Category Archives: Psychedelics

In Southampton, soccer moms drop their kids off at school after taking their thrice-weekly microdose of psilocybin mushrooms, then meet for oat milk lattes. In Sun Valley, private retreats dedicated to tripping on MDMA or the Amazonian elixir ayahuasca are becoming almost as common as backyard barbecues. (Just dont bring the kids.) In Silicon Valley, tech entrepreneurs and financiers turned psychonauts believe that taking small doses of LSD, in either liquid or tab form, helps with creativity and productivity in the workforce. Even rightwing internet investor Peter Thiel has put a formidable stake in Compass Pathways, a publicly traded psychedelic medicine company.

But now theres a weirder, wilder new drug appearing on the menu for moneyed types in search of mind expansion: the Toad, otherwise known as 5-MeO-DMT (or, if you really want to know its correct name, 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine), or DMT, or Bufo. In his landmark 2018 memoir, How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan referred to it as the Everest of psychedelics.

Bufo is one of the most potent psychotropic drugs ever discovered.

Tamer El-Shakhs, an owner of the chic Malibu dispensary 99 High Tide and a sommelier, if you will, of all things hallucinogenic, told me that just as Everest is a mountain you would climb only a few times in your life, Bufo is a drug you would not want to take more than a few times. It is so intense, and the experience so total and so life-changing, that I dont think you would want to do itor need to do itmore than a couple of times, he says. Yet none of that has stopped a number of celebrities from openly talking about their experiences, from Mike Tyson to Chelsea Handler to reality TV star Christina Haack, who wrote about her Bufo experience in an Instagram post last July. I had taken time off social, hired a spiritual coach, and smoked a Bufo toad (which basically reset my brain and kicked out years of anxiety in 15 mins), she wrote. Hunter Biden has described it as a salve in helping him kick drug addiction.

What exactly are these people smoking? Bufo is the venom of the Sonoran desert toad, Bufo alvarius, which contains the molecule 5-MeO-DMT, one of the most potent psychotropic drugs ever discovered. Until recently it was so obscure the U.S. government did not list it as a controlled substance until 2011. For nine months of the year the Sonoran desert toad lives under the sands of the Mexican desert to survive the scorching heat, but when the winter rains arrive, it emerges for a Caligula-like orgy of eating and fornicating. Glands on the sides of its neck and legs emit a venom so toxic it can cause death in a predator within seconds. Bufo hunters catch the toads at night using flashlightsthe toads freeze when confronted by a bright lightthen milk the venom from the toads parotid glands, typically holding a mirror up to catch the spray. Overnight, the milky venom dries on the glass, turning into flaky crystals, leaving behind only the 5-MeO-DMT and none of the lethal toxin. (The toads are allegedly unharmed.)

Brad Wilson, DVMGetty Images

The crystals (typically a dose is 50 mg) are smoked in a glass pipe; participants are asked to inhale slowly for eight seconds and hold in the vapor for at least several seconds more. And then they enter a consciousness rocket ship ride. The effects are immediate and intense.

Most people who try Bufo describe a feeling of oceanic boundlessness, of oneness with the universe. They describe a high level of ego dissolution. Some describe a fusion with God, a visceral connection with the divine source of all life, and a sense of connection with all beings. From my one experience taking ecstasy, or MDMA, that all sounds par for the course for hallucinogenic drugs. (The next day I remember thinking, I felt one with the universe with that person? Sheesh.)

Some describe a fusion with God, a visceral connection with the divine source of all life.

With Bufo, however, most users experience such a dissolution of the self and ego that they feel they are dead, or dying, that they exist in a blank space, and they slowly reemerge, to be born again, flushed of all their perceived flaws and addictions and no longer able to feel pain from past trauma. In Pollans book he says, I felt an inexplicable urge to lift my knees, and as soon as I raised them, I felt something squeeze out from between my legs, but easily and without struggle or pain.

