Category Archives: Psychedelics

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A new bill before the Missouri legislature would allow hallucinogenic drugs that are now illegal to be used to treat people struggling from depression, PTSD, and all sorts of addictions.

Many people think of psychedelic drugs like ecstasy and magic mushrooms as a recreational high to be taken at a music concert, but used in a therapeutic setting, veterans and their families say it saved their lives.

Veteran Jared Rinehart from Anderson, Missouri suffered from failed relationships, depression, and anger issues after retiring from the Marine Corps and trying to return to civilian life. When conventional treatment failed, he turned to psychedelic therapy.

Rinehart traveled to Peru and a treatment center that is widely known by the military community. After taking controlled amounts of hallucinogenic drugs under the watchful eye of trained therapists, Rinehart said his depression was cured. He said it felt like one of these sessions was like 10 years of therapy.

Elaine Brewer is a spouse of a Navy SEAL combat expert. War was very difficult on her entire household. She was having massive panic attacks and severe suicidal ideation. Brewer and other special ops spouses went to a psychedelic-assisted therapy retreat center in Mexico. She said the spiritual experience allowed her to understand forgiveness and closure.

The bill before the Missouri legislature would legalize psychedelic medications that are now outlawed under the right to try law for investigational drugs. Missouri State Rep. Michael Davis of Kansas City is behind the bill. Drugs like psilocybin found in magic mushrooms could be manufactured in Missouri and physicians and pharmacies could distribute them.

St Louis clinical psychologist Larry Shapiro said this therapy is a game-changer in mental health. What may have taken six years to get to in therapy is now taking six hours. Psychedelics work on a different receptor in the brain compared to antidepressants.

Meanwhile, Brewer and her husband have established the Humble Warrior Wellness Center for veterans and their families to continue to overall mental and body healing for military families. Rinehart is the lead psychedelic integration coach at the Heroic Hearts Project.

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Why theres a push to legalize psychedelic drug therapy in Missouri - KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN) (NYSE American:CYBN) (Cybin or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on progressing Psychedelics to TherapeuticsTM, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted U.S. patent 11,242,318 to the Companys investigational deuterated dimethyltryptamine (DMT) compound CYB004. The allowed claims include a range of deuterated forms of DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. The patent, which is expected to expire in 2041 before consideration of any patent term extensions, covers composition of matter and protects the CYB004 drug substance as a putative new chemical entity.

CYB004 is Cybins lead investigational proprietary DMT compound. In preclinical studies, CYB004 has demonstrated potential efficacy at lower doses while also increasing the duration of drug effect providing a therapeutic profile that may alleviate the common negative experiences associated with classical DMT.

From the outset, Cybin has focused on creating differentiated compounds that harness the potential efficacy of classical psychedelics, while addressing the known limitations necessary for these molecules to become approvable therapeutics. We are extremely pleased to receive a composition of matter patent for CYB004, adding strong protection for our growing intellectual property portfolio of psychedelic-based compounds, supporting and protecting the investments that we are making in our CYB004 program said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Cybin. This patent is both rewarding and timely as we prepare to initiate a pilot study for CYB004 in the third quarter of 2022 and work tirelessly to develop an important and alternative treatment option for the millions of people suffering from anxiety disorders.

Cybin plans to submit a clinical trial application for a pilot study of CYB004 in the second quarter of calendar year 2022 and expects to initiate the pilot study in the third quarter of calendar year 2022.

The Company continues to pursue multiple opportunities to secure and support its patent position for research and development evaluating deuterated tryptamines for future psychedelic-based treatments for mental illnesses

About Cybin

Cybin is a leading ethical biopharmaceutical company, working with a network of world-class partners and internationally recognized scientists, on a mission to create safe and effective therapeutics for patients to address a multitude of mental health issues. Headquartered in Canada and founded in 2019, Cybin is operational in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. The Company is focused on progressing Psychedelics to Therapeutics by engineering proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens for mental health disorders. Patent filings described herein are held by Cybin IRL Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cybin.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding Cybins future, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, plan, continue, will, may, would, anticipate, estimate, forecast, predict, project, seek, should or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Companys proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens to potentially treat psychiatric disorders.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the psychedelics market; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for growth; political, social and environmental uncertainties; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the period ended September 30, 2021 and the Company's listing statement dated November 9, 2020, which are available under the Company's profile on http://www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

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

Neither the Neo Exchange Inc. nor the NYSE American LLC stock exchange have approved or disapproved the contents of this news release and are not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

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Cybin Announces Grant of U.S. Patent Covering its Proprietary Compound CYB004 (Deuterated DMT) for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders - Business Wire

Vancouver Island University is set to become the first accredited university in Canada to launch a psychedelic-assisted therapy course.

The graduate program launches in September through the Faculty of Health and Human Services for health-care professionals.

Its a really big deal because it sets the bar for psychedelic-assisted therapies, recognizing that its an advanced practice that takes a unique skill set, says VIU nursing professor Shannon Dames.

One of the programs registrants is Dr. Laura McLean. She signed up after having tried the therapy herself last summer through Roots to Thrive, which is the eventual practicum site for the course.

