Category Archives: Psychedelics

When Simone Surgeoner returned to Melbourne after living in the United States for six years, she felt like her life had fallen apart.

I was in a really, really dark place and I just couldnt get myself out of it, the 49-year-old therapist said.

It felt like all the colours had been washed out of life I just had no motivation.

Ms Surgeoner had never taken any illicit drugs, but she was curious about whether taking tiny doses of psilocybin mushrooms otherwise known asmagic mushrooms could help her clear the fog.

So, she started taking 120 milligrams roughly 10 per cent of a standard recreational dose of the hallucinogena couple of times a week, an approach known as microdosing.

The dose was too small to trigger kaleidoscopic visuals or profound visions, but it was just enough to feel like the sun was shining again, Ms Surgeoner said.

It gave me back days where I just went, Oh, this is what it feels like to be happy and normal again,' she said.

"It gave me the strength to get through those dark periods."

Ms Surgeoner is among a growing number of people who aremicrodosing psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and LSD, to easeanxiety and depression, improvewellbeing, and boostcreativity and focus.

While no-one knows how many people microdose in Australia or overseas, online discussion groups suggestthe trend is picking up.

One Reddit microdosing community has grown to over 200,000 members since launching in 2013, and aFacebook group called "Psilocybin Microdosing 101" has gathered 14,000 members in two years.

Once the drugs of choice among hippies, music festival-goers and Silicon Valley workers, psychedelics have alsocaught the eye of researchers in recent years as potential treatments for mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

In March last year, the federal government committed$15 million to supportclinical research that will investigate whether psychedelics can treat debilitating conditions likepost-traumatic stress disorder, depression, addiction, and eating disorders.

"Psychedelics have gone through this very interesting transition in the last few years from being something that is fairly taboo to something that people seem genuinely interested in, said Vince Polito, a cognitive psychologist at Macquarie University.

Despite this wave of interest, psychedelicsremain prohibited (Schedule 9)substancesin Australia. Last year, the Therapeutic GoodsAdministration (TGA) rejected a call to downscale psilocybin (and MDMA, or ecstasy)to controlled substances.

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While taking anLSD tab or taking a couple of grams of magic mushrooms triggers intense hallucinations and shifts in consciousness, taking a microdosetypically10 to 20 per cent of a standard or recreational dose often has a much subtler effect.

Jay (not their real name), a 25-year-old disability worker, said that for him, microdosing LSD is more likea "personal enhancer" than a full-blowntrip.

He said taking small doses of the drug hadhelped him overcome his social anxiety and become more confident.

"[Microdosing]helpsme connect with people on a social level, on an emotional level," said Jay, who is based in Sydney.

"Whereas [a full recreational dose] almost muddles up my internals a little bit I won't be able to talk, I won't be able to string my sentences together properly."

A handful of recent studies reveal people are drawn to microdosing for a variety of reasons.

A 2019 survey of more than 1.000 people found that the most common reasons totry microdosing are to enhance performance andimprove mood.

Another survey of over 400 microdosersrevealed that more than half took minuscule doses of psychedelics to help them cope with depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

The same study found that others microdose to find relief from physical ailments, including migraines, chronic pain, and cluster headaches.

Some people may turn to microdosing because they don't trust conventional treatmentslike antidepressant medications,or feel that they aren't effective, said Stephen Bright, a psychologist at Edith Cowan University.

"There is some bad public sentiment towards 'big pharma' and antidepressant drugs," Dr Bright said.

"People may have already tried an antidepressant drug and found that it wasn't particularly effective."

Another drawcard of microdosing is that it could be seen as more socially acceptable than taking a full-blown psychedelic trip, Dr Bright said.

"It almost feels like it's a way of trying to makepsychedelics fit within our current society."

Early results from trials on the therapeutic potential of large doses (macrodosing) of psychedelics have been promising.

So what about microdosing?Can tiny doses ofpsychedelics really lift depression, reduce anxiety and make you more creative and productive? The evidence we have so far is a mixed bag.

In May this year, Dr Polito co-authored a review of every single microdosing study that had been published between 1955 and 2021.

Dr Polito assessed the effects reported in the studies across various categories, from mood and mental health to creativityand cognition.

Several studies in the review suggested that microdosing psychedelics could indeed spark up your mood and reduce anxiety.

Another2019study on over 1,000 microdosers found that participants reported better moods, increased energy, and improved work performance.

And a 2021 studyonover 8,000participantsrevealed that among those with mental health concerns, microdosers said they experienced lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than their non-microdosing counterparts.

But while the results seem glowing on the surface, it's important to take them with a grain of salt, Dr Polito said.

"Most of the studies that have looked at mood and mental health show that people who microdose do report benefits and sometimes quite striking benefits," Dr Polito said.

"However, the majority of that research does come from self-report studies."

Unlike lab studies which are carried out in a controlled setting and often compare a drug's effects with a placebo self-report studies involve asking participants about their experiences through questionnaires, surveys or polls.

A benefit of this approachis that itoffers a cheap, straightforward way to collect data from a lot of people, particularly for research onillegal substances, whichare difficult to access due to regulatoryhurdles.

But these kinds of studiescome with their limitations, Dr Polito said.

"Typically, people that would be attracted to a study like that are people who are fans of microdosing so there's certainly a selection bias."

Dr Polito said another problem with self-report studies is there's no way of knowing for sure what, or how much, people are taking.

"[Self-report] studies rely on people's honesty in reporting what they've taken, how much they've taken. Even if someone is being very honest, they may not always know," Dr Polito said.

"Two people might say that they're taking half a gram of psilocybin mushrooms, but the actual psilocybin content of those mushrooms might be very, very different."

The controlled lab studies in Dr Polito's review of existing researchpainted a less promising picture.

Three studies found no noticeable changes in depression symptoms on the day participants took their dose, while fourfound that microdosing seemed to increase anxiety and stress levels.

"There is a fairly consistent minority of people who say that it doesn't make their mood improve it actually makes them more scatterbrained and emotional."

Other studies have shown there could be other forces at play.A 2021 placebo-controlled study onnearly 200 participants the largest study of its kind on psychedelics found participants did indeed noticea mental and emotional boost after takingmicrodoses of LSD for four weeks.

But those who received a placebo also noticed an improvement in their mental health, suggestingthat even the thought of taking a small dose of LSDwasas good as the real thing, a phenomenon known as the placebo effect.

"If people believe that it's going to reduce their anxiety, improve their depression, assist them in being more task-orientated and concentrate, they're likely to get that effect regardless of whether the drug gives them that effect," Dr Bright said.

"The placebo effect is extremely powerful."

So, does that hose down microdosing for good? Not necessarily, Dr Polito said.

He pointed out that it's important to remember that most lab studies have so far only assessed microdosing over a few weeks, whereas real-life microdosers often take psychedelics formonths.

"It may not be surprising that changes weren't found in those lab studies," Dr Polito said.

"If you gave someone three to six doses of a traditional antidepressant, you also wouldn't see much difference.

"It's only after someone has been taking those medications for six or 12 weeks that you see a difference."