On a Joe Rogan podcast in 2019, Mike Tyson spoke about how Bufo had completely changed his life. Its almost like dying and being reborn Its almost like youre dying, youre submissive, youre humble, youre vulnerablebut youre invincible still in all. And in late 2021 Tyson told the New York Post that in my trips, Ive seen that death is beautiful.

Hunter Biden has described it as a salve in helping him kick drug addiction.

This might, in part, explain Bufos surprising ascent to trip du jour among a certain social set. For those who trade in power, it might be the one thing that can help them see past their own egos, if only temporarily. Maybe it feels especially good for those who are expected to meet high standards of success and image, allowing them to let go of some of the demand for effortless, excessive perfection. Also, its expensive, rare, hot fodder for dinner party conversationsand its also less of a commitment than some other trendy trips. Unlike an ayahuasca ceremony, during which you might spend hours hallucinating and vomiting and days recovering, the Bufo trip is intense but fast. Typically, participants in a Bufo ceremony are clearheaded within an hour. Many of the companies that lead tours outside the United States for the Bufo ceremony, such as Behold Retreats, limit groups to five people, with three facilitators.

For those who trade in power, it might be the one thing that can help them see past their own egos.

Bufo is of course just part of a larger psychedelic wave washing over the United States. Microdosing psilocybin is being promoted as a method for healing trauma and treating depression and addiction, and theres a recognition that Silicon Valley is placing big financial bets on psychedelic drugs, which lends the movement credibility. Whereas psychedelics were once the symbol of a radical generational counterculture led by Timothy Leary and Jim Morrison, these drugs (LSD, psilocybin, ibogaine, MDMA) are now practically a mainstay among the class of people who 40 years ago would have clutched their pearls and invoked Nancy Reagan, Richard Nixon, and Carrie Nation. Today Americas intelligentsia is in the grip of a hallucinogenic fever dream, where its normal to walk into a house in the Hamptons or Malibu and have the hostess, pearls swinging around her neck (perhaps the same ones her mother was wearing 40 years ago) offer you something that half a decade ago you never would have thought of ingesting. After all, recreational marijuana is legal in 18 states plus the District of Columbia.

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The shift came in 2018, when Pollan published How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Here was a guy I had met a few times in the New York Times newsroom (I was a reporter there); he would occasionally come in to see the food editors, a shambling, middle-aged intellectual white guy from Long Island who had taught at Harvard and Berkeley, who wrote mostly about food and the value of vegetarianism. And now, instead of admonishing us to eat food, not too much, mostly plants, he had written a book and he was preaching a new gospel: Try psychedelic drugs. I did. And now I think maybe we all should.

In Los Angeles on a sunny December weekend, El-Shakhs, the marijuana entrepreneur, told me that dozens, if not hundreds, of ceremonies featuring ayahuasca, psilocybin, ibogaine, MDMA, and Bufo take place in Southern California every weekend. He introduced me to a friend of his, a hallucinogenic facilitator (who asked not to be named, since use of Bufo is illegal in the U.S.); she told me that she will conduct Bufo ceremonies for people coming out of trauma. Another facilitator told me she prefers a synthetic, lab-made version of Bufo, mostly because its vegan. (Remember, this was in L.A., where kosher LSD is also a thing. Id really like to find the rabbi who blesses the LSD.)

Today Americas intelligentsia is in the grip of a hallucinogenic fever dream.

Dr. Lea Lis, a New York psychiatrist, told me psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine are now available in more medicinal, controllable formats, and that is the appeal. Were not seeing the 1960s paradigm, with people overdosing on acid. The old trope was a hippie freaked out on too much acid who jumped off a roof. Now were seeing clinical studies and careful doses, and that gives people a sense of greater safety. (Coincidentally, we spoke on the phone while she was at a convention for MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness and acceptance of the use of psychedelics and marijuana in place of or along with more traditional psychotherapeutic treatments.)