This is the start of a movement, she says.

The 12-week program through Roots to Thrive has virtual sessions featuring guided conversations and on three instances the option of using ketamine. McLean says it helped her let go of fears she didnt know she had.

And that cleared up a lot of noise, she says. I came out personally with more confidence.

The curriculum is also delivered in collaboration with VIUs elder-in-residence Geraldine Manson, Indigenous professionals and cultural safety experts.

The courses co-developer says the therapy takes a very different approach to mental health.

Its essentially a way to access some of those stuck energies or stuck emotions so that we can sit with them, process them, speak to them, soothe them, and then when theyre ready, they depart, says Dames.

Health-care professionals in the field believe psychedelic-assisted therapy could be especially helpful for people who are struggling with end-of-life distress, PTSD and treatment-resistant mental health issues.

Theres all this excitement and promise around the field of psychedelic therapies, although theres lots of research to be done, says psychiatrist Dr. Susan Abbey.

Shes with Torontos University Health Network, which is currently using a $5 million donation from the Nikean Foundation for a first-of-its-kind research centre in Canada.

Our first project is going to be looking at end-of-life distress and combining psychedelics. There are several studies that show they may be helpful for people with end-of-life distress, says Abbey.

There are also plans to look at whether therapists need experience using the drug compounds themselves in order to be effective.

I think the ultimate goal is to really see, Is this actually an effective treatment? says Abbey. Does this really help people? Because theres so many factors around it.

VIUs part-time program runs from September through August. Registration is open for the fall session until March 31 and is designed for health-care providers.

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Psychedelic-assisted therapy program coming to Vancouver Island University | CTV News - CTV News VI

UT House approves psychedelics bill; OH Senate leader will block legalization; Twitchs marijuana-friendly policy; Willie Nelson Super Bowl ad

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https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWRep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said hes confident his marijuana banking legislation is finally going to make it through the Senate and onto the presidents desk before he leaves office at the end of this year.The Utah House of Representatives voted 68-1 to create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics such as psilocybin for treating mental health disorders.Ohios Senate president says he wont bring a marijuana legalization measure to the floor for a vote, meaning that activists who collected enough signatures to force the legislature to consider the measure will need more petitions to place it on the November ballot.The Missouri House of Representatives approved a bill to make it harder to qualify and pass ballot initiativesbut included a delayed implementation date that a lawmaker says was requested by a current marijuana legalization campaign.Video game streaming service Twitchs username policy update says references to marijuana are totally finetreating it the same as alcohol and tobacco. But the Amazon-owned company bans mentions of psychedelics and hard drugs.Marijuana icon Willie Nelson called for the legalization ofcomfortable shoes in an ad for Sketchers that aired during the Super Bowl.

/ FEDERALThe Drug Enforcement Administration Museum proudly displayed a pair of platform shoes worn by an undercover agent in the 1970s.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, Hundreds of millions of Americans live in states where cannabis has been legalized in some way. Its long past time for the federal government to catch up. The Senate will move forward on cannabis legalization with justice for the communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.Several U.S. senators discussed their positions on the issue of marijuana legalization.Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) filed a bill to restrict the use of certain federal funds for syringes for the injection of illegal drugs or devices to smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics.Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) toured a cannabis testing facility.Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said Republicans should lean in on marijuana reform.Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, If anyone knows the unjust consequences of #cannabis criminalization, its @weldon_angelos. Humbled to have his endorsement of my bipartisan #HOPEAct, which will help remedy the War on Drugs where its been most pervasive at the state and local level.Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) tweeted, In my district, cartels are profiting off the illegal marijuana market through indentured servant labor, stealing land and water, and threatening Californians!Louisiana Democratic Senate candidate Gary Chambers said his cannabis consumption is not something that should be controversial./ STATESMichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an executive order consolidating the regulation of marijuana and hemp under the newly renamed Cannabis Regulatory Agency.Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwardss (D) Drug Policy Board adopted a resolution opposing the legalization of marijuana.Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at a campaign rally.South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, tweeted, By opposing medical marijuana, @henrymcmaster is keeping life-saving medical care from countless veterans and patients across SC. Governor, your conspiracy theories about cannabis are rooted in lies, fear and 1950s propaganda. Time to end your opposition and help get this done.Mississippis lieutenant governor spoke about the economic impact of legalizing medical cannabis.The Washington State Senate approved a bill to increase penalties for robbing marijuana dispensaries, on par with those for robbing pharmacies.The Oklahoma Legislative Office of Financial Transparency issued a report recommending a moratorium on medical cannabis business licenses.A Maryland delegate tweeted, The drug war has led to the mass incarceration of Black & Latinx Marylanders. Its way past time we legalize cannabis, release non-violent drug offenders, as well as ensure equity & reparations for the harm done. Today, I filed the Cannabis Legalization & Equity Act. He also hosting a series of Weed Weekend events.A Michigan senator tweeted, I passed the bill in Michigan that funded automatically expunging the records for those convicted of non-violent marijuana use. Now its time to legalize marijuana federally & ensure our sons, grandsons, brothers, and uncles are no longer incarcerated & have a clean slate. He also tweeted, Even though we legalized marijuana in Michigan, its still illegal for banks to provide services to cannabis businesses. This means they operate on a cash-only basis which is dangerous for them and our community. Its time for Congress to legalize and pass the #SAFEBankingAct.Arkansas regulators are being sued over a policy that doesnt allow doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations without in-person patient examinations.Iowa regulators said they havent yet gotten any response from the Drug Enforcement Administration about a letter requesting a federal exemption for the states limited medical cannabis program.Montana regulators proposed rules for failed marijuana laboratory test samples.Alaska regulators are proposing changes to rules on reinstatement of marijuana business licenses after failure to renew.Maine regulators issued guidance on separation of co-located medical cannabis and recreational marijuana cultivation operations.Colorado regulators sent an update on medical cannabis rulemaking.Vermont regulators will review marijuana policies on Monday and accept public comments at a hearing on Friday.Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 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.

