms (Figure 1).9

MDMA is unique in its ability to promote acceptance of and empathy for self and others. In addition to elevating oxytocin levels, MDMA stimulates the release of the monoamines serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, resulting in improved mood and increased sociability.10 Brain imaging after administration of MDMA shows there is decreased amygdala activation and reduced fear response,11,12 allowing the patient to emotionally engage in therapy without becoming overwhelmed by anxiety or difficult emotions. The combination of medication plus psychotherapy represents a new frontier for the FDA, with unique challenges to be addressed such as therapeutic approaches and therapist training.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin, the main psychoactive component of magic mushrooms, is currently in phase 2 clinical trials for MDD. As a classic psychedelic, it is an agonist of serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors in the brain,13 which are particularly abundant in the cortex and regions associated with cognitive functions and social interactions.14 Stimulation of this receptor has been directly linked to cognitive flexibility, enhanced imagination, and creative thinking.15

In pivotal study results, 71% of individuals with MDD who received 2 doses of psilocybin were treatment responders, and half of the participants entered remission (Figure 2).16 Some follow-up studies after therapy, although small, have shown lasting benefits.17,18

Concluding Thoughts

Psychedelic medicine is forging ahead as a promising new treatment paradigm, in which psychedelics, paired with psychotherapy, have the potential to treat various mental health conditions. Preliminary findings show successful results for these treatments, with significant clinical improvements and fewif anyserious adverse effects. The emerging results likely have implications for future psychiatric research, education, and policyand most importantly, they are poised to offer new therapeutic options and improve the lives of those we serve.

Dr Robison is a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of Novamind. He is the co-founder of Cedar Psychiatry and serves as the Medical Director for the Center for Change, a leading eating disorders center. Dr Robison previously served as a coordinating investigator for the MAPS-sponsored MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study of eating disorders.

References

1. Oregon psilocybin services. Oregon Health Authority. Accessed December 5, 2021. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Oregon-Psilocybin-Services.aspx

2. COMPASS Pathways receives FDA breakthrough therapy designation for psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. News release. COMPASS Pathways; October 23, 2018. Accessed December 5, 2021. https://compasspathways.com/compass-pathways-receives-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation-for-psilocybin-therapy-for-treatment-resistant-depression

3. Brooks M. FDA grants psilocybin second breakthrough therapy designation. News release. Medscape Medical News; November 25, 2019. Accessed December 5, 2021. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921789

4. FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, agrees on special protocol assessment for phase 3 Trials. News release. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies; August 26, 2017. Accessed December 5, 2021. https://maps.org/news/media/6786-press-release-fda-grants-breakthrough-therapy-designation-for-mdma-assisted-psychotherapy-for-ptsd,-agrees-on-special-protocol-assessment-for-phase-3-trials

5. Studerus E, Kometer M, Hasler F, Vollenweider FX. Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies. J Psychopharmacol. 2011;25(11):1434-1452.

6. Krebs TS, Johansen P. Psychedelics and mental health: a population study.PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e63972.

7. Heal DJ, Gosden J, Smith SL. Evaluating the abuse potential of psychedelic drugs as part of the safety pharmacology assessment for medical use in humans.Neuropharmacology. 2018;142:89-115.

8. Hendricks PS, Thorne CB, Clark CB, et al. Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(3):280-288.

9. Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033.

10. Hysek CM, Schmid Y, Simmler LD, et al. MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior.Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014;9(11):1645-1652.

11. Bedi G, Phan KL, Angstadt M, de Wit H. Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009;207(1):73-83.

12. Hake HS, Davis JKP, Wood RR, et al. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) impairs the extinction and reconsolidation of fear memory in rats.Physiol Behav. 2019;199:343-350.

13. Tyl F, Plenek T, Horek J. Psilocybinsummary of knowledge and new perspectives.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;24(3):342-356.

14. Celada P, Puig M, Amargs-Bosch M, et al. The therapeutic role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in depression.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2004;29(4):252-265.

15. Vollenweider FX, Preller KH. Psychedelic drugs: neurobiology and potential for treatment of psychiatric disorders.Nat Rev Neurosci. 2020;21(11):611-624.

16. Davis AK, Barrett FS, May DG, et al. Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):481-489. Published correction appears in JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):569.

17. Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Day CMJ, et al. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018;235(2):399-408.

18. Agin-Liebes GI, Malone T, Yalch MM, et al. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer.J Psychopharmacol. 2020;34(2):155-166.

Go here to see the original:

Psychedelics and the Future of Psychiatry

In a sign of whats to come for most psychedelic-related names, Mind Cure Health (CSE: MCUR) this morning effectively announced it will be turning itself into a shell. The move follows a strategic review conducted by the company.

The strategic review is said to be done just its initial phases of the process, which included an extensive canvas of various strategic alternatives available. The review however has indicated that the company simply does not have the funds to execute its current strategy, and that the current environment is unlikely to provide the capital required to move forward. In simple terms, tailwinds have exited the psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent sector, with investors unwilling to provide further capital to support the space.