A healer in California who has worked with what he describes as American royalty, and some of whose clients I know personally, told me Bufo is perhaps the most ideal form of hallucinogen. Ayahuasca, thats like McDonalds or Burger King by now, he says, adding that the original shamans from Peru have been overtaken by North American Instagram healers and former reality TV stars. You know, some guy with a white feather and 15,000 followers.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

Penguin Pressamazon.com

In 2019, Johns Hopkins scientists published a paper titled Fast-Acting Psychedelic Associated with Improvements in Depression/Anxiety, in which they described a lessening of anxiety and depression when Bufo was given in a ceremonial group setting. Approximately 80 percent of the participants reported improvements in anxiety and depression after a Bufo session. These improvements were related to more intense acute mystical effects during the 5-MeO-DMT experience, as well as increases in rating of the personal meaning and spiritual significance of the experience. Improvements were also related to stronger beliefs that the experience contributed to enduring well-being and life satisfaction.

I spoke to a close friend about her experience with Bufo. Because she comes from a well-known and wealthy family, she spoke on condition of anonymity. She had severe childhood trauma beyond what most of us experience and has spent several years dealing with personal health issues. I finally decided talk therapy wasnt enough, she told me. She invited a facilitator to New York, and for a week he prepared her for the ceremony by having her take a mild hallucinogen twice before her DMT trip and learn breathing techniques to keep herself calm during the experience. And by setting her intentions.

He spent a lot of time with me before I did it, she said. He connected with me and grounded me, and I felt like he prepared me well for the experience. This is not something you would want to do with someone who is unfamiliar with the drug.

" It was like doing 30 years of therapy in two weeks."

Within seconds of inhaling the Bufo, all of a sudden I was seeing prisms and geometric shapes, and I felt like I was passing out, but not in a bad way. I started to drift into something; a different world was opening up.

Often, if users have experienced past trauma, they may start crying and screaming. I suddenly felt this massive amount of rage come out of me, she said, and I came out punching and I wanted to attack him and punch him, and he said go ahead, let it out. She did punch him. For a couple of weeks afterward, the ocean shimmered a little more brightly and the plants and flowers in her garden seemed to bloom more beautifully. What it did was essentially open up a huge emotional vortex in me that allowed all of this rage and sorrow to pass through my body and out of my life forever. It was like doing 30 years of therapy in two weeks.

She kept going to see the psychiatrist who had been treating her for depression for a year and a half after the experience. He said, Wow, youre doing amazingly. You do not have depression. It was a huge energetic shift.

To be clear, this is not a party drug, as the hallucinogenic facilitator in Los Angeles told me. This is an experience that requires preparation and trust and intention. But you dont always know what the Bufo will bring out in you. You dont want to write a script before you get to the play. Without proper preparation, things can go terribly wrong, as they did in 2020, when a Spanish porno actor was charged with the murder of a fashion photographer during an ill-conceived Bufo ceremony. Even Pollan writes in his book that his own experience was just horrible.

When I spoke with an intake specialist for Behold Retreats, a company that organizes various hallucinogenic retreats around the world, he asked me a number of questions about my health, especially my mental and cardiac health. (Because, frankly, I am now curious about trying Bufo. Ive had my share of trauma over the past few years, and to have them sandblasted out of my system, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindstyle, seems irresistible.)

This is not a drug youd use at a house party, like, Hey, let me lose my ego here! one facilitator said. This is more about assuming you can ride a roller coaster and not die of fear but give in to the freedom. Then get off safely.

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Why Is Everyone Smoking Toad Venom? - What To Know About the Hallucinogenic Toad, DMT, Bufo - TownandCountrymag.com

Numinus Wellness has released its latest quarterly results for the three-month period ending on November 30 of 21. The financials within the report are in Canadian dollars as the company is based in Canada and trades on the TSX under the symbol of NUMI. Numinus Wellness is also available to psychedelics investors in the United States through the over-the-counter (OTC) market under the symbol of NUMIF.

Numinus Wellness ended the latest financial quarter with just under $54 million in cash. The companys revenues spiked 245% on a year over year basis, hitting $0.8 million for the period. Numinus earned a gross profit of just under $50,100 during the financial quarter, equating to a 6.5% gross margin. These financial figures indicate Numinus has strategically positioned itself to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to those in need throughout Canada via the countrys recently expanded Special Access Program.