/ LOCALSt. Louis, Missouris mayor toured a black-owned medical cannabis dispensary, tweeting, Black entrepreneurs in St. Louis are leading the way towards what I hope is an inclusive, diverse medical marijuana industry. Delavana, Illinoiss mayor spoke about how the city is using marijuana revenue to improve infrastructure.Ann Arbor, Michigan is using marijuana tax revenue to help people expunge past convictions./ INTERNATIONALThe president of Italys Constitutional Court said his colleagues should not nitpick referendums on cannabis and other issues, as rumors circulated that the body may block voters from being able to decide on the proposals this week.The Spanish Parliaments medical cannabis subcommittee will hold its first meeting this week./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA review concluded that cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in treating patients with chronic conditions such as back pain and spinal cord injuries but that longitudinal effects and implications on surgical outcomes and complications are poorly understood.A review concluded that clinical trials on psilocybin produced promising results concerning the treatment of addiction, depression, and end-of-life mood disorders and it has been shown to produce durable effects with minimal toxicity./ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISA poll found that 65 percent of Malaysian adults support decriminalizing medical cannabis./ BUSINESSHarborside Inc. closed a $45.4 million tranche of debt financing.Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc closed on the acquisition of a New Jersey property and entered into a long-term lease with a subsidiary of Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.MedMen Enterprises Inc.s chief revenue officer resigned.The Harry Reid International Airport tweeted, Were not blowing smoke! Save your super bowls for the couch, not our departure and arrival curbs. As a reminder, the possession and use of marijuana is prohibited on all airport property. Cannabis products can be discarded in the green amnesty boxes located at various entrances./ CULTURE2 Chainz is the second-largest shareholder of a new marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California. He also said Snoop Dogg should smoke cannabis during the Super Bowl halftime show.Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about the marijuana pranks and Danny DeVito played on each other.

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Sponsor 'confident' cannabis banking will pass this year (Newsletter: February 14, 2022) - Marijuana Moment

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core One Labs Inc. (CSE: COOL), (OTC: CLABF), (Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A3CSSU) (the Company or Core One) is pleased to announce that following its milestone announcement that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vocan Biotechnologies Inc. (Vocan), has successfully engineered a novel recombinant production system for biologically synthesized (biosynthesized) psilocybin, and has filed for patent protection of its groundbreaking intellectual property (see Core Ones press release dated January 21, 2022), its team of scientist continue to make progress and are in the process of optimizing at scale production capacity.

Scaled up production of the Companys groundbreaking biosynthetic psilocybin, and an approval of the Companys patent application will further Core One and Vocans journey to becoming a significant player in the provision of cost effective psilocybin and has the potential to significantly change the face of psychedelic-based mental health care and patient access to alternative treatments around the globe.

Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound that is showing enormous promise in treating addiction and many mental health disorders; and the success of this game-changing patent propels Core One to the forefront of the rapidly expanding psychedelics industry, eliminating barriers for psychedelic treatments and research such as exorbitant costs and lack of availability and supply.

Currently, most companies use chemically synthesized psilocybin as the only available cGMP compliant product that is available in large volumes. The chemical process carries significant costs and is less efficient when compared to a biologically derived psilocybin.

Under the leadership of Dr. Jan Burian, Vocans Chief Scientist, and Dr. Robert EW Hancock, Vocans CEO, the teams ground-breaking psilocybin production method utilizes the well-established industrial process of fermentation and therefore can be scaled up while consistently producing a high-quality cGMP product. The process turns bacteria into a biological factory to produce synthesized psilocybin, cutting cost and time immensely.

With Vocans optimized recombinant production system, the subsidiary successfully tested its proof-of-concept for the manufacturing of biosynthetic psilocybin suitable for use in future scale-up and is awaiting patent approval. The application includes claims that Vocans technology will enable the production of cGMP API grade psilocybin, which can be used by pharmaceutical companies, API manufacturers and organizations conducting clinical trials and, where permitted by law, consumers, and patients. Vocans crucial breakthrough anticipates a rippling effect that could rearrange the industrys landscape hereafter.