Dr Bright agreesit's too early to tell if microdosing works or not, as most controlled studies have only been conducted on a small number of people.

"Before we can talk about whether [microdosing] is effective or not, there needs to be large clinical trials similar to those that we've already seen in the macrodosing space," Dr Bright said.

"Following on from that, if it does work we need to understand why it works."

Large, long-term studies would also reveal whether microdosing is safe enough to become the new therapeutic kid on the block.

Although microdosers may be less likely to have a bad trip, even a small dose of a hallucinogenic substance still has the potential to trigger psychotic episodes or other mental health issues, particularly for people with a history of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Anotherconcern is that takingpsychedelicsregularly over long periods could lead to heart issues.

A handful of studies have shown that psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD and MDMA, activate a receptor called5-HT2B, which plays a role in heart structure and function.

The activation of this receptor over long periods has been linked to valvular heart disease in high-dose MDMA users, but we don't knowwhether microdosing carries the same risk, Dr Polito said.

"That is a question that hasn't been answered yet.We really would need to do very long-term studies."

Dr Polito and his team arecurrently conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled studythat will explore how microdosing psilocybin impacts the brain.

The researchers are aiming to recruit about 80 people to take part in two double-blind placebo-controlled lab sessions that will investigate whether reported effects, such as performance enhancement and improved mental health, can be confirmed in brain scans and blood biomarkers.

"We're really trying to get at this question of whether there is really a pharmacological effect, or whether this is mainly based on placebo expectations," Dr Polito said.

"If we find differences in neural activity between those two visits, that will be pretty good evidence that there are some physiological changes and that it's not just people's expectations."

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Can microdosing psychedelics improve your mental health? Here's what the science says - ABC News

Participants in The Mind Army's first Vision Treks psychedelic retreat hike the Eureka Sand Dunes in ... [+] Death Valley National Park.

Psychedelics are represented in the media, on the stock market, and in academic journals, but theres a tie-dye elephant in the room: theyre still illegal. An organization that believes every human should have the right to use psychedelics wants to change that.

The Mind Army is a non-profit organization working to move the needle on the legalization of psychedelics with lobbying, social pressure, and celebrity influence. With the mission of fighting for the right to pursue happiness, it is currently petitioning the Drug Enforcement Agency to deschedule ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid that has been shown to help interrupt addiction. The Mind Army believes it has been incorrectly scheduled because the plant-derived psychedelic has been proven to be non-addictive.

The organization is supported by a team of legal advisors with considerable experience in drug reform. It is taking a unique approach to rallying support for its cause: founders Zappy Zapolin, Kaia Roman, and Atom Smith are inviting influential people on curated vision trek retreats into nature.

Organized by Vision Treks, The Mind Armys three-night retreats combine the power of psychedelics with the power of nature, giving participants the opportunity to go within while spending time in some of the most stunning landscapes in the United States. The goal is to leave participants feeling more energized, focused, and aligned once they head back to realityand excited about the potential that psychedelics offer, not just for mental health, but for overall life improvement.

The group explores the Eureka Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in the United States.

We want to show that its important for people from all walks of life to spend time in nature and engage with psychedelics for the purpose of healing, even if all they can fit into their schedule is a short trip, said Zapolin about the curated trips. And in turn, the people who come on our retreats will have first-hand experience as to why these medicines should be accessible for everyone.

Attendees have the option to partake in the use of legal psychedelics and plant medicines including rap (pronounced ha-peh; a powdered shamanic snuff containing tobacco), cannabis, and oral ketamine, which is offered in a group setting after obtaining a prescription from a doctor.

This past spring with support from sponsors and the Vision Treks team, the organization took a film crew and nearly a dozen people including scientists, CEOs, founders, artists, professional athletes, and writersthis one includedfrom across North America on an inaugural three-night retreat to Californias Death Valley. Most had never met each other before.

While hiking the areas otherworldly desert landscape, connections were fostered among the unlikely group, which included engineer and creative scientist Dr. Kate Stone, PRSVR founder Margaret Williamson, Superbowl champion Taurean Nixon, HAVN chief psychedelic officer Dr. Ivan Casselman, KPure Naturals founder Karen Hoekstra, author and journalist Nicolle Hodges, The Mind Armys lead attorney Courtney Barnes, Beond founder Talia Eisenberg, martial artist Eric Ng, and creative producer Neely Shearer.

Participants slept in a large canvas teepee at the base of the Eureka Dunes.

I loved the conversations that I had. It was truly an amazing feeling to cut through the B.S. and pleasantries and have meaningful conversations with so many individuals, said Williamson, who admitted she felt a little nervous when the trip began, but headed home feeling peaceful, assured, and happy.

The group met in Los Angeles before heading to Death Valley National Park, spending two nights camping at the base of the Eureka Dunes. During several hikes, including a chilly sunrise hike to the tallest dune and an hours-long, seemingly endless trudge that circled the entirety of the dunes, participants alternated between solitary moments and sharing insights (and laughs) with others in the group.

Sitting at the bottom of that sand valley, I came to the understanding that I would have to get up and climb my way up and out, and that no matter how long I stayed in place, I would never be able to see what was on the other side of that dune unless I was willing to put in the work, said Williamson of her experience in the dunes.

A Vision Treks participant makes their way to the top of an enormous sand dune.

Backdropped by the Last Chance Mountains, the views were magnificent without the use of any mind-altering substances.

Everything rippled with life. Everything sang a song I could hear in the silence, said Hodges about her time in the desert. The dunes became naked bodies entangled and breathing as one.

The third and final night of the retreat was spent in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the group finished the trip off with a guided ketamine meditation.

On this trip I not only found myself, freed my inner kid, released past traumas, found renewed confidence, and sparked clarity on new life, said former Denver Bronco Nixon after the trip. I also connected with my soul tribe.

Superbowl champion Taurean 'T-Nix' Nixon takes in the views of the Alabama Hills and the Sierra ... [+] Nevada mountains.

While the inaugural Vision Treks retreat took place in California and brought a group of strangers together, future trips are being planned in other states, including Oregon, where psilocybin could potentially be offered as part of the experience, and for existing groups including corporate teams and other non-profit organizations.

Vision Treks is all about getting The Mind Armys message and mission out there, said Zapolin of the initiative. We want to show as many people as possible that they have the right to go inside their own mind for answers and healing.

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Inside Vision Treks: The Mind Armys Psychedelic Retreat Takes Strangers Into The Desert - Forbes

A GOP congressman wants to explore the therapeutic potential of psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA as alternatives to opioids for military service members, filing an amendment on Thursday that would promote research into the substances through an annual defense bill.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who has been vocal about his support for marijuana legalization and interest in psychedelics reform, is seeking to attach the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It would build upon another cannabis-focused amendment that was already approved by the House Armed Services Committee last week.

The existing provision from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) calls for a Department of Defense (DOD)-led study into the efficacy of cannabis as an opioid alternative. Gaetz is requesting to broaden that language to also cover psilocybin and MDMA.