Numinus revenue soared an incredible 244.5% on a year over year basis, hitting $0.8 million in the initial quarter of 21, largely as a result of the acquisition of fellow psychedelics specialist Mindspace. The companys sequential revenue jumped nearly 61% in this period of time compared to the fourth quarter of 21. It is also interesting to note Numinus growth profit was $38,135 in the first quarter of 21 and $50,965 in the initial quarter of 22.

The companys growth margin was 6.5% for the initial quarter as compared to -16.6% in the initial quarter of 21. The company lost $1.9 million in the first quarter of 21 and $5.4 million in the initial quarter of 22.

Numinus Q1 22 revenue of $141,702 represents a 27.7% decrease from Q1 of 21 and a 56.4% increase from Q4 of 21. These mixed results are primarily the result of the company putting a halt to its cannabis-related business operations in 21, choosing to redirect efforts toward bolstering its psychedelic treatment modalities. Indeed, Numinus succeeded in creating proprietary psychedelic drug tests with new potency scans and toxicity scans in the winter of 21. Such analytical tests will hasten the companys research and development, setting the stage for the generation of that many more revenue streams via product testing.

Numinus submitted a clinical trial application to Health Canada to start the initial study of its proprietary psilocybe extract. The MDMA therapy trial sponsored by MAPS is likely to help patients struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. The company recently received approval from the Institutional Review Board and Health Canada for the study.

Payton Nyquvest, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Numinus has stated the company has made significant progress in every aspect of its business in the prior financial quarter. He pointed to exciting opportunities for expansion that loom on the horizon. Nyquvest also highlighted the companys partnership with its clinical and lab teams serving as a catalyst that propelled Numinus past its milestones pertaining to two important clinical trials. One of those trials pertains to the MDMA therapy study sponsored by MAPS. The other trial is centered on the use of a proprietary psilocybe treatment modality.

The announcement of the quarterly results also provided Nyquvest with the opportunity to expound on discoveries made within Numinus Bioscience lab. The company recently commenced genetic testing on multiple recently acquired psychedelic mushrooms. These mushrooms are distinct from the others used by the Numinus as they are new species.

Nyquvest also took the opportunity to state Health Canadas amendments to the Special Access Programme reinforce the growth prospects and importance of the companys wellness clinic network. The hope is the network will continue to expand to provide individuals in need with psychedelic treatment modalities. The companys acquisition of the Health Canada distribution license empowers it to produce, possess, import and distribute a litany of psychedelic compounds.

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Breaking Down Numinus Wellness Quarterly Results - The Dales Report

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A new study has found that the leaders of Wari may havelaced their beerwith hallucinogens to keep their political control for centuries. The drugs are said to have been extracted from plant seeds. The Wari are a South American civilization that ruled the highlands of what is now known as Peru, before the Incas. The culture occupied the highlands between 600 AD and 1000 AD.

Archaeological excavations that were conducted between 2013 and 2017 at the Quilcapampa site in the south of Peru have discovered that the tribe used seeds derived from the vilca tree then

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NOTE TO INVESTORS:The latest news and updates relating to Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (NEO: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) are available in the companys newsroom athttps://ibn.fm/MYCOF

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Ancient Latin American Empire Could Have Thrived Thanks to Psychedelic-Infused Beer - StreetInsider.com

I study psychedelics. The organization I work for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been researching MDMA since 1992, seven years after the substance was prohibited. Our organization was founded in 1985.

One of a few treatments designated a breakthrough therapy by the FDA, MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder is an incredibly promising treatment for this devastating mental injury. Survivors of PTSD may struggle to stay connected in their work, families, and communities. They often live with symptoms like insomnia, hyper-vigilance and isolation; these commonly lead to substance use disorder, depression, chronic pain or heart problems. Yet most of the available treatments provide symptom relief for only about half of the people with the diagnosis, with even fewer people experiencing remission.