This breakthrough in psilocybin production, can shift the entire industry. By making psychedelic treatments cost effective, this could make treatment more widely available to patients globally. Additionally, our patent on this process, gives us first mover advantage in this significant and emerging space, Stated Joel Shacker CEO of the Company.

About Core One Labs Inc.Core One is a biotechnology research and technology life sciences enterprise focused on bringing psychedelic medicines to market through novel delivery systems and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.Core One has developed a patent pending thin film oral strip (the technology) which dissolves instantly when placed in the mouth and delivers organic molecules in precise quantities to the bloodstream, maintaining excellent bioavailability. The Company intends to further develop and apply the technology to psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin. Core One also holds an interest in medical clinics which maintain a combined database of over 275,000 patients. Through these clinics, the integration of its intellectual property, R&D related to psychedelic treatments and novel drug therapies, the Company intends to obtain regulatory research approval for the advancement of psychedelic-derived treatments for mental health disorders.

Core One Labs Inc.

Joel ShackerChief Executive Officer

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: info@core1labs.com1-866-347-5058

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Companys limited operating history and the need to comply with strict regulatory regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

In addition, psilocybin is currently a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) and it is a criminal offence to possess substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) without a prescription or authorization. Health Canada has not approved psilocybin as a drug for any indication. Core One does not have any direct or indirect involvement with illegal selling, production, or distribution of psychedelic substances in jurisdictions in which it operates. While Core One believes psychedelic substances can be used to treat certain medical conditions, it does not advocate for the legalization of psychedelics substances for recreational use. Core One does not deal with psychedelic substances, except within laboratory and clinical trial settings conducted within approved regulatory frameworks.

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Core One Labs' Successful Patent Application Filing for Protection of its Biosynthetic Production System for Psilocybin Marks a Significant Milestone...

NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PsychedelicNewsWire -- IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, today announces that it will be supporting the full event line-up organized by Microdose Psychedelic Insights in 2022.

Microdose Psychedelic Insights, a Toronto-based media company, is a well-established leader within the psychedelic industry. The company has sought to provide ground-breaking educational insight to help drive the industry into the forefront of modern medicine through its distribution of compelling sector content, financial analysis and engaging events. Having worked with some of the most respected companies, both inside and outside psychedelics, Microdose has rapidly become the media partner of choice within the sector.

Following its previous successful engagements with Microdoses conferences throughout 2021, IBN will be serving as the official media sponsor for their upcoming 2022 conference schedule. These will include the iterations of Microdoses popular Psychedelic Capital series, the Molecular Masterclasses (such as the upcoming LSD Conference to be held on Feb. 17, 2022) and the well-known Wonderland Miami, which is set to take place in November.

We are pleased to be continuing our collaboration with IBN for all of our events this year, said Patrick Moher, president of Microdose. Their powerful tools and communication solutions create a robust online presence, which strengthens the valuable connections our team creates between executives, industry experts and investors. We are looking forward to producing a standout series of events designed to drive the psychedelics industry into the forefront of modern medicine, and we believe that IBNs assistance in helping us reach a broader investor audience will continue to be very helpful in heightening the success of our events.

In addition to the news-oriented coverage provided by IBNs PsychedelicNewsWire and BioMedWire, which form part of IBNs platform 50+ brands, IBN is also set to provide Microdose Psychedelic Insights with social media coverage for their various events. Collectively, the IBN brands reach more than 2 million likes and followers across a variety of social networks.

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Our team at IBN is excited to be working with Microdose Psychedelic Insights again this year, said Jonathan Keim, communications director for IBN. We will leverage our communications solutions to raise visibility in advance of each of their events and also widen the reach of the content produced to reach additional online audiences.

About IBN

The IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 15+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through NetworkNewsWire (NNW) and its affiliate brands, IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) a total news coverage solution.

For more information on IBN, visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

Corporate Communications IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) Los Angeles, California http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

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IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) Expands Collaboration With Microdose Psychedelic Insights to Serve as Official Media Sponsor for all 2022 Events - Yahoo...

Journey Colab is focused on unlocking the science of psychedelics to build a whole new model of addiction care combining the potential of neuroplasticity promoting therapeutics like mescaline with psychotherapy and community support. Their lead program is mescaline one of the naturally-occurring classical psychedelics for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) for patients in desperate need of durable remission. Their focus this year is building on the first modern natural data set on mescaline and are currently conducting the first industry-sponsored human trials.

Further, their Journey Reciprocity Trust is setting the industry standard for the healing economy. The Trust holds ten percent of the companys founding equity for the future benefit of groups working to ensure equitable access to mental health treatment, those working on the conservation of naturally occurring psychedelics, and Indigenous communities that have traditionally used psychedelics.

Founder and CEO, Jeeshan Chowdhury: Mescaline is very interesting in that its the only phenethylamine in the classic psychedelic. Its closer to MDMA than psilocybin, which is a tryptamine. When we look at both the traditional use of mescaline, what were seeing now with the rigorous scientific understanding of the mechanism of action, and the clinical studies, these long-acting psychedelics offer a unique advantage.

We know that traditional communities in traditional settings have used mescaline-containing plants for hundreds of years to deal with addiction. In communities that have been disproportionately affected by addiction in response to individual and systemic trauma, the use of mescaline-containing plants combined with therapy and community support shows to be one of the only effective treatments for alcohol use in their communities.

When people think about relearning periods, you can think about when a child is able to learn a language very easily, versus us trying to learn as adults. We know psychedelics can open critical windows of learning. Its very clear now from scientific evidence that longer-acting psychedelics, like mescaline, open this period for not hours like ketamine, but weeks. Were seeing a longer period of neuroplasticity, which lends itself to a chronic condition like Alcohol-Use Disorder where were trying to achieve behaviour change. When psychedelic medicine is combined with therapy and community support, we see the strongest effects.

I would be negligent in trying to create any product or service and not include or learn from the only people who have done this at-scale, who have done it safely and effectively. Its a business decision for us to create a space of dialogue with those communities to learn from each other. Its not a charity, its not window-dressing. It makes us a better company and helps us make better decisions. We were able to learn the potential around mescaline because we setup Journey as a stakeholder model, created a space of dialogue, and understood the unique potential of mescaline that everyone else had overlooked.

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Journey Colab Believes It Has The Formula For Addiction Treatment - The Dales Report

Once counterculture staples, LSD and magic mushrooms are starting to trip out another world: psychiatry. A smallbut rapidly growinggroup of doctors is embracing the drugs as powerful tools against a myriad of mental demons. People suffering from depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have all benefited from psychedelics in small controlled trials. Psychedelics, over 50 years after the Summer of Love, have once again taken flight.

With one caveat: they get people high. While a perk for recreational users, the mind-altering effects can be a serious detriment to patients. For now, treatments are carefully administered and monitored inside clinics rather than patients taking pills at home. Regulatory hurdles further prohibit widespread adoption.

But what if theres a way to strip away the high and leave only the drugs therapeutic effects?

Enter crystals. This week, a team extracted and crystallized the structure of psychoactive drugs docking in the brain. Using X-rays, they mapped out the interactions at the nanoscale level, teasing apart those that can lead to hallucinations from those that can calm troubled minds. Knowledge in hand, they engineered several synthetic cousins of LSD, which helped quell depressive symptoms in mice without signs of the critters getting high.

While it could be a long road from mice to men, the study is one in a series of high-profile works that seek to strip the hallucinogenic magic from psychedelics, instead adding a sprinkle of healing magic. For now, they wont be silver bulletsthe mice needed a hefty dose to dampen their depression, which is a red flag for potential side effects.

But the implications are profound. If validated in humans, the drugs would lay the groundwork for an entirely new treatment regime for mental troubles that haunt millions of people.

This work is going to generate a lot of interest, Dr. Bryan Roth at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, an expert in the field who was not involved in the study, said to Science.

Psychedelics were all the rave in the 50s and 60s, and not just in the party scene, but also in psychiatry. At the time, treating patients with LSD, psilocybin (the active component in magic mushrooms), or MDMA (also known as molly or ecstasy) was considered a promising alternative to other therapies for restoring health and autonomy for people confined long-term in asylums. Over the decade, scientists tested roughly 40,000 people in over 1,000 studies for treatment of mental health and addiction issues.

Despite initially promising (though rudimentary) results, the studies lurched to a halt when psychedelics were banned as a backlash to widespread recreational use.

Yet neuroscientists never stopped examining their potential, even at the risk of their careers. A breakthrough came in the 2010s, when several studies showed that ketamine, a horse tranquilizer and party drug, had jaw-dropping effects for depression. Unlike other antidepressants, which often take months to workif they work at allketamine triggered beneficial effects in some people with just one dose, and within hours.

Initially met with skepticism and considered too good to be true, rigorous studies further showed that in mice, ketamine boosted the birth of new neurons in the brain while tweaking neural networks to be more adaptable. In 2019, a form of ketamine was approved by the FDA as the first truly new antidepressant in decades, hailed as a game changer for depression and a turning point for the return of psychedelics as a potential therapeutic force. It also immediately raised the question: can we make a non-hallucinogenic alternative?

As ketamine began its rebound into psychiatric prominence, other drugsincluding LSD, psilocybin, and MDMAalso started their arduous journeys of reentering medical respectability. Between 2010 and 2020 clinical trials tripled, with several showing dramatic effects. One trial found that seven out of ten people who took psilocybin reduced their symptoms by half. Other clinical trials, mostly conducted in the UK and Canada, are entering late stage.

To overcome regulatory hurdles, however, structural biologists have taken a different route: altering the structure of these chemicals, in turn stripping away their ability to trigger an unwanted trip.

It starts with visualizing where the chemicals impact the brain. The crux is a receptor called 5-HT2AR. The receptor isnt evolved to get us high; rather, its a critical protein dock for serotonina brain chemical or neurotransmitterthats involved in many of our base functions. Mood is one of them, which is why most common antidepressants today target these receptors.

Like the Los Angeles port, 5-HT2AR has multiple docking sites for chemicals, each triggering a different supply chain route. Depending on the docking station, the same cargothe drugchanges how the neuron reacts by recruiting other molecular providers. Depending on those providers, the drug tweaks the neural circuit in diverse ways, altering the brains response to the drug.

In the new study the team hunted down the provider proteins that trigger antidepressant effects. They first doused multiple mouse brains with different drugs, including LSD, magic mushrooms, serotonin, and a non-hallucinogenic therapy for Parkinsons disease. They then crystallized the 5-HT2AR dock and examined how the chemicals interacted with it at the atomic scale with X-ray beams.

Surprisingly, many psychedelics turned out to be shape-shifters. Rather than docking at one spot, they were able to contort and bind to another nearby cavity. Turning to mice, they teased apart how the different docks worked. One dock, for example, led the mice to twitch their heads, a sign of getting high. Another, when tested for depression, alleviated the symptoms.

Guided by the 5-HT2ARs docking map, the team engineered multiple LSD cousins that preferably bind to the anti-depressant dock. Repeating the experiment, they found two chemicals (with the non-catchy names of IHCH-7079 and IHCH-7806) that had antidepressant activity, without the head-twitching normally seen with LSD or psilocybin.

The study is one of many following the recipe towards a new generation of mind-healing rather than mind-bending substances. How they work remain a mystery, which is why intricate scrutiny of 5-HT2AR and other serotonin receptors is the current playbook.

On the front line are Dr. David Olson at the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Bryan Roth at UNC-Chapel Hill. Several years back, Olson synthesized near a dozen chemicals similar to LSD, with a promising result called TBG (tabernanthalog) that also binds to serotonin receptors. In mice, the drug boosted the neuronal infrastructure for learning, and cut down substance-seeking behavior in rodents. Mid-2021, a single dose of the drug was further found to be effective for stress disorders in mice. Delix Therapeutics, a company co-founded by Olson, is rapidly exploring the new drugs for clinical use, with trials potentially starting later this year.

Meanwhile, Roth has worked to decipher the structure of 5-HT2AR when bound to psychedelic compounds. The seminal study, in 2020, gained a first glimpse into how they act. Given the remarkable efficacy of psilocybin for depression (in Phase II trials), we are confident our findings will accelerate the discovery of fast-acting antidepressants and potentially new drugs to treat other conditions, such as severe anxiety and substance use disorder, he said at the time.

For now, the authors preach caution. Similar to previous non-hallucinogenic cousins, their molecules need a high dose to see anti-depressant effects. But the new structural maps add to a growing atlas to help guide non-hallucinogenic drugs forward. This additional structural data will aid efforts to design new antidepressants as well as antipsychotics, said Olson.

Image Credit: GDJ / 10433 images

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Psychedelics Without the Trip Could Be 'Healing Magic' for Mental Health - Singularity Hub

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced at a press conference on Friday that he is aiming to formally file his much-anticipated bill to federally legalize marijuana in April. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who also spoke, discussed progress on his separate legalization bill.

Both top lawmakers detailed their efforts to end prohibition at an event in New York City, which also involved House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), New York lawmakers and advocates with the Drug Policy Alliance and other organizations.

Friday proved to be an especially eventful day for federal cannabis policy, as the House earlier passed a large-scale bill that contains the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. Its the sixth time that reform has cleared the chamber in some form.

In the coming weeks, were ramping up our outreachand we expect to introduce final legislation. Our goal is to do it in April, Schumer said at the New York event. Then we begin the nationwide push, spearheaded by New York, to get the federal law done. As majority leader, I can set priorities. This is a priority for me.

Advocates were encouraged when Schumer first disclosed details about his Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA), which he unveiled in draft form for public comment in July, but theyve grown impatient with his repeated comments in the months since that a formal introduction was coming soon. Now hes set a target timeline, and the leader also separately said in a meeting with activists that he expects committee hearings on the proposal shortly after its finally filed.

Right now, were taking those comments [on the draft version] and reaching out to Democratic and Republican senators, Schumer said, adding that we have some Republican support. Its not clear if hes indicating that there will be GOP cosponsors on the bill itself or if hes referencing general support from voters and some lawmakers across party lines for ending prohibition.

If any senators have other ideas that they want to add to the bill, as long as it keeps social and economic justice as the spearhead, were happy and willing to listen, he said.

Even if committee hearings start quickly following an April introduction, it seems highly unlikely that it will pass and make it to the presidents desk by the unofficial cannabis holiday 4/20, as Schumer said he wanted to see happen in a Senate floor speech delivered last April 20.

Schumer, Nadler, several New York lawmakers also made the case at Fridays event that while New Yorks legalization law, which is actively being implemented, should serve as a model for the country, comprehensive equity will only be achievable once federal prohibition is lifted.

We want to renew the case for comprehensive marijuana reform that repairs the harm of the war on drugs at the federal level, using the great work that has been done here in New York as an example and way to lead, Schumer said, adding that just because we have a state law, the federal law still creates problems, and thats why one of the many reasons we need to change it.

The majority leaders office has been involved in negotiations with advocates and stakeholders, both on his legalization measure as well as the SAFE Banking Act, which he was blamed for blocking as part of a separate defense bill late last year.

The leader and colleagues have insisted on passing comprehensive legalization first before bankingbut the sponsor of the banking bill, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), told Marijuana Moment on Friday that, after initiating conversations with the leaders office, there may be a path forward to advance his legislation through both chambers with equity-focused amendments that Schumer wants to see.

With respect to Schumers legalization bill, the Senate leader emphasized late last year that he wants to keep the big boys out of the marijuana industryin favor of creating opportunities for smaller operators when cannabis is federally legalized, and he said that his upcoming bill would accomplish that.

We dont want the big boys to come in, he said at the time. After all the pain thats been occurring in communities like the one you represent in Brooklyn, where Im fromto have the big boys come in and make all the money makes no sense.

Hes made similar remarks in the past, stressing that his reform bill will take specific steps torestrict the ability of large alcohol and tobacco companiesto overtake the industry.

Nadler, meanwhile, discussed on Friday his Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would also end federal prohibition and promote social equity in the industry like CAOA. That bill passed the House in a historic first last session, and it cleared Nadlers Judiciary Committee again in September.

The war on drugsand particularly the criminalization of marijuanahas been a failure that has unleashed untold suffering on millions of Americans, especially within minority communities, Nadler said. I am proud to stand here with Senator Schumer, and with the many other legislators and advocates with us today, who are leading the way in reforming our laws and bringing justice to those who have been harmed by these unfair and destructive policies.

Also at the event, Velazquez talked about the importance of ending prohibition, as well as opening up Small Business Administration (SBA) resources for marijuana businesses.

Change will not happen, change will not come, unless we demand it, the congresswoman said. And because we have been demanding it, public opinion has changed dramatically. So it is time for government to act, particularly the federal government.

Dan Goldman contributed reporting from New York.

Marijuana Banking Sponsor Says Hes In Amendment Talks With Senate Leader As House Passes Reform For Sixth Time

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.

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Utah Lawmakers Vote To Study Benefits Of Psychedelics In Treating Mental Health Disorders - Marijuana Moment

Welcome to TDRs review of the Top 5 Psychedelic developments for the week of January 31. Aside from presenting a synopsis of events, we provide market commentary to summarize the week that was for publicly-listed companies.

5. Health Canada Denies Healthcare Practitioners Section 56 ExemptionsAfter Granting Them To A Group In 2020

In a move that has stunned patient advocates and healthcare practitioners who have spent months awaiting a response from the federal health agency, Health Canada has denied dozens of requests for Section 56 exemptions to access and use psilocybin for training purposes.

Thread

BREAKING: Health Canada has just notified TheraPsil anddozens of health care professionals seeking psilocybin access and training that their section 56 exemptions are to be denied. (1/ )

Non-profit organizationTherapsilbroke the news on Twitter on Wednesday morning, pointing out that the denied applications will have a much greater impact than on those whose applications were denied, potentially affecting over 1,000 additional healthcare professionals on its training waiting list who had hoped to apply for exemptions.

The decision is particularly confusing because Health Canadahas already provided exemptionsto people who had applied with the same intent.

4. Washington Legislature Hears Proposal to Legalize Psychedelic Mushrooms

Anyone 21 and older in the state of Washington could gain access to psychedelic mushrooms in 2024 if a proposal being heard in the Legislature passes this session.

I do not believe it belongs because its not addictive and generally not dangerous when theres a set and setting.

A Senate bill would direct the Department of Health to create a system allowing for anyone 21 or older to take mushrooms at a state-licensed center under the direct supervision of licensed facilitators. Individuals medically unable to travel to a center may be able to take mushrooms at home.

Prime sponsor Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, said he became interested in mushrooms after the Legislature dealt withthe effects of the Blake v. State drug possession ruling. Psilocybin is grouped with heroin and meth as some of the most dangerous drugs under the federal Controlled Substances Act. But Salomon said mushrooms and their history as a medicinal product are different from heroin and meth.

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Ongoing Phase 2, Phase 3, And Pre-Registration Programs In Psychedelics

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3. Psychedelic Stocks Outperform As Biopharma Stocks Stabilize

The psychedelic sector gained modestly this past week, although volumes were mostly lower across the board. TheHorizon Psychedelic Stock Index ETF(PSYK) rose4.18%, registering just its 3rd gain over the past 12 weeks. The rise is PSYK solidly outperformed its biopharma peers such as the Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology Index(2.68%) andNasdaq Biotechnology Ishares ETF(2.07%). The broad markets remained volatile, but did finish moderately higher despite Thursdays purge in equity markets. TheNASDAQadvanced 1.76% while the S&P 500climbed 1.52%. Heres how the Health Care (biotechnology) sector performed this week.