The new amendment would expand the study by including MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and psilocybin mushrooms in the study on alternatives to prescription opioids in the treatment of members of the Armed Forces on terminal leave preceding separation, retirement, or release from active duty, according to a summary posted by the House Rules Committee.

The original cannabis amendment thats already attached to NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023 also specifies who would be eligible to participate in the marijuana study. It would be limited to service members with post-traumatic stress disorder, a traumatic brain injury or any other condition involving severe pain.

Gaetzs proposal must be made in order in the Rules Committee before potentially receiving House floor consideration. That panel will decide which submitted amendments can be cleared at an upcoming meeting that has not yet been scheduled.

In 2019, Gaetz also cosponsored an appropriations amendment led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) that sought to remove an existing rider that advocates say inhibits research into the therapeutic potential of Schedule I drugs, including psychedelics and marijuana. The amendment was defeated on the floor on two occasions, and the longstanding prohibitive language is once again included in the relevant funding bill this yearthough it remains to be seen if reform-minded lawmakers will file another amendment to remove it this time.

The Armed Services Committee, meanwhile, also recently approved a separate amendment to NDAA from Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD). The measure concerns cannabis sentencing standards under military code, mandating that the Military Justice Review Panel develop recommendations specifying appropriate sentencing ranges for offenses involving the use and possession of marijuana.

Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) also proposed an amendment to the defense bill on Thursday that would protect financial institutions that work with state-legal cannabis businesses from being penalized by federal regulators. Its the congressmans latest attempt to get the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act enacted this year, following a recent agreement by leadership to exclude it from separate manufacturing legislation.

Perlmutter attempted to get the cannabis banking language attached to the last version of NDAA, but it was not ultimately included in the final package.

With respect to psychedelics policy, the House Appropriations Committee recently released a report for a 2023 Fiscal Year spending bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CSJ) that calls for a federal review of psilocybin policy. Specifically, it asks for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis on barriers to state, local and tribal programs for the psychedelic under federal prohibition.

Relatedly, officials at two agencies within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have acknowledged in a letter to two U.S. senators that federal prohibition makes it harder to study the benefits of psychedelics, requiring researchers to jump through additional regulatory hoops.

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GOP Congressman's Amendment Would Direct Military To Study Psilocybin And MDMA Benefits For Service Members - Marijuana Moment

In southern B.C, there's a new 20,000 square foot production facility where one particular product is generating a lot of buzz.

Psilocybin better known as magic mushrooms are grown here legally in a high-tech lab, where cultivators are hoping to contribute to medical research that suggests these mushrooms could have huge medical benefits.

Theres lots of clinical studies happening right now showing the potential of these mushrooms, Todd Henderson told CTV National News.

Henderson is head cultivator for a company called Optimi Health. It's one of a handful of Canadian businesses now federally approved to produce, manufacture and export psychedelic mushrooms.

Although theres only a few of these businesses right now, more and more companies are racing to position themselves as certified suppliers of psilocybin.

The push comes as scientists are increasingly exploring its therapeutic benefits, including for treatment of depression, substance use and end-of-life distress.

Were going to be able to provide that safe supply, so the researchers can actually then study deeper to see well, lets see where this goes, Bill Ciprick, CEO of Optimi Health, told CTV National News.

One study published in February found that psilocybin therapy was associated with relief of symptoms in adults suffering from major depressive disorder for up to a year.

Right now, there are no approved therapeutic products that contain psilocybin, in Canada or elsewhere, according to Health Canada. But in January 2022, Health Canada adjusted their Special Access Program (SAP) to allow physicians to request psilocybin for use in psychotherapy or with other treatment plans, making it easier for doctors to access the restricted drug.

And in April, the first patients in Canada were able to receive psilocybin treatment through SAP for end-of-life anxiety.

Thomas Hartle, one of those patients who received access due to his terminal colon cancer diagnosis, told CTV News in May that having access to this treatment made a huge difference in his quality of life.

"The improvement in my mental health is so night and day that it would be difficult to say all of the things that it does for me," he said.

"I still have cancer. I still have difficulty with what it physically does, but there are days when I don't even think about it. What would you do to have a day where you just feel normal?

These consciousness-altering substances are used in a controlled, clinical setting as part of psychotherapy.

Psilocybin, which is the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, enters the body through the same receptors as serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter, carrying messages through the body and acts as a mood stabilizer. People with depression often have low levels of serotonin, and psychedelics such as psilocybin have been found to cause an increase in connectivity of the brain, allowing those messages to be sent more readily than before.

Some studies have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting can make significant, long-lasting differences for those with treatment-resistant depressive disorders.

Ciprick said that magic mushrooms provide more options for doctors looking at how to treat a patient.

What psilocybin offers is a different opportunity to physicians, he said. They need lots of tools in their toolbox, and this gives them another one.

While Optimi also grows non-regulated mushrooms, its main focus is growing the psychedelic variety for medical use and research.

Anyone who is looking to develop a medicine that is going to help people that is who we are growing for, Henderson said.

The company already has an agreement with the IMPACT clinical trial accelerator program within the University of Calgary to clinically test their psilocybin products and the potential health benefits.

And in late June, the company announced that they had partnered with a Calgary-based clinic group to supply them with magic mushrooms for psychedelic-assisted therapies, provided the patients are approved through SAP.

About 2,000 kilograms of dried psilocybin can be produced every month.

While the company is currently working with Canadian researchers, the goal is to eventually share their magic mushrooms globally.

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Magic mushrooms: BC production facility one of a handful licensed to grow - CTV News

New studies attempt to integrate unreal experiences with reality.

Transcendent, mystical, and out-of-body experiences are becoming a mainstream conversation not just in pop culture, but also in the field of psychological research. While more and more studies are cropping up to try to determine the causes and nature of these experiences, it can still feel unnerving to actually go through one.

Luckily, there has been a resurgence of literature on these seemingly fringe areas of human perception specifically psychedelic, mystical, and ghostly episodes. Heres some information on each to make you feel less alone and less frightened in case you encounter one in the future.

#1. Psychedelic experiences

Psychedelic experiences and psychedelic therapy have shown early promise in the treatment of otherwise intractable conditions such as major depression, existential anxiety, addiction, and PTSD.

Not just that, psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca that have been used in shamanic cultures for centuries have been known to induce feelings of deep interconnectedness, joy, love, and awe relieving people of the distressing effects of neuroticism and negative emotions.

In some cases, these psychedelics have caused long-term positive personality changes.

However, since there is a lot that we dont understand about these substances, it is important to be mindful of the following factors, should you choose to have such an experience. Here are a few recommendations given by psychologist and psychedelia researcher, Sam Gandy:

#2. Mystical experiences

According to a recent study, mystical experiences, such as feeling like you are part of a higher force and/or temporarily losing touch with time and space (not induced by drugs), can be indicative of healthy psychological functioning even though it is often thought to be associated with psychological illness.

Such a mystical experience characterized by feelings of joy, happiness, unconditional love, collective consciousness and divine predetermination is actually connected to spiritual intelligence that includes a set of adaptive abilities such as:

Psychologists Daiga Katrna Bitna and Kristne Mrtinsone of Rga Stradi University in Riga, Latvia have the following advice for anyone who might be struggling to come to terms with a mystical experience:

The most practical advice for a person who has experienced a mystical experience is, at least initially, to understand that this experience may be part of spiritual development or that it may be a symptom of pathology, they explain. It is important to accept both views at the same time with an open view and the fact that they can both coexist. Don't choose between either but try to understand how it is and how I should react to what I am experiencing.

#3. Ghostly experiences

A ghostly episode or a haunting is probably the most controversial of the three paranormal experiences discussed in this article and is often the toughest to come to terms with. It is important to understand that even these experiences come under the purview of psychological research and, more importantly, are real.

Firstly, if you have had a ghostly experience or an anomalous experience, chances are you are high on the trait of transliminality a concept that represents a thin boundary between the conscious self and unconscious self, as well as the outside environment, according to psychologist Brian Laythe.

Information from any of these sources tends to pass more easily within a person high in transliminality, informs Laythe. The state and trait nature of transliminality share relationships with creativity, imagination, fantasy traits, disassociation, and temporal lobe lability.

According to Laythe, whether or not people choose to interpret anomalous experiences as paranormal, they do not have to feel alone or crazy for having gone through them due to the following reasons:

Laythe points out that ghostly episodes, shamanic experiences, and general high strangeness have been well documented throughout history. Furthermore, over 100 years of modern empirical psychology show they are not going away despite changes in society's zeitgeist.

In these sorts of experiences, knowing that your experience is actually not uncommon, and has some predictable components is often helpful, he concludes.

Conclusion: There is much to be discovered and explained by psychology and research, especially when it comes to such extraordinary experiences. If you or a loved one has had one of these experiences, it is important to know that they are far more common than you think and do not necessarily point to a pathology. In the case of psychedelics, they may even serve as a beneficial course of treatment.

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3 Paranormal Experiences That Have Caught The Attention Of Mental Health Researchers - Forbes

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched clinical trials to study the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs including MDMA and psilocybin as a treatment for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and other serious mental health issues. Building on previous research that has shown the potential for psychedelics to treat serious mental health conditions, the VA is now conducting at least five studies to gain more insight into the promising drugs, according to a report in The New York Times.

This is a watershed moment, said Dr. Rachel Yehuda, the director of mental health at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx, who is leading one of the studies. This is a time for a lot of hope.

Research into psychedelics including psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine has shown that the drugs have potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for serious mental health conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety. A study published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Psychiatry in 2020 found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was an effective and quick-acting treatment for a group of 24 participants with major depressive disorder. Separate research published in 2016 determined that psilocybin treatment produced substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer.

Psychedelic magic mushrooms are being researched to see the benefits of psilocybin used in ... [+] psychedelic therapy. There is currently movement to legalize or decriminalize plant medicine because of it's therapeutic potential.

In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated MDMA as a breakthrough therapy for PTSD, a move which streamlined clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the drug. A year later, the FDA granted the same status to psilocybin as a breakthrough therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The new willingness to allow research has led to a push to study psychedelics as medicines for the nations military veterans, whose challenges with mental illness have led to a suicide rate among vets that is higher than that of civilians.

In New York, researchers are testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for a group of veterans in a trial that began in January. Three additional trials of MDMA and synthetic psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, are scheduled to begin later this year at clinics in Portland and San Diego. Dr. Leslie Morland, a clinical psychologist at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in San Diego, is researching the potential for MDMA to enhance couples therapy in relationships challenged by PTSD.

The VA is in some ways the best place for this type of research to happen, said Dr. Leslie Morland, a clinical psychologist at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in San Diego, who is studying the possibility that MDMA can enhance couples therapy in marriages strained by PTSD. The VA is going to make sure that we have good data that supports the safety and efficacy before they offer it to veterans, as I think is appropriate.

Last month, The New York Times reported that hundreds of veterans have traveled to psychedelic retreat centers, which can be found in Mexico, Jamaica and other foreign countries. With vets seeking these often-unregulated options, Dr. Shannon T. Remick, a psychiatrist at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Loma Linda, California, said that those charged with caring for vets have a responsibility to research into the drugs.

Theres a risk of doing nothing as veterans are seeking care elsewhere, said Remick, who is leading a study of MDMA as a treatment for PTSD among a group of 10 combat vets. Its our priority to make sure veterans are safe and getting the best care.

While the research into psychedelics shows a strong potential to help people struggling with mental illness, they are not miracle drugs. Although the effects have been shown to be quick and long-lasting, therapy with the drugs often entails intense, frightening sessions as patients deal with the trauma from their past. Yehuda said that the treatments can be exceedingly painful, likening the experience to giving birth.

The most common misconception about MDMA with psychotherapy is that youre taking this magic pill that will take away your symptoms, she said. Whats happening is you are getting in a state that is conducive to doing difficult work in a manner in which you are in the right window of tolerance where you can emotionally engage, where you can process the memory but not get so distressed by the memory that you become emotionally numb.

But the experience seems to be tremendously helpful. Standard treatments for PTSD at VA clinics, which can include prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, can help relieve patients distress. Early results of her research, however, show a much more profound effect.

Many people are showing what seems to look like remission, said Yehuda.

Researchers are optimistic about the potential for psychedelics to foster a new age of care for mental illnesses. But they are tempering their enthusiasm with the reality of the impact the substances can have on patients.

The VA is involved in at least five clinical trials to study psychedelics including MDMA and ... [+] psilocybin as treatments for mental illness.

Were taking vulnerable people, particularly people with severe mental illness, PTSD, substance abuse disorders, and were putting them in a vulnerable state of mind, a very suggestible state of mind, said Dr. Christopher Stauffer, a psychiatrist at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Portland, who is leading two psychedelic studies. We have to be super careful about bias in all directions, from the researchers to the participants.

Kevin Nicholson, COO of psychedelics therapies firm Delic and CEO of Ketamine Wellness Centers, says that his company is already providing ketamine psychedelic therapy for veterans seeking mental health treatment. Last month, the company announced a new partnership with the VA in Arizona.

Veterans suffering from treatment-resistant depression, PTSD and anxiety will now have access to ketamine therapy at the KWC Arizona clinics in Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa-Gilbert at no out-of-pocket cost with prior authorization from the VA, Nicholson writes in an email, adding that more treatments will be available for vets and other patients in the future. We will continue to expand access to ketamine treatments through KWC, and as future medicines move towards legality, such as MDMA and psilocybin, we are prepared to support emerging markets and cater to those suffering from a growing range of conditions.

Yehuda is certain that psychedelics will become a successful therapy for many patients with mental illness. But she warns that the drugs arent for everybody.

I think its going to be a breakthrough for a bunch of people, she said. But we just have to figure out who they are, and more importantly, who they arent.

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VA Studying Psychedelics As Mental Health Treatment For Veterans - Forbes

By Javier Hasse and Aaron Bry.

2020 and 2021 were defining years for the burgeoning psychedelics industry. In 2021 alone, more than $730 million were invested into various psychedelic companies, both private and public.

Businesses around the globe are researching and developing new drugs based on psychedelic properties to support a whole host of conditions. Some of the most active companies to watch boast impressive CEOs to keep an eye on in 2022. Here are a few to watch closely:

Amy Emerson - MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC)

Amy Emerson is the Chief Executive Officer at the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

As CEO, Amy has led the growth and development of this subsidiary and is responsible for the overall global regulatory strategy and implementation of research programs. Emerson is focused on the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy program within MAPS PBC.

Amy started as a pro bono consultant at MAPS in 2003, and since then has built MAPS clinical department while managing the MDMA Clinical Development Program with a focus on the PTSD indication. In 2014, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation was incorporated to focus on psychedelic drug development, therapist training programs, and future sales of prescription psychedelics prioritizing public benefit above profit.

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Joseph Tucker, Ph.D. - Enveric Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: ENVB)

Dr. Tucker is a seasoned executive who has built several publicly traded biotechnology companies. Dr. Tucker was a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stem Cell Therapeutics, which he took public on the TSX (TSX: SSS). Trillium Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TRIL) (TSX: TRIL) acquired Stem Cell Therapeutics in 2013. Dr. Tucker has also held the position of Co-Founder and CEO of Epimeron Inc., a University of Calgary start-up acquired in the creation of Willow Biosciences Inc. (OTC:CANSF) (TSX: WLLW). At Willow, Dr. Tucker served as Executive Chairman and Chief Operating Officer.

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Prior to founding companies, Dr. Tucker was a healthcare analyst with two investment banks and has also worked in technology commercialization for a university technology transfer office. Dr. Tucker received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Calgary.

Connor Haslam - Microdose Psychedelic Insight

With almost a decade of experience in entrepreneurship and creative media pursuits, Connor Haslam brings rich experience and diverse insight into his role as Chief Executive Officer at Microdose. His lifelong advocacy for the therapeutic use of psychedelic medicine is expressed through artful, creative and ethical brand development.

Despite never having had a single cup of coffee Connor has somehow found the energy to be a CMO and Lead Designer at 24, build dozens of brand identities, and help establish numerous businesses as leaders in the cannabis industry. His unrestrained passion for psychedelic medicine and the immense hope it has to offer the world continues to fuel his progress in this rapidly emerging space. In addition to being professionally artistic, Connor is also a pianist in his spare time and a wizard at Jeopardy.

Colin Keating - MindBio Therapeutics Pty Ltd

A highly skilled executive leader, Col has over 25 years of experience across various industries including Financial Services & Payments, Corporate Travel, Property Tech, Health Tech and Wealth Management.

He has led both ASX listed and privately held businesses, delivering products and services through both SaaS and traditional technology platforms in B2B and B2C environments. He has held roles as CEO of a publicly listed ASX organization, MD roles in UK listed entities, and COO and executive management positions in large blue-chip organizations.

With an innate ability to identify, strategize and execute on commercial opportunities, Col has established a proven track record in developing and executing strategic initiatives focused on people, growth, M&A activity, capital raising, change management, transformation, optimization, and customer experience and employee engagement. Cols extensive global experience has seen him fulfilling roles in London and Hong Kong along with significant diversity in industries and scale of organizations, ranging from blue chips such as American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Andersens to scale-up and post-start-up operations. Col prides himself on the track record of establishing, developing and nurturing high-performing teams and cultures that have consistently delivered on both customer and organizational objectives.

Najla Guthrie - Wellbeing Digital Sciences

Ms. Guthrie joins Ketamine One as part of the previously announced acquisition of KGK Science Inc. from Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (OTC: CBWTF), where she has held the role of President & CEO since 1997. Over 23 years, Ms. Guthrie has grown the London-based business to become a leading North American contract research organization that primarily provides high-quality clinical research trials with a focus on the nutraceutical, cannabis and emerging psychedelic industries. Ms. Guthrie has published over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has given numerous presentations at both the national and international levels.

Kathryn Walker - Revitalist

Kathryn Walker is the CEO of Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness (CSE: CALM) (OTC: RVLWF) which serves as a publicly-traded company on the Canadian Securities Exchange. She is one few entrepreneurial females in the publicly traded space of psychedelics. Kathryn worked at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Tennessee for 9 years before attending anesthesia school at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She practiced anesthesia of all specialties for 8 years before opening the first Revitalist location in Knoxville, TN. Today Kathryn operates as a leading advocate for CRNA lead businesses as she continues to advance her comprehensive skill set by pursuing her advanced degree in Psychiatric Nursing.

Deborah Mash PhD - DemeRx

Deborah Mash is one of the world's foremost experts on the hallucinogenic drug ibogaine. She is the CEO and Founder of DemeRx Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company advancing ibogaine and its active metabolite noribogaine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. DemeRx has partnered with ATAI Life Sciences -- a global biotech platform with a special focus on psychedelic medicine -- to develop ibogaine for those suffering from opioid use disorder. Building on the extensive human data available around ibogaine, DemeRx and ATAI (NASDAQ: ATAI) will submit Clinical Trial Applications for a Phase II study in opioid-dependent patients. This joint venture will also develop screening procedures, dosing guidelines, and best practices for opioid withdrawal management to ensure patient safety.

Come and meet extraordinary cannabis visionaries and lets network and learn together. Join us inSeptember at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference and stay at the historicPalmer House Hotel. Don't miss out on a chance to hear aboutfuture market forecasts and worldly advice on investing and finance from those embedded in the cannabis industry. Ready, set, go!

Book your tickets HERE, and your room HERE.

Jemie Sae Koo - Psychable

Jemie Sae Koo is the CEO and Co-Founder of Psychable, the worlds largest trusted online community connecting those who would like to explore the healing power of psychedelics with a network of practitioners and psychedelic-based treatments, including integration, therapy, events, and retreats. Psychables mission is to transform the lives of millions of people suffering with conditions such as depression, PTSD and addiction; and to empower those who want to live a more optimized life.

Abraham Dreazen - Nextage Therapeutics Ltd.

Abraham Dreazen, CEO & Founder of Nextage Therapeutics and IMIO Life, is an experienced leader, entrepreneur and creative thinker. Dreazen's exposure to breakthrough technologies coupled with a deep understanding of innovative pharmaceutical development processes makes Nextage into a powerhouse in CNS drug development. He is a serial entrepreneur as well as an enthusiastic educator with a deep understanding of what it takes to transform research into a product.

Doug Drysdale Cybin (NASDAQ: CYBN)

An experienced Corporate Director and CEO: Doug has chaired the board of directors of a NASDAQ-listed company and as a CEO for the past 12 years has built and turned around three pharmaceutical companies.

During Dougs 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 15 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised $4 billion of both public and private capital.

Led the turnaround of Norwich Pharmaceuticals alongside investors and became the Founding CEO of parent company, Alvogen Group. During his 5.5-year tenure as CEO, Alvogen grew from inception to $450 million in revenues across 35 countries.

From November 2017 to July 2020, Doug was a Director and CEO of Tedor Pharma, a family-owned contract manufacturing business. Dougs efforts to turn around the business resulted in 60% revenue growth in 2019, leading to Tedor being recognized as one of Americas fastest-growing companies, making it to the 2020 Inc 5000 list.

Doug holds a bachelors degree in Microbial and Molecular Biology from the University of East Anglia in the U.K. and was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, in 2012. Doug is an enthusiastic traveler, having traveled to over 45 countries, is an avid reader and enjoys cooking and boating.

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10 Psychedelics CEOs To Pay Attention To In 2022 - Yahoo Finance

Archaeologists have revealed a complex of hidden passageways and galleries deep inside the ancient Chavn de Huntar temple complex in the Peruvian Andes. The researchers think the network of chambers and galleries was used in religious rituals, possibly involving psychedelic drugs.

It's the first time in about 3,000 years that these particular hidden structures have been explored; some of the dark and isolated chambers may have been used for sensory deprivation, while some of the larger galleries seem to have been used for the worship of idols, said John Rick, a Stanford University archaeologist who is leading the research.

"These are stone-lined passageways, corridors, rooms, cells, and niches, big enough to walk through, roofed with stone beams," he told Live Science in an email. "The galleries have a diversity of function from what we can tell, [but] all are related to ritual activity."

Related: Lasers reveal 'lost' pre-Hispanic civilization deep in the Amazon

Rick explained that the newly discovered passageways weren't strictly tunnels, because they hadn't been dug into the ground. Instead, they were deliberately constructed inside the mass of the enormous temple complex as it was built in stages between 1200 B.C. and 200 B.C.

Some of the chambers seem to have originally been rooms near the surface that were kept accessible for a time with heavy-duty roofs and extended entrance passages, he said. The passageways are up to 300 feet (100 meters) long, but many are twisting, with right-angled corners and multiple levels.

A total of 36 galleries and their associated passageways have now been found at Chavn de Huntar over 15 years of excavations, but this latest network was detected only a few years ago and was not explored until this year, Rick said.

Archaeologists think Chavn de Huntar was a religious center for the mysterious Chavn people, who lived in the northern and central parts of what's now Peru between 3,200 and 2,200 years ago, according to Encyclopedia Britannica (opens in new tab). The complex is about 270 miles (430 kilometers) north of Lima, in a mountain valley at a height of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m), and it's the largest of several Chavn religious sites found so far.

Rick said the latest passageways deep inside the complex were first detected in 2019 and were initially explored with a remote-controlled camera.

COVID-19 restrictions prevented further exploration until May of this year, when archaeologists were able to enter the passageways for the first time since they were apparently sealed off about 3,000 years ago, he said.

The passageways led to a main gallery that contained two large ritual stone bowls, one of them decorated with the symbolic head and wings of a condor, a large Andean bird of prey. The gallery is now known as the Condor Gallery as a result.

"We have now documented the gallery, but have much left to explore," Rick said. "Major excavations will start next year."

He added that the gallery was deeper than most of those found before, and appeared to be older. The Condor Gallery shows many lines of evidence pointing at an age of at least 3,000 years since the gallery was built, and probably since it was formally sealed," Rick said.

Little is known about Chavn beliefs, but the newly discovered passages and gallery seem to have had a religious purpose, like other chambers found in the past at Chavn de Huntar. "The galleries have a diversity of function, from what we can tell," Rick said.

They include several small chambers that might have been used for sensory deprivation or ritual visual, auditory and tactile disorientation, he said. Others chambers were used for worship or to store ritual equipment, including the famous carved ornamental trumpets made from giant conch shells (opens in new tab) that were unearthed at Chavn de Huntar in large numbers and that seem to have been used in ceremonies there, he said.

While some passageways and galleries have been discovered at religious sites of similar age in the Andes, they are usually much smaller and simpler "nothing like the profusion found in Chavn," Rick said.

"The most similar passages in the New World might be the caves beneath the pyramids of Teotihuacan in central Mexico, but the differences are still glaring," Rick said. "Chavn is effectively unique in the number and nature of galleries."

Anthropologist and archaeologist Richard Burger, an expert in South American prehistory at Yale University who was not involved in the latest research at Chavn de Huntar, said the two bowls in the Condor Gallery were probably mortars used to grind up psychedelic drugs for religious ceremonies.

"There was a tradition in Chavn to inhale hallucinogenic snuff," he told Live Science. He's argued (opens in new tab) that it was made from seed pods of the vilca tree, which contain a powerful hallucinogenic substance that includes dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.

University of Florida anthropologist Dan Contreras, who wasn't involved in the discovery but has worked with Rick at Chavn de Huntar, said the latest tunnels present a rare opportunity for archaeologists to study the passageways with new techniques.

While the temple complex at Chavn included several sealed networks of passageways, "this is one that has remained entirely unknown," he said. "Until now, not only had it not been entered, but nobody even knew that it was there."

Many of the passageways seem to have originally been near the surface, but they were sealed off as the complex was built higher over the centuries, he said. One of the most famous is a gallery with a stone monolith near its center.

"There is a compelling argument that this was originally an open plaza," Contreras said. "Then, as the temple was built around it, they kept access to what had been a plaza, but it was now an entirely enclosed space."

Originally published on Live Science.

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Secret ancient Andean passageways may have been used in rituals involving psychedelics - Livescience.com

Up to 30% of people with depressiondont respond to treatmentwith antidepressants. This may be down to differences in biology between patients and the fact that it often takes a long time to respond to the drugs with some people giving up after a while. So, there is an urgent need to expand the repertoire of drugs available to people living with depression.

In recent years, attention has turned to psychedelics such aspsilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms. Despite a number of clinical trials showing that psilocybin can rapidly treat depression, including forcancer-related anxiety and depression, little is known about how psilocybin actually works to relieve depression in the brain.

Now two recent studies, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Medicine, have shed some light on this mysterious process.

Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that changes the brains response to a chemical called serotonin. When broken down by the liver (into psilocin), it causes an altered state of consciousness and perception in users.

Previous studies, using functional MRI (fMRI) brain scanning, have shown that psilocybin seems to reduce activity in themedial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that helps regulate a number of cognitive functions, including attention, inhibitory control, habits and memory. The compound also decreases connections between this area and the posterior cingulate cortex, an area that may play a role in regulating memory and emotions.

An active connection between these two brain areas is normally a feature of the brains default mode network. This network is active when we rest and focus internally, perhaps reminiscing about the past, envisioning the future or thinking about ourselves or others. By reducing the activity of the network, psilocybin may well be removing the constraints of the internal self with users reporting an opened mind with increased perception of the world around them.

Interestingly, rumination, a state of being stuck in negative thoughts, particularly about oneself, is a hallmark of depression. And we know that patients with higher levels of negative rumination tend to showincreased activity of the default mode networkcompared with other networks at rest literally becoming less responsive to the world around them. It remains to be seen, however, if the symptoms of depression cause this altered activity, or if those with a more active default mode network are more prone to depression.

The most compelling evidence of how psilocybin works comes from adouble-blind randomised controlled trial(the gold standard of clinical studies) that compared a group of depressed people taking psilocybin with those taking the existing antidepressant drugescitalopram something thats never been done before. The trial was further analysed using fMRI brain scans, and the results were compared with other fMRI findingsfrom another recent clinical trial.

Just one day after the first dose of psilocybin, fMRI measures revealed an overall increase in connectivity between the brains various networks, which aretypically reduced in thosewith severe depression. The default mode network was simultaneously reduced, while connectivity between it and other networks was increased backing up previous, smaller studies.

The dose increased connectivity more in some people than others. But the studies showed that the people who had the biggest boost in connection between networks also had the greatest improvement in their symptoms six months later.

The brains of people taking escitalopram, on the other hand, showed no change in connectivity between the default mode and other brain networks six weeks after treatment started. It is possible that escitalopram may bring about changes at a later time point. But the rapid onset of psilocybins antidepressant effect means it may be ideal for people who dont respond to existing antidepressants.

The study proposes that the observed effect may be due to psilocybin having more concentrated action on receptors in the brain called serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors than escitalopram. These receptors are activated by serotonin and are active throughout network brain areas, including the default mode network. We already know that the level of binding by psilocybin to these receptorsleads to psychedelic effects. Exactly how their activation leads to changes in network connectivity is still to be explored though.

This does raise the question of whether altered activity of the brains networks is required for treating depression. Many people taking traditional antidepressants still report an improvement in their symptoms without it. In fact, the study showed that, six weeks after commencing treatment, both groups reported improvement in their symptoms.

According to some depression rating scales, however, psilocybin had the greatest effect on overall mental wellbeing. And a greater proportion of patients treated with psilocybin showed a clinical response compared with those treated with escitalopram (70% versus 48%). More patients in the psilocybin group were also still in remission at six weeks (57% versus 28%). The fact that some patients still do not respond to psilocybin, or relapse after treatment, shows just how difficult it can be to treat depression.

Whats more, mental health professionals supported both treatment groups during and after the trial. The success of psilocybin is heavilydependent on the environment in which it is taken. This means it is a bad idea to use it for self-medicating. Also, patients were carefully selected for psilocybin-assisted therapy based on their history to avoid the risk of psychosis and other adverse effects.

Regardless of the caveats, these studies are incredibly promising and move us closer to expanding the available treatment options for patients with depression. Whats more, internalised negative thought processes are not specific to depression. In due course, other disorders, such as addiction or anxiety, may also benefit from psilocybin-assisted therapy.DM/ML

This story was first published inThe Conversation.

Clare Tweedy is a Teaching Fellow in Neuroscience at the University of Leeds.

In case you missed it, also read Magic mushrooms: Journeying into ones psyche

Magic mushrooms: Journeying into ones psyche

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How psychedelics act on the brain to relieve depression - Daily Maverick

On 10 January, just as the sun was setting behind the Rocky Mountains, uniformed narcotics officers raided an industrial storage facility in Denvers north end, in a commercial strip between a coffee wholesaler and a plumbing supply store. There, they found scales, petri dishes, grow tents and multiple white miniature freezer units, jam-packed with several pounds of magic mushrooms.

The facility was linked to Benjamin Gorelick, a rabbi who leads the Sacred Tribe, a multi-faith membership-based non-profit, which Gorelick calls a synagogue. The Sacred Tribe counts about 270 members and Jewishness is not a precondition of membership. (According to its website, they even welcome rascally atheists.) The Sacred Tribe celebrates the Jewish high holidays, hosts breath-work seminars, and routinely congregates for a sacred sacrament, in which the mushrooms feature.

Gorelick, 43, was raised Jewish, in New Mexico. He left the south-west (and religion) behind in his late teens, decamping to Alaska to teach mountaineering. In the mountains, he reconnected with his spirituality. He sought a deeper connection to his community and to God. In 2018, he began rabbinical training. He was ordained in 2019. In photos, Gorelick sports a spiky blue mohawk hairdo, bisecting his skull like a punk rock dorsal fin. His fingernails are painted sparkly silver and black. Definitely and, one gets the sense, rather deliberately not your bubbies rabbi.

While training, Gorelick also had his first psychedelic experience. That was the first time when I felt, in my body, God and oneness, he tells the Guardian, speaking from his home in Broomfield, Colorado, about 15 miles north of Denver. The Sacred Tribe is his way of facilitating such experiences with others. The group is donations-based, and he maintains that 90% of its members have never given him so much as a thin penny for anything, including access to psychedelic drugs.

Gorelick (who asks to be called Rabbi Ben) has been charged with felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance with intent to distribute. The Denver district attorney sees him as a narcotics manufacturer. Rabbi Ben insists that his sacraments are (or ought to be) protected by the first amendments religious protections. At an upcoming court hearing this Monday, he faces a minimum of eight and maximum of 32 years in state prison. We didnt commit a crime, Gorelick insists. This is part of 2,300 years of Judaism.

In the US, religious groups have secured the right to use psychedelic drugs, under the first amendments protection of religious freedom. A unanimous 2006 supreme court ruled that a New Mexican Christian church, the Unio do Vegetal (UDV), could legally host ceremonies featuring DMT-containing ayahuasca. In How To Change Your Mind, his bestselling 2018 chronicle of the current psychedelic renaissance, Michael Pollan called the ruling a watershed event. It made crystal clear that the government was in no position to impinge on sincere exercise of religion.

Hes practicing in the lane of what seems like sincere religious belief to me, says Danny Peterson, a DC-based attorney advising on Gorelicks case. The question is not whether Bens actions constitute violations of controlled substance laws. They do. The question is: is the government committing a new crime by enforcing these laws against him? And they are.

Gorelicks fellow travelers seem similarly sincere. Yehuda, 24, flew to Denver to partake in the Sacred Tribes psychedelic sacraments. (Yehuda is a pseudonym.) He was raised Jewish and had nurtured an interest in Jewish mysticism, including the Kabbalah. He had never taken a psychedelic before congregating with Gorelick and other members of the Sacred Tribe. The reason that I was motivated to do it, he says, was because it was being done as a Jewish religious ceremony.

Some of the Tribes members are more Kabbalah-curious. Sofia (also a pseudonym), 33, identifies as culturally Lutheran and theologically Unitarian, and works at a multi-faith community center. She, too, was attracted to Gorelicks exploration of the Kabbalah by psychedelic means. She sees Gorelicks psychedelic exploration as falling squarely within the first amendments religious protections. She drank wine when she was 10, at her first communion a Christian sacrament that contravenes drinking age laws. I see that as very analogous, she says.

Some outside of Gorelicks direct orbit wince at the idea that psychedelic drugs are part of some age-old Jewish practice. Its just not the case, says Rick Strassman, research pharmacologist and author of DMT and the Soul of Prophecy. The only intoxicants mentioned specifically in the Hebrew Bible are strong wine and liquor. Thats it.