In May 2021, Nature Medicine published the results of the most advanced trial of psychedelic therapy to date. In our Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, 88% of participants who received MDMA in conjunction with trauma-focused therapy experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms; 67% of participants no longer met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Many participants reported MDMA-assisted therapy helped them address the root cause of their trauma for the first time.

An exploratory study suggests a role for MDMA in couples therapy. MAPS has combined its MDMA-assisted therapy protocol with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD, in which both the person with PTSD and their partner are administered MDMA. Results demonstrated dramatic reductions in PTSD symptoms and partner accommodation, improving the quality of relationships for six couples.

Ketamine studies have shown promise for chronic suicidal tendencies, PTSD symptoms and depression. Legal ketamine clinics which pair therapy with the drug can play a key role in maximizing the benefits and reducing the risks of the psychedelic experience. Psilocybin-assisted therapy is a breakthrough therapy for depression. Ibogaine may be an effective treatment for opioid use disorder.

In fact, four separate systematic reviews have been published this year highlighting the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies for those conditions and more: end of life care, brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, mood disorders, smoking cessation and addiction or dependence. Dozens of studies make a compelling case for rapid expansion of research into psychedelic-assisted therapies for serious mental health conditions.

Evidence indicates that psychedelic use is associated with pro-social, personal growth benefits including increased nature relatedness, potentiating conflict resolution and sustaining compassion among first responders. Indigenous communities around the globe have used psychedelics in spiritual ceremony and healing for millennia.

Conversely, the well-documented devastation of the war on drugs has been responsible for untold trauma. But is the legalization and regulation of all substances reversing the course on the war on drugs too dangerous? Simply: No. Its more dangerous not to.

Decades of research and far more extensive use outside clinical settings demonstrate that the risks of drugs, for most people, are generally short-term and manageable through compassionate risk-reduction measures. For those who become dependent on drugs, treatment-on-demand is a more effective intervention than criminalization. In lieu of a legal, safe supply of substances, drug checking can identify adulterants like fentanyl. Peer support is so successful in transforming emotionally challenging experiences that Denvers first responders and police officers will soon be trained in the method as an alternative to criminalization or sedation.

Last year, Oregon became the first US state to decriminalize the possession of most drugs and to create a legal system for supervised psilocybin experiences. California, Vermont and Hawaii are actively considering new legal frameworks for psychedelics; Texas is directing state funding to research. In the face of an epidemic of veteran suicide, the US veterans administration is hosting small psychedelic-assisted therapy trials. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle support federal funding. Lawmakers, regulators, funders, insurance providers and therapists who take a clear-eyed look at the research may be surprised to find their fears dissolving.

MAPS recognizes that the people who are most marginalized by society are often those who are most traumatized, have least access to a diagnosis and even less access to adequate treatment. MAPS is working with researchers around the world to facilitate studies of psychedelic-assisted therapy with refugees, transgender communities, first responders exhausted by Covid, people of color subjected to racial trauma and more. We envision a day when psychedelics will be more than a last-ditch treatment: they will be a catalyst for mass mental health.

Continued here:

Psychedelics can change humanity for the better. Its time ...

We compared people who microdose that is, who take a psychedelic substance such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or magic mushrooms (psilocybin) in very small quantities with those who dont, and found that microdosers had healthier scores on key mental health and well-being measures.

Specifically, we found that microdosers scored higher on measures of wisdom, open-mindedness and creativity.

Microdosers also scored lower on measures of dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality, which is very promising.

Subtle changes, not hallucinations

Psychedelics microdosing can mean taking five to 20 micrograms of LSD, 0.1 0.3 grams of dried psilocybin-containing mushrooms or very low doses of more exotic substances, like 1P-LSD, ALD-52 or 4-AcO-DMT.

No matter the substance, microdosing implies a dose so low that the individual experiences only subtle changes, not hallucinations. People are not tripping on a microdose; they just go about their regular day, whether that means studying at school, going to work or taking care of the kids at home.

At the time of publishing this story, in 2018, there had been no published science on whether microdosing works, but despite this, microdosing for self-enhancement and mental health has hit the media.

For example, a 2016 article in Wired magazine described young professionals in San Francisco and Silicon Valley microdosing to enhance their creativity and focus, and to gain a competitive advantage.

Ayelet Waldman attributed her increased well-being to microdosing in A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage and My Life. Michael Pollans How to Change Your Mind has further attracted mainstream attention to psychedelics.

Higher wisdom and creativity

As of November 2018, no experimental study had evaluated psychedelic microdosing, and neither did we.

Randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to talk definitively about the effects of microdosing. In the meantime, we investigated the experiences of people who already microdose.

Our survey investigated the relationship between microdosing psychedelics and mental health. We recruited participants online, especially from Reddits microdosing community.

We asked our study participants about their microdosing patterns by having them fill in some questionnaires. As firm believers in Open Science, we have openly shared all our materials and you can find them here. Our findings are soon to be published in Psychopharmacology and you can access the preprint here.

We found that microdosers scored higher on wisdom, but wisdom is a tricky thing to define. In this context, wisdom implies considering multiple perspectives, learning from mistakes, being in tune with emotions and people and feeling a sense of connection. Using this definition, microdosers were more wise.

They were also more creative and open. If wisdom is tricky, creativity is even more so. In this case, creativity meant finding unusual uses for regular household objects: A brick and a knife. Microdosers came up with more useful, unusual and unique uses for these objects. This is a well-validated measure of divergent thinking, though certainly not the be-all and end-all of creativity.

Microdosers also scored lower on measures of dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality. What does that mean?

Well, dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality (aka neuroticism) are bad. Dysfunctional attitudes are beliefs such as, my value as a person depends greatly on what others think of me or if I ask a question, it makes me look inferior. Neither of these are true, and they are unhealthy to believe as they imply vulnerability to stress and depression.

Microdosers endorsed less of these unhealthy beliefs. Likewise, high negative emotionality means a higher likelihood of having a mental health disorder, and microdosers had lower negative emotionality.

An exciting future for clinical science

Our results are promising. As promising as they seem, we dont know whether microdosing actually caused any of these differences.

Maybe people with better mental health were more likely to experiment with microdosing, or perhaps there is some unknown cause that made people both more likely to microdose and to be creative.

At this point, we simply dont know what caused the differences between the groups just that these differences existed. We need to run controlled lab studies to actually find out.

Our preliminary work also shows that people report downsides to microdosing. For example, some people found microdosing increased anxiety and mood-instability; increased aches, pains and gastrointestinal distress were also relatively common.

The most common drawback was that microdosing is illegal. Did we forget to mention that? Yes, psychedelics are totally illegal!

LSD and psilocybin were made illegal in the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and remain so today. The exact laws differ depending on where you live, and using analogue substances can sometimes be a legal grey area but, for the most part, microdosing makes you a criminal.

What we need now are controlled lab experiments randomized placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic microdosing to test safety and efficacy. Microdosing research, alongside full-dose psychedelics, promises an exciting future for clinical science and the study of human flourishing. DM/ML

This story was first published in The Conversation in November 2018.

Thomas Anderson is a PhD student at the University of Toronto. Rotem Petranker is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at York University, Canada.

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'Microdosers' of LSD and magic mushrooms are wiser... - Daily Maverick

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Core One Labs Inc. (CSE: COOL ), (OTC: CLABF ), (Frankfurt: LD6 , WKN: A3CSSU ) ( Core One or the Company ) is pleased to announce that it has progressed its work on biosynthesizing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and has been approved by Health Canada to add N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) to the schedule of approved controlled substances under the existing licence granted by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act ( CDSA ) Dealers Licence (the Licence ) which allows its wholly owned subsidiary Vocan Biotechnologies Inc. (Vocan) to research and produce biosynthetic psilocybin.