As a result of the findings, the company has identified that none of the strategic alternatives available to the company necessitated ongoing developmental expenditures.

As such, the company has decided that it needs to cut all expenditures, as a means of preserving the value of the firms assets which appears to largely be a reference to its cash position and public company status rather than anything else. To do so, the board has fired the entire C-Suite, save for its CFO, as well as the entire workforce, save for the VP of engineering and certain admin staff needed to wind down operations.

More specifically, all R&D on its ibogaine program and Desire Project are to be halted, as well as all non-committed expenditures related to iSTRYM.

The company reported that as of yesterday it had $10.57 million in cash on hand, before any liabilities are considered, which may include termination payouts for the staff eliminated as a result of this mornings decision.

With the departure of the C-suite, the firms chairman, Philip Tapley, has been named as interim CEO of the company.

Mind Cure Health last traded at $0.075 on the CSE.

Information for this briefing was found via Sedar and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

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.

View original post here:

Mind Cure Gives Up On Psychedelics, Fires C-Suite, And Reverts To Shell After Strategic Review - The Deep Dive

I hope we wont be the only ones here not on psychedelics, said the person sitting next to me.

Right away, it instead became clear that we had entered a world of moms and dads reliving The Psychedelic Furs glory years along with their own. On March 13, The Furs performed at the State Theater of Ithaca as part of their Made of Rain tour, celebrating their first new release in 29 years. The Furs energy, connection and rhythm succeeded in transporting the audience back to the 1980s as they rejuvenated classic hits and performed songs from their new album.

The show opened with Royston Langdon, a solo performer who sported a cowboy hat, shades and a rich acoustic guitar. Everything is one big mound of music and love, Langdon said to the audience, which mirrored the effect of his smooth voice and his playing style of heavy downstroke strumming and fingerstyle guitar. Langdon did not pull any punches with his provocative and honest lyrics: his song, Nazi Girlfriend, brought confused laughter out of the audiences open mouths.

The moms in the crowd enjoyed Langdons rich, rolling voice and on-stage charisma, but his choice to step away from the microphone halfway through his set left his vocal effects wanting and audience members straining to hear the lyrics over the amplified guitar. Despite his shortcomings, however, I found Langdon to be the perfect opener for the Furs, as his unexpected persona built anticipation for the main act. He definitely had me laughing with his originals, and he pulled out a crowd-pleaser with his cover of David Bowies Ashes to Ashes.

After Langdons set, a heavy synth changed the shows tone from Langdons acoustic guitar to the Furs classic 80s sound. One might expect the post-punk band to be rusty or low-energy in their old age, but even though their outfits and sound came straight from the 80s, each of the members carried timeless personality and energy onto the stage. A wave of accidental flash photos from fans who didnt know how to use their phones dated the audience, as Richard Butler, the lead vocalist and frontman of the band, danced his way into the center. Butler rocked his signature 80s dance moves with the flair of a young man only his floppy, McCartney-esque hair aged him.

Halfway through the set, the Furs treated the audience to some of their most well-known songs. Even to someone unfamiliar with their discography, it was clear which songs were old hits when fans began to stand up and dance despite signs explicitly prohibiting both. Their performance of 1981 hit Pretty in Pink took sound and energy straight from the 80s, and Butler took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to really get into the 1982 fanfavorite Love My Way.

The bands incredibly tight rhythm characterized their performance, and the thumping beat from the drums and bass reverberated through the audience. The drummer completely captivated the audiences focus with his tight and dynamic playing; the other instrumentalists moved around and bounced off of one anothers energy. Butlers classic and recognizable voice jumps out from the bands decades-old recordings, and his voice grew into a character of its own through the singers affect and dancing.

Although the riffs and progressions felt more expected and less experimental in the bands older songs, the band also seemed completely at ease, having fun with their hits. Their connection fully shined and captivated the audience when the singer, guitarist and bassist played with their arms around one another.

Certainly, I would have enjoyed the concert more if we had been standing and dancing the entire time, but the space in the State Theater doesnt allow for the high-energy audience experience that the Psychedelic Furs demand. The Furs are not a band to sit and passively enjoy, like the elderly couple to our left who quietly sipped their open cups of beer, watching like they would an opera. During the encore, we experienced a slice of the energy I imagine the Furs would have received in the 80s, with a standing and cheering crowd. Guitarist Rich Good threw his guitar pick into the crowd after the band closed out, another reminder of the energy and reception of the Furs glory days.

Unlike many other bands from the 70s and 80s with decades-lasting drama of love, hatred, break-ups and reunions, The Psychedelic Furs seemed to be genuinely present and enjoying themselves onstage. They can still fill a theater with cheering fans and captivate new listeners, even 45 years after their creation. The Furs are definitely a band that any fan needs to see live their energy, rhythm and sound cannot be truly captured in their records.

Kiki Plowe is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at [emailprotected]

Go here to read the rest:

A Fully-Seated Audience Takes Post-Punk with the Psychedelic Furs - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun