Category Archives: Psychedelics

Psychedelics, including psilocybin and MDMA, are promising for a variety of psychiatric disorders, but there are few data showing how these drugs interact with traditional psychiatric medications, new research shows.

Dr Aryan Sarparast

"Despite prolific psychedelic research and public interest, I was surprised to see little clinical research on how psilocybin and common psychiatric treatments interact," study investigator Aryan Sarparast, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, told Medscape Medical News.

The review was published online March 7 in Psychopharmacology.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently granted breakthrough therapy designation to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for major depression and treatment-resistant depression and to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The investigators assessed the volume of available research on interactions between psychedelics and traditional psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants.

They found 40 studies dating back to 1958, including 26 randomized controlled trials, 11 case reports, and three epidemiologic studies.

Only one randomized clinical trial evaluated the interaction between psilocybin and the most common psychiatric treatment, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), said Sarparast.

However, this study is "reassuring and overlaps with our hypothesis that there is a low risk of psilocybin and most psychiatric drugs causing harm when combined," he noted.

Yet all of the clinical trials exclusively included young healthy adults, who were often recruited from university campuses. "We don't have data on what happens when a depressed person on an SSRI takes psilocybin," said Sarparast.

He added that he is concerned that the lack of evidence on drug-drug interactions will lead some providers to require patients to be tapered off existing traditional psychiatric medications before initiation of psilocybin therapy.

This may force vulnerable patients to choose between their existing therapy and psilocybin.

In addition, patients who opt for the "DIY method" of tapering risk mental health relapse and medication withdrawal effects. "That's a very, very tough place to be," Sarparast said.

Ideally, said Sarparast, he would like to see a study in which depressed patients who have been receiving long-term antidepressant treatment are randomly assigned to received low, medium, and high doses of psilocybin. "This would clarify a lot of question marks," he noted.

Commenting for Medscape Medical News, Roger McIntyre, MD, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology, University of Toronto, Canada, said, "The point in this article is very well taken. Indeed, more research is needed" on potential interactions between psychedelics and traditional psychiatric medications.

"Before we embark on completing research and development for psychedelics or, for that matter, any psychoactive substance we should endeavor to identify what the potential safety and toxicity concerns are when they are co-prescribed with other prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, and other substances (eg, marijuana) that people take," McIntyre said.

A case in point a recent study conducted by McIntyre and colleagues revealed "significant drug-drug interactions with cannabis, which never receives that much attention," McIntyre said.

Also weighing in for Medscape Medical News, Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, confirmed that there is "an evidence gap" on psilocybin's and other psychedelic drugs' interactions with other medications.

"This has not been formally studied for a number of reasons, but mainly because psilocybin has primarily been considered a drug of abuse. Psilocybin has only recently started to be looked at as a potential medication, and as such, research on drug-drug interactions is still limited, but growing," Garcia-Romeu told Medscape Medical News.

He noted that studies are underway to better understand potential interactions between psilocybin and other medications.

"This will allow us to better understand how psilocybin should be used medically and what types of interactions could occur with other drugs or medications," Garcia-Romeu added.

The study had no specific funding. Sarparast, McIntyre, and Garcia-Romeu report no relevant financial relationships.

Psychopharmacol. Published online March 7, 2022. Abstract

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Psychedelics' Interaction With Psych Meds: More Q's Than A's - Medscape

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biomind Labs Inc. (Biomind Labs or the Company) (NEO: BMND) (OTC: BMNDF) (FSE: 3XI), a leading biotech company focused on innovation and research on endogenous tryptamines (biomolecules acting as psychoneuroplastogens) for the treatment of mental health disorders and beyond, is pleased to announce that CEO Alejandro Antalich and Scientific and Clinical Advisor Dr. Drulio Barros de Arajo will present at Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference that will be held in Miami at the Fontainebleau on April 19th, 2022.

This conference brings together leaders of the biggest publicly-traded psychedelics companies with investors from across North America.

This is a great opportunity to get a comprehensive understanding of Biomind Labs diversified portfolio of molecules targeting specific indications and tailored drug delivery systems, as well as its robust intellectual property strategy and future plans. Also, this is a great opportunity to learn about the Companys advances on strategic commercial arrangements, such as the commencement of a commercial clinical trial on its proprietary drug candidate BMND06, a novel formulation based on the psychedelic molecule mescaline.

Neuroscientist Dr. Arajo will be sharing a unique scientific approach to one of the most promising psychedelic molecules, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The Company is currently conducting a second Phase II investigational new drug clinical trial with an inhaled formulation of DMT, the results of which may assist the Company in identifying the most effective method of administrating its DMT candidate in patients with depression.

About Biomind Labs Inc.

Biomind Labs is a biotech research and development company aimed at transforming biomedical sciences knowledge into novel pharmaceutical drugs and innovative nanotech delivery systems for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. Through its acceleration platform, Biomind Labs is developing novel pharmaceutical formulations of the main psychedelic molecules, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and mescaline for treating a wide range of therapeutic indications. Biomind Labs focus is to provide patients access to affordable and modern-day treatments.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (forward-looking information) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document include, among others, statements relating to the ability of the Companys innovation and research on endogenous tryptamines to possibly treat mental health disorders and beyond, the results of the Companys second Phase II investigational new drug clinical trial with an inhaled formulation of DMT, statements regarding the Companys commercial clinical trial on its proprietary drug candidate BMND06, the Companys ability to provide patients access to affordable and modern-day treatments, the Companys development of novel pharmaceutical formulations from the main psychedelic molecules, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and mescaline for treating a wide range of and other statements that are not historical facts.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: (a) the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; (b) compliance with extensive government regulation; (c) domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Companys business and results of operations; (d) the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Companys securities, regardless of its operating peers; (e) adverse changes in the public perception of tryptamine-based treatments and psychedelic-based therapies; (f) the impact of COVID-19; and (g) general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

The Company makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about the Companys proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding tryptamine-based treatments, psychedelic-based therapies or other psychedelic compounds. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of psychedelic tryptamines, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Vigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. The Company has not yet completed commercial clinical trials for the use of its proposed products. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential products do not imply that the Company verified such in commercial clinical trials or that the Company will complete such trials. If the Company cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on the Companys performance and operations.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Neo Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and is not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

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Biomind Labs to Present at Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference in the U.S. on April 19th 2022 - Business Wire

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For the nascent psychedelics sector, 2021 was the year when foundations were established for a future that may hold impressive payoffs. It remains to be seen if those payoffs will materialize in 2022, or if theyll take a little longer, but signs appear positive for a potentially strong growth market, according to new report.

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The Defiance ETFs report notes that drivers for the growth include legislative changes toward psychedelics, investments rising for example, Peter Thiel backing the psychedelic start-up Atai Life Sciences as well as some clinical trials reporting positive results, and the rise in demand and acceptance of psychedelics-based treatments.

While theres a range of different predictions for the psychedelics market in the next few years, they share a positive trend. DataBridge predicts that the U.S. market for psychedelics will grow at a CAGR of 11.5% between 2021 and 2026, reaching $6.4 billion by 2028, while Research and Markets forecasts the global market to rise at 14.5% CAGR from $3.2 billion in 2021 to $6.3 billion in 2026, the report notes.

Its clear that analysts expect the market to grow dramatically, even if they disagree about the precise size of that growth, according to the report.

Sylvia Jablonski, CIO and co-founder of Defiance ETFs, told GOBankingRates that there are more than 2 billion people with untreated mental health disorders, and that number is growing.

Nearly 30% of mental health patients have not found a cure, or a treatment that worked for them in the realm of conventional therapies, and have often given up, Jablonski said. Billions of dollars have been spent fighting mental illness, but there hasnt been a cure that works for all patients. However, clinical research done by some of the most esteemed academic institutions and research groups like MAPS [Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies] or Hopkins, to name a few, have proven that psychedelic-based medicines can revolutionize treatments, and provide potential cures to patients.

Read: How Much Will Pfizer and Moderna Be Worth by the End of 2022?

She explained that psychedelics essentially help the patient, guided by a medical professional, to a path where the brain rewires itself and allows for paradigm shifts which have led to lifelong disease control or even cure.

Investing in psychedelic firms now could be an opportunity to capture the beginning stages of what is looking to be on the path of a healthcare revolution, she said.

She added that these could be good value plays in the biotech/healthcare space, which is also a potential defensive play, like consumer staples, an improving or failing economy doesnt mean people wont get sick and need therapy, she added.

Some stocks to consider, she said, include Mind Medicine, which is focused on LSD and the psychedelic drug ibogaine, which targets depression, anxiety, attention deficit and addiction. The stock is also in the top psychedelic stocks recommended by the Motley Fool, which puts the companys valuation at $1 billion.

Compass Pathways is another stock to consider, Jablonski said, as it is well funded. The Motley Fool said the drugmaker is conducting the largest clinical trial in history of a psilocybin therapy with its phase 2 study evaluating COMP360 in treatment-resistant depression.

COMP360 is Compass Pathways only pipeline candidate right now. However, its one of the most advanced of all the psychedelic drugs in development, with the potential to move into late-stage clinical testing in 2021, according to The Motley Fool.

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In May 2021, Defiance ETFs launched the first US-listed psychedelics ETF, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PSY, and tracks The BITA Medical in Psychedelics, Cannabis, and Ketamine Index, according to the funds prospectus.

Companies included in the index must have a minimum market capitalization of $75 million and operate in the production, distribution or services related to medical psychedelics, medical cannabis or other medicinal drugs and their derivatives.

More From GOBankingRates

Yal Bizouati-Kennedy is a former full-time financial journalist and has written for several publications, including Dow Jones, The Financial Times Group, Bloomberg and Business Insider. She also worked as a vice president/senior content writer for major NYC-based financial companies, including New York Life and MSCI. Yal is now freelancing and most recently, she co-authored the book Blockchain for Medical Research: Accelerating Trust in Healthcare, with Dr. Sean Manion. (CRC Press, April 2020) She holds two masters degrees, including one in Journalism from New York University and one in Russian Studies from Universit Toulouse-Jean Jaurs, France.

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Stage Set for Psychedelics Stock Boom: Here's Where ...

In 1966, researchers at the International Foundation for Advanced Study in California gave mescaline to 27 men who were engineers, physicists, mathematicians, architects, furniture designers, and artists.

While on the drug, one came up with a new conceptual model of a photon particle; another envisioned a new approach to the design of a vibratory microtome, a lab instrument that cuts material into small slices; and an architect produced a design for a home that was later approved by his client. The mescaline seemed to help facilitate creative problem-solving, particularly in the illumination phase, the researchers wrote.

These kinds of stories are common in psychedelic folklore, leading to the belief that psychedelic compounds lead to Aha or eureka moments, and that answers can be revealed during a trip in one fell swoop. Besides understanding particle physics, people often feel like they receive knowledge about themselves or the nature of the universe.

In his 1902 book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, William James wrote that one feature of a mystical-type experience is this noetic quality, or a feeling of deep knowing. They are illuminations, revelations, full of significance and importance, all inarticulate though they remain; and as a rule they carry with them a curious sense of authority, he wrote.

But how can we tell if the insights received while under psychedelics are true? In a recent talk for the UCL Society for the Application of Psychedelics, Johns Hopkins cognitive neuropsychopharmacologist Manoj Doss said its likely that psychedelics can evoke illusory insights, or the feeling of a profound insight that is misattributed to ideas that arise during a psychedelic experience.

This too, James was familiar with. After inhaling a large amount of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, James wrote furiously on the topic of Hegelian dialectics, a complex kind of philosophical argument. At the moment of transcribing, his thoughts were fused in the fire of infinite rationality, he wrote. But when he was sober again, his revelatory insights were incomprehensible. Meaningless drivel, James called them. He published an excerpt from his notebook in the journal Mind:

What's mistake but a kind of take?

What's nausea but a kind of -usea?

Sober, drunk, -unk, astonishment.

Everything can become the subject of criticism

How criticise without something to criticise?

Agreementdisagreement!!

Emotionmotion!!!!

By God, how that hurts! By God, how it doesn't hurt!

Understanding the nature, and veracity, of psychedelic insights will be crucial if these drugs are to be taken by more and more people, especially those who will seek them out to have insights that better their mental health and well-being.

Luckily, insights, or "Aha moments," have been studied by psychologists outside of psychedelic research for decades. Insights have been found to be unique cognitive phenomena that are often associated with correct solutions to problems, but within insight research, theres also been recent work on false insights: insights that feel real, but are objectively incorrect.

False insights can be induced in the lab through some simple tricks, and feelings of insight can spill over in how people regard other worldviews and factsmaking untrue facts or extreme beliefs seem more true, a subject highly relevant to psychedelics. The feeling of insight does not guarantee that an insight is correct. Certainly not all psychedelic insights will be false, but recognizing that they probably wont all be true either, despite how they feel, makes room for problematic insights to be tested, and not simply accepted as untouchable truth.

An Aha moment is the experience of suddenly believing you understand something, or suddenly solving a problem that you've previously been unable to solve. A classic example comes from the life of Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. Archimedes was asked to determine if a gold crown made for King Hieron II had been mixed with silver, rather than made with pure goldbut the king didnt want Archimedes to damage or melt down the crown while figuring it out.

Puzzling over how to do this, Archimedes took a bath. He noticed that the water splashed onto the floor when he got in, displaced by the volume of his body. In a flash of insight, he realized he could compare the crowns volume in water to another piece of gold or silver with the same mass, and compare the density.

A person doesnt need to come up with a brilliant solution, like Archimedes did, for an Aha moment to exist, said Jonathan Schooler, a psychologist at the University of California in Santa Barbara. What characterizes it is that abrupt feeling of truth.

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John Kounios, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Drexel University and coauthor of The Eureka Factor, has shown through brain imaging and behavioral experiments that insights do seem to be the result of a real and distinct kind of emotional and cognitive process, not just a typical new idea with an emotional flourish tacked onto it.

There is also research showing that when an Aha moment accompanies a solution, it's more likely to be right, said Ruben Laukkonen, a postdoctoral fellow at The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In studies using a task called the remote associates, people are given three words, and they have to come up with a corresponding fourth word. When people solve these problems, sometimes they have an Aha moment and a solution pops into their mind. Other times, they solve it through more slow and careful analysis. In these studies, if people had an Aha moment, they were more likely, on average, to have gotten the correct answer.

People may have learned that this Aha feeling is often associated with correct solutions throughout their lives, Kounios said. It might be why when people have an idea that feels like an Aha, and it's accompanied with a sense of profundity, theyre more likely to think those ideas are true. When we have Aha moments, we often treat its content as sacred. James Joyce wrote in Stephen Hero, his posthumously published autobiographical novel, that epiphanies must be recorded with extreme care, seeing that they themselves are the most delicate and evanescent of moments.

But even in those laboratory studies, Laukkonen said, false insights were lurking amongst the true ones. False insights were when people had the same feeling of sudden knowing, but what they knew wasnt correct. Researchers have mostly followed and tried to characterize true insights, but recent work has turned to examine these false insights.

In 2020, Laukkonen and colleagues gave people an anagram to solve, and then presented them with a fact that was either true or false. When people successfully unscrambled the letters in the anagram, and felt an Aha moment doing so, they were more likely to think that false facts were truemisattributing the Aha feeling from the anagram to whatever the fact was.

This worked for world views, too: people were more likely to endorse statements like free will is an illusion if they were given a key word, like illusion, in a scrambled format first. If we elicit a little insight experience, even using something as trivial as an anagram, that feeling that is elicited can color anything that's happening at that moment, Laukkonen said. The feeling of insight could essentially be moved around and put onto other things.

In another recent study from this year, Hilary Grimmer, a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland, Laukkonen, and others were able to elicit an Aha feeling in people who were objectively having a false insight.

People were given a list of words that all shared an association, like wheelbarrow, seedlings, glove, and soil. Then, they were given an anagram that looked like a word that would belong with that list, but actually didnt. For example, paired with the list of gardening words, they would be given the anagram for endanger, which shares a lot of letters with the word "gardener." People would solve the anagram as "gardener," and feel like they had an Aha moment even though their solution was incorrect.

These studies showed different kinds of false insights: In one, people who had a true Aha moment from solving an anagram misattributed that feeling to other, untrue, facts. In Grimmers study the Aha moment occurred around a solution that was objectively wrong. But both reveal how the feeling itself of the Aha moment isnt always paired with the truth.

"It seems like that feeling can just exist on its own," Grimmer said. "We can have the same feeling of insight, regardless of actual truth."

People on psychedelics wont be solving anagrams and responding to facts; their insights will be more complex, and so will the contexts around them. But knowing that the feeling of insightfulness can be elicited with false information, or moved around and applied to unrelated information, is essential when considering insights that come from psychedelics.

Doss thinks a number of factors could make psychedelic experiences a breeding ground for the feeling of false insight or knowing. Studies have found that in a psychedelic experience, words or concepts that wouldnt typically be associated can be relatable. While the people in Grimmers study were misled to think gardener based on the gardening words, this could mean that more tenuous associations could prime people to have false insights while in an altered state.

People can be set up to expect true insights, based on what they're told at the outset of a trip. When people are told under psychedelics that they will come up with certain insights, you're going to be more inclined to attribute the feeling of insight to the truthiness of ideas that you might come up with, Doss said. I think all these things kind of come together in a perfect storm to potentially create something that feels very real but doesn't necessarily have to be."

People might have different thresholds, even under sober conditions, for how much information they need to have an Aha moment. You might have 10 pieces of information in your head and if all 10 of them snap together, you have this coherent insight about something, Kounios said. But what if only nine of them snap together, or eight of them snap together?" Its possible that psychedelics could lower that threshold, Kounios said, to create Aha moments with less input.

Another important lesson from insight research is that some people may be more swayed by insights, and the positive feeling that comes with them. In 2020, Kounios and his colleagues used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity when people solved anagrams with Aha moments, finding that in the moment of insight, there was a sudden burst of high frequency brainwaves.

Some people in the study were high in a personality trait called reward sensitivity, a trait that is found in thrill seekers and others motivated by pleasure. In those people, there was another burst of brain activity a tenth of a second after the insight in the brains reward system, the same area that is engaged when people eat delicious food, take addictive drugs, or have orgasms. People who were not high in reward sensitivity didnt exhibit this. Kounios said it suggests that some people can have an insight without always having the feeling of pleasure or emotion alongside it.

Though the study didnt collect subjective reports, Kounios said that anecdotally, those who were high in reward sensitivity got really into the tests, and thought they were fun. People like having insights, Kounios said. Its why a lot of people like to do crossword puzzles, read murder mysteries, have creative hobbies, do researchthey get a thrill from Aha moments.

David Yaden, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins who studies the subjective effects of psychedelics, thinks that its important to parse out the different kinds of Aha moments that different people may have while on psychedelics.

Not all insights can be tested, the way an anagram can be right or wrong. A person might have insights about the nature of reality or about their life, like realizing they should quit their job, or move to a different city; these kinds of insights will be hard to measure.

But there are others, like the predictions of events that may or may not happen, which could be tested. Creative insights could be judged by others for their novelty and usefulness. Simply put: before making the claim that psychedelics lead to more true insights across the board, that should be measured.

Psychedelic insights could also be assessed for an alignment with therapeutic goals or overall well-being. If a person has the insight that theyre not worthless, or that they are connected to others, that might align with the goal of improving depression symptoms.

These kinds of insights might not be falsifiable, but could be valuable to a person for their healing process, Laukkonen said. But in the cases when an insight feels real, but isnt helpful or true, the fact that the feeling is separate from the content can be useful, especially in responding to complex or traumatizing experiences, or pushing back on the guru effect, when people have insights that feel very authentic about their position over other people, or their reasons to cross ethical boundaries.

There's certain types of insights that I think that people need to be very cautious with, Doss said.

Not all psychedelic insights will be false, and many may be true insights, or just helpful, unfalsifiable ones. But knowing that the feeling of insight is able to be disentangled from the content of the insight itself is importantit paves the way for critical thinking and examination of an insight later on.

It can be difficult to question epiphanies that come with an Aha feeling, and they may be subjected less to ethical or critical analysis, Yaden said. Grimmer said that insight moments, under sober conditions, are more closely held onto. They have a memory advantage, people remember solutions that came with an Aha.

Some people suggest that once we've had an Aha moment, whether it's true or false, some amount of us will kind of always believe it because of that unique way with which it arrives in our consciousness, Grimmer said. They seem kind of sticky.