Not a whole lot of groundbreaking news on the psychedelic research front. From a capital markets perspective, it was nice to see the sector stabilize in the face of whipsawing volatility. We count 8 companies that registered triple-digit weekly gainsup from 4 last week. This was mostly due to sellers retreating after a long and drawn-out period of bear market action. Were looking for bottom-base building to delineate the markets floor before to inspire confidence that the bear impulse has ended. An important tell will be when PSYK ETF breaks its weekly 7EMA on strong volume.

EHVVF +23.75%, LOBE +20%, PWR +15.38%, DMT +13.95%, PULL +11.76%, WUHN +11.07%, OPTI +10.8%, BRAXF +10.68%, MMED +9.2%, BRAX +8.33%, MNMD +7.69%, FTRP +6.4%, MSET +5.19%, BETR +4.76%, ENBI +4.17%, ATAI +3.85%, SPOR +3.08%.

In the news

Awakn Life Sciences became the latest psychedelic company to obtain coverage under theH.C. Wainwrightumbrella. The New York investment bank initiated Awakn with a Buy rating and $10 price target.

Braxia Scientific provided an update on the companys leading research role within the psychedelics industry. Braxias team of researchers also continue to carry out multiple psychedelic-based clinical research trials, adding to its large and growing proprietary dataset critical to informing future drug development.

Colorado activists file competing psychedelics legalization ballot initiative for 2022.

Cybin Inc. reiterated by Oppenheimer with an Outperform rating and US$10 price target.

Elemental Advisorshas announceda new psychedelics ETF will soon be available topsychedelics investors. The ETF will trade under the symbol ofPSYKon theNew York Stock Exchange.

Entheon Biomedical announced the approval by the local Dutch ethics committee of EBRX-101, a comprehensive phase I clinical trial evaluating the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

Field Trip Health plans to release financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2021, after market close on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

A Maine state lawmaker and others who testified at a legislative hearing on Tuesday have said they would like to see psilocybin allowed for people 21 years and older in order to treat people for depression or PTSD.

Mind Cure Health announced the hiring of Dr.Clare Purvis, formerly Headspace Inc.s Vice President of Clinical Product and Content Development, for the companys newly created role of Chief Product Officer to focus on building and expanding the reach of iSTRYM, its digital therapeutics platform

Mindset Pharma has synthesized additional promising candidates from its Family 3 of next generation drug candidates, and will initiate Proof of Concept preclinical studies to further measure the viability of these compounds as daily pro-cognitive take-home medication.

Mydecine Innovations has appointed Dr. Victoria Hale to the companys Board of Directors. Dr. Hale is a pharmaceutical scientist and executive, as well as a global health social entrepreneur. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Mydecine also announced preparation for its FDA pre-Investigational New Drug meeting on February 28th, the company has submitted a pre-IND briefing package to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a clinical study evaluating MYCO-001 in a structured smoking cessation treatment program.

A Seattle doctor specializing in end-of-life care filed a formal petition with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this week challenging the governments Schedule I classification of psilocybin, the main psychoactive component of psychedelic mushrooms.

Small Pharma published its third quarter results for the three and nine months ended November 30, 2021.

Tryp Therapeutics announced a non-brokered private placement to its co-Founder and Executive Director, William J. Garner, M.D. The Placement consists of 11,111,111 million units at a price of $0.18 per unit, with one common share warrant for each unit, to raise gross proceeds of approximately $2.0 million.

2. Report Shows Oregon Drug Decriminalization Has Dramatically Reduced Arrests And Increased Harm Reduction Access One Year After Enactment

According to information shared withFilterby the Drug Policy Alliance, there were 60 percent fewer total drug arrests in state over the 10 months after February 1, 2021, compared with the same period the previous year. That 2020 period saw 9,100 drug arrests in totalmeaning a reduction of almost 5,500 arrests. However, the data do not yet show the extent to which this decline was attributable to Measure 110.

Measure 110 also requires that a portion of cannabis tax revenue be put into a special fund to expand services for people who use drugs. Before the measure passed, Oregonrankednear the bottom of all U.S. states for access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.

Thanks to the measure, the state has already paid out over $31.4 million to providers of services including treatment, harm reduction, peer support, and housing and employment support. Gov. Kate Brown (D) had initially wanted to delay payments until July 2022, but advocates toldFilterthat they successfully fought to get this money paid out early, helping to keep critical services running.

1. Utah Lawmakers Vote To Study Benefits Of Psychedelics In Treating Mental Health Disorders

A Utah House committee approved a bill on Thursday that would create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs and possible regulations for their lawful use.

Utah Lawmakers Vote To Study Benefits Of Psychedelics In Treating Mental Health Disorders: "If this is a tool that can help, we need it in our toolboxbut it needs to be safe, and we need to do it the right way." https://t.co/2vxKGgoct6

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Brady Brammer (R), passed the House Health and Human Services Committee in a 10-1 vote.

The bill would create a Mental Illness Psychotherapy Drug Task Force that would be required to study and make recommendations on drugs that may assist in treating mental illness. The psychotherapy drugs that the panel would consider are defined as controlled substances that are not currently available for legal use and may be able to treat, manage, or alleviate symptoms from mental illness.

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TDR's Top 5 Psychedelic Developments For The Week Of January 31 - The Dales Report