Still, the entwined histories of psychedelia and Judaism run wild with speculation. Strassmans own research compares biblical mysticism to psychedelic states. He theorizes that certain prophetic visions like Ezekiels description of a many-faced cherub, its wings bedecked with whirligig wheels are attributable to endogenous DMT, produced naturally in the human body. Others theorize that the burning bush, which commanded Moses to liberate the Israelites from Egypt, was made of acacia, a DMT-containing shrub. Still others wonder how Moses could have inhaled enough vaporized acacia to trip out, without dying of asphyxiation.

On a Facebook page for the Jewish Entheogenic Society, a discussion group organized by the Bay Area rabbi Zac Kamenetz, some question Gorelicks interpretation of Jewish texts and their validity. Even in a religion as decentralized and diverse as Judaism, Gorelicks approach seems non-doctrinaire. There are many, many paths, Kamenetz says. But for the past 2,000 years, weve liked to show our sources.

The American community of Jewish psychedelic enthusiasts is pretty tight-knit. And Gorelick had, until recently, a minimal presence in that community. Natalie Ginsberg, a policy lead at the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (Maps) and co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelics Summit, had never heard of Rabbi Benjamin Gorelick until his arrest. I was a bit surprised, she says, That I had never come into contact, or heard from him, or worked with him.

Gorelicks arrest has thrust him into the spotlight. He has retained Grasslands, a Denver-based cannabis marketing agency, to manage his communications. Hes set up online petitions and crowdfunding campaigns. Hes being positioned as the Mushroom Rabbi: a victim of religious persecution and a spokesperson for Jewish psychedelia. A GoFundMe to Help R Ben Defend Religious Use of Psychedelics says that the Sacred Tribes regular operations have been put on hold, a claim which is highly suspect. Yehuda, for one, took part in a psychedelic sacrament in March, after the grow-up raid. Gorelick clarifies that ceremonies have not stopped. But membership, and active participation, has declined.

Gorelicks legal team does not seem bothered by his image as a newcomer, or even a bit of a pariah, in the Jewish psychedelic community. His version of certain rituals isnt really relevant to the legal question, Peterson maintains. It doesnt matter if people dont like the way he talks about it. Or his haircut.

But nobody is grousing about Gorelicks hairdo. His credentials bear more serious scrutiny. Gorelick trained at the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute, a one-year, online cyber-synagogue, whose graduates are not recognized by many major organizations, such as Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). In an email statement, a spokesperson for the CCAR says, The depth and breadth of a rigorous rabbinic education is not possible in just a year.

Sidestepping more traditional, Torah-based teachings, Gorelicks interests are almost purely mystical, and Kabbalistic. Called a mysterious and sacred science by the 19th-century French-Jewish philosopher Adolphe Franck, Kabbalah was long regarded as an advanced course of study, undertaken only by those with an exhaustive knowledge of the Torah. Kabbalah was revived in America in the 1960s, alongside the first wave of psychedelia, and the reignited western interest in Buddhism, Hinduism, occultism and emerging New Age practices.

In 1968, theologian Arthur Green pseudonymously published Notes From The Jewish Underground: Psychedelics and Kabbalah, which analyzed the awesome implications of drug use for religious thinking. More recently, clinicians at Johns Hopkins and NYU have put Greens heady thesis to the test. In 2017, they dosed two dozen clergy (including rabbis) with psilocybin. They were studying the relationship between psychedelics and mystical experiences, which, according to veteran Hopkins researcher Bill Richards, seem to be at the origin of most religions. Still, in such studies psychedelics are seen as a chemical precursor to experiences that were traditionally spurred by periods of intense meditation, fasting and prayer a spiritual catalyst, or performance-enhancing drug.

Given the alleged links between psychedelic use and Jewish mysticism, its a bit of a mystery why a challenge like this has not arisen before. Gorelick is candid on this point. He may not be the first rabbi to use psychedelics. But he was the first to get caught. We always knew someone would come knocking at our door.

Certainly, such first amendment defenses tend to emerge, well, defensively. The supreme court decision on ayahuasca came after 30 gallons of the psychoactive brew were seized by US customs agents. Historic as such rulings are, some activists regard them as a bit old hat, especially in light of broader decriminalization efforts. It can be harmful if people are not working in coordination with the bigger movement, says Maps Ginsberg. Implying that certain use should be protected over other use? Thats where I see problems.

But Gorelick can seem like a casualty of that existing decriminalization patchwork. In 2019, Denver became the first US city to effectively decriminalize psilocybin. The law itself is a bit peculiar: while the drug remains illegal under federal law, local police were prohibited from allocating resources to prosecute use or possession. Still, selling shrooms remains a felony. Such piecemeal approaches produce legislative inanities: how are people supposed to procure the psychedelic mushrooms, which are permissible to carry and consume?

In November, Coloradans will vote on a ballot measure legalizing psilocybin, while also providing a framework for licensed psychedelic healing centres. (A similar measure was successfully passed in Oregon in 2020.) We are including retroactivity in our measure, says Kevin Matthews, an activist leading the charge. Any individual who would not have been in violation of whats included in the measure, can actually actively petition to have the record sealed.

So, in a few months, Gorelicks case could be old news. Yet hes still pursuing his explicitly religious crusade. Theyre trying to create a secular, medicinal, therapeutic structure with the ballot initiative thats coming out this fall, Gorelick says, But its not the place where were looking to have protection.

Gorelicks team thinks his case and cut-and-dried enough to be reduced to a misdemeanor, or be thrown out of court altogether. He is, as Peterson, Gorelicks co-counsel, terms it, a church of one, even if his credentials or approaches may raise a few eyebrows. Of course, a religious exemption can be opportunistic, even if its totally sincere. Decriminalization, legalization all these other paths are important, says Peterson. But right now, none of those keep Rabbi Benjamin out of prison.

Those who are working to expand legal psychedelic use for everyone, regardless of faith or affiliation, do not want to see Gorelick imprisoned, even if they take issue with his tactics. As someone who cares deeply about Jewish psychedelia, I dont want to see anyone in jail, Ginsberg says. I do believe we actually have a history of use.

In early June, I meet up with Gorelick in New York, a few weeks before his court date. Seated on a luxe leather sofa in the lobby of a midtown hotel, his once-defiant mohawk has grown shaggier, tufting out from under a kippah, as if wilting under the pressure of his current legal woes.

Hes in Manhattan, he says, to attend a Shavout dinner with a group of Hasidic Jews. Shavout is a traditional holiday celebrating the harvest, which, in some orthodox circles, also marks the occasion of the Torahs revelation to Moses. These particular orthodox Hasids followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a 19th-century Kabbalah revivalist had been conducting their own experiments with psychedelics to explore the faiths more mystical, further-out dimensions. Gorelick was not there to grace them with audience with the Mushroom Rabbi. He came to learn from them, and their traditions. I kind of invited myself, he admits.

Even as others pressure Gorelick to show his work to point out where in Torah, or in Kabbalah, or anywhere in rabbinic teachings, mind-expanding drugs are justified, or even explicitly mentioned hes confident in his legal standing and in the future of Jewish psychedelia. By showing people what is possible in the psychedelic space, he explains, it makes it more conceivable to achieve these insights in daily life.

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Magic mushrooms are all the rage. But are they Jewish? - The Guardian