But all insights, true and false, should lead to more examination after the Aha momentwhether it occurs on psychedelics or not. It goes along with an idea that it's important to have epistemic humility, Yaden said, meaning we should be humble about our knowledge and what we think we know. The noetic quality doesn't excuse not having epistemic humility.

And checking an insight doesn't diminish the value of Aha moments. It just means that like any other thing that people do, it can be wrong, Kounios said. Ive always told my kids in school: when you do a math problem, check your results. The same logic should be applied to insights. If you have an Aha moment, check it. What do you have to lose?

Schooler agreed that insights should be revisited later on. When Archimedes had his idea, he still had to put the crown in water and see if he could actually calculate it, he said. It's important not to just stop at the epiphany phase.

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The Insights Psychedelics Give You Arent Always True

When South by Southwest held its debut festival, it was a four-day music showcase of 177 artists playing 15 venues. Thirty-five years later, it reaches way beyond music and plays out over 10 days citywide on scores of stages where it gives a preview of a future that will be funded by venture capital.

SXSW this weekend is wrapping up the 2022 edition of what has exploded into a mega-event known globally for its futuristic exploration of art, media, technology, sports, wellness, politics and activism.

A launch pad for ideas, brands and personalities that later become household names, SXSW each year draws tens of thousands of people to Austin seeking forward-thinking solutions and novel approaches to big problems.

Which is to say that the event has secured its place as a vital part of the venture capital ecosystem and its ever-optimistic quest to create the future of everything. And this year's installment has been no exception, featuring experts delving into some of Silicon Valley's biggest passion projects, from crypto and climate science to the metaverse and psychedelic drugs.

The return of SXSW following a pandemic hiatus also comes at a time when the city of Austinthanks in part to the festival itselfstars in another drama that hits home for the VC ecosystem: The rise of hot new metropolises winning over tech and other corporate leaders seeking locales that are more accommodating of their business and personal ambitions.

Conference visitors who were trying to plan out time slots in the packed schedule could be forgiven for feeling that they had to choose between equally buzzy but competing sessions: one could be about saving the world from climate change, the other about saving musicians' profits through shrewd use of NFTs and decentralized platforms.

It's a boom time in so-called Web3 innovations that empower musicians and other artists to claim economic control of their brand and intellectual property outside dominant channels owned by publishers and companies like Spotify.

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, created by artists are grabbing much of the spotlight, especially at music-crazy SXSW. The blockchain-based tokens can certify ownership and authenticity of digital creative assets and even physical ones (like an artist's branded merchandise). Musicians are tapping into them for a sizable revenue stream of royalty payments for sales of their branded work on secondary markets.

Kelsey Byrne, the singer-songwriter also known as Vrit, is one of them. Byrne educated herself on tokens during her own pandemic isolation and emerged with a rising name in music but also a knack for using NFTs to make a sustainable living as an indie singer. "The whole point of this is to work outside the system," she said on a panel.

Another panelist told of several artists with small followings who've been able to rack up meaningful revenue. "You can have less fans but make more money," said Sam Hysell, co-founder of digital media company NFT Now. The model is taking off. In December, investors valued NFT marketplace OpenSea at over $13 billion in a $300 million VC funding round.

Take weed. Organizers programmed at least 20 panel discussions or featured speakers on the topic as seen through issues including racial equity, regulation, consumer products, social change and international markets.

Investment in VC-backed cannabis companies retreated to $2.8 billion last year from its high point of $3.6 billion in 2019, according to PitchBook data. Investors are taking aim at the world cannabis market estimated to be worth more than $32 billion last year, mostly concentrated in North America. But opportunity for weed businesses in other world regions looms large, with 50 countries (not counting the US) having created legal cannabis markets on a national level, according to Prohibition Partners, a UK-based cannabis research firm.

"I think that provides an amazing opportunity, but it also leaves a question mark as to when the US will join the ranks," said Stephen Murphy, managing director of Prohibition Partners, who moderated a panel looking at the global pot business.

Another dozen or so other talks focused on the future (and present) of psychedelics: Psychedelics in wellness. As a market opportunity. In public policy. In tourism. Even in Judaism.

One of the best-attended panel discussions this year focused on the prospects for psychedelics to treat severe depression, PTSD and behavioral disorders. Such therapies remain on the fringes of Western medicine. But authoritative research is gaining traction, of course with Silicon Valley VC funding, among companies such as therapeutics specialist Atai Life Sciences, which is backed by Peter Thiel and recently got federal approval to do a clinical trial of a non-psychedelic form of ketamine intended for use as an antidepressant.

Another high-profile adherent is the influential entrepreneur Tim Ferriss, who took to the SXSW stage with a group of eminent psychologists to share intimate details of his experimentation with ketamine in his own battle (with "life-changing" effectiveness, by his own account) against chronic depression.

Outside the meeting hall, a passerby's T-shirt read, "Make Acid Great Again."

Regardless of how seriously you view the use of psychedelics in medicine, it's clear watching Ferriss speak that he has done his homework on the research and can hold his own delving into the scientific minutiae alongside some of the field's top experts.

Ferriss and his co-panelists like Roland Griffiths, a Johns Hopkins University pharmacology professor, said they see much promise in clinically supervised treatments through altered states of consciousness, but they also plainly acknowledged that modern medicine is in its infancy of truly understanding psychedelics.

To Pico Velasquez, a designer whose work has straddled physical and virtual dimensions, the power of the metaverse is to capture "beautiful intricacies of this world." But she also maintained it's not just about games or entertainment.

"Instead," she told one session, "it's an evolution of our lives, the future of work, the future of culture. The future of absolutely everything is going to get transported into this new space."

Some efforts to demonstrate the idea didn't quite land. At a late-night party thrown by Blockchain Creative Labs, an NFT-focused startup studio backed by Fox Entertainment, guests were invited into a pop-up exhibition that was meant to evoke the dazzling imagery associated with highly stylized digital environments. It was basically a flashy electronic installation on the walls.

At a demo kiosk for Qualcomm-owned chip designer Snapdragon, visitors could create their own digital avatars having their likeness scanned using face- and body-recognition software. My avatar, showing a fully bald man, was totally unrecognizable, but it did at least allow me to show I had a receding hairline of my own, using any color of my choosing.

Featured image of the Blockchain Creative Labs exhibit by Alexander Davis/PitchBook News

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SXSW stage is a collision of weed, metaverse, NFTs, acid and saving the planet - PitchBook News & Analysis

Jaden Smith Recalls His Experience With Psychedelic Mushrooms (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Actor Jaden Smith thought everything was so beautiful when he took psychedelic mushrooms in a park with his friends.

Smith said: I was with people who I really loved dearly. We go to a park, which was the best decision that we could have ever made. Everything just becomes so beautiful.

We look at the sky and everybody starts feeling like they want to cry, but no one says anything. We were running in the park. Were sprinting. Were talking fast. We decided to hug a tree and felt like we actually went inside of the tree, Jaden Smith said.

He added, I saw the inner workings of the tree and it looked like a rainbow. I could tell in that moment that trees were alive, but more alive than anyone could ever think. As alive as humans are.

The Karate Kid actors experience with psychedelics has influenced his latest clothing collection, Trippy Summer, and he explained how the collection has taken advantage of what happens when people are in an altered state, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Jaden Smith told Mr Porter journal: I believe that mushrooms are going to help us expand consciousness. The collection is not just clothes to sell.

Its loaded with spiritual experiences and mystical states. Were just making clothes that can go along with peoples journeys.

When youre in that sensitive space, the wrong shirt can ruin things. Whether the shirt says, Oh, f*** you, you f****** f***, or, Go to hell and die, it might scare somebody Were taking advantage of the certain visual cues that happen when youre on mushrooms. Things slightly move, Jaden Smith said.

He then concluded by saying, If you give something the feeling of motion, when youre on mushrooms and you look at it, your brain will finish the work and put it in motion so that youre like, Holy f***! His pants are moving.

Must Read: When Chris Evans First Tweet After Leaking His Own N*des Proved How Hes A Real Captain At Handling Any Situation

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Jaden Smith Recalls His Experience With Psychedelic Mushrooms: Everything Just Becomes So Beautiful - Koimoi

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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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