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Furnished with its renewed licence in the second half of 2021, and having now received approval to add DMT to its licence coverage, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary Vocan Biotechnologies Inc. under its operating labs licence, has furthered its engineering and design optimization efforts for the proprietary manufacturing of API-grade DMT. The Companys team of scientists at Vocan have been working diligently to expand a psychedelics production pipeline to include DMT. Initial indications of design and engineering suggest that using the same recombinant enzyme fermentation platform utilized to produce API-grade psilocybin, Vocan scientists will be able to replicate its biosynthesized psilocibin successes and announce ability to produce stereochemically sound biosynthesized DMT at scale.

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The Company is confident that replication of historical research and development processes performed for its successful biosynthesis of psilocibin will allow for a more rapid turn around of its second biosynthesized psychedelic compound, DMT. Following similar processes of engineering and design may also increase probability of the Companys filing of a patent for this second proprietary compound in the near term.

Based on the significant progress we have made on biosynthesizing psilocybin, DMT is the next compound we are working to biosynthesize. As we expect completion of the process for psilocybin in the upcoming days, we believe that we can fast track the process for DMT, as it uses the same steps to biosynthesize the compounds. Our team of leading scientists have done an amazing job in getting us to this stage and we are excited about the results we are seeing, stated Joel Shacker CEO of the Company.

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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.

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CORE ONE LABS INC. Joel Shacker Chief Executive Officer FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Email: info@core1labs.com Telephone: 1-866-347-5058

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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.

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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 Now Also Working to Biosynthesize DMT and Receives License - Financial Post

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 6, 2022 / NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE:NEON)(OTCQB:NMDBF)(FRA:6UF) ("NeonMind'' or the "Company"), an integrated drug development and wellness company, announced today that Robert Tessarolo, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in the H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect Conference, being held virtually on January 10-13, 2022.

H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect Conference Details:

Date: January 10-13, 2022Registration:HCW Events

The Company's presentation will be available on-demand at the start of the conference beginning on January 10, 2022 at 7:00 a.m. ET.

For more information about the conference, please contact KCSA Strategic Communications at NeonMind@kcsa.com or an H.C. Wainwright representative directly.

About NeonMind Biosciences Inc.

NeonMind operates two divisions: (i) a pharmaceutical division engaged in drug development of psychedelic compounds with two lead psilocybin-based drug candidates targeting obesity; and (ii) a medical services division focused on launching specialty mental health clinics that integrate psychedelic therapeutics into traditional psychotherapy settings.

In its pharmaceutical division, NeonMind has two distinct psilocybin drug development programs targeting obesity. NeonMind's lead candidate, NEO-001, employs psilocybin as an agonist at the serotonin 5- HT2A receptor, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The Company's second drug candidate, NEO-002, employs low-dose psilocybin as an agonist at the 5-HT2C receptor, which controls appetite.

NeonMind and its strategic partners are building NeonMind-branded specialty mental health clinics in Canada that incorporate evidence-backed innovative interventional psychiatry treatments to address a variety of mental health needs. For more information on NeonMind, go to http://www.NeonMindBiosciences.com.

Rob Tessarolo, President & Chief Executive Officer, NeonMind Biosciences Inc.rob@neonmind.com Tel: 416-750-3101

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Investor Relations:KCSA Strategic Communications Scott Eckstein/Tim Reganneonmind@kcsa.comTel: 212-896-1210

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or NeonMind's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected","estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on NeonMind's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, NeonMind's drug development plans, its ability to retain key personnel, and its expectation as to the development of its intellectual property and other steps in its preclinical and clinical drug development constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. NeonMind disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: NeonMind Biosciences Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/681173/NeonMind-to-Present-at-HC-Wainwright-Bioconnect-Conference

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NeonMind to Present at H.C. Wainwright Bioconnect Conference - Yahoo Finance

The new Hulu series Dopesick is a dramatic reminder of the devastation that has been wrought by the opioid epidemic. Like the book on which it was based, and like other journalism about the Oxycontin crisis, the show makes it clear that members of the Sackler family, Purdue, unscrupulous doctors, and the FDA all played a part in causing the rampant overprescription of Oxycontin. Suddenly every kind of pain not only physical but also psychological and social seemed to have a single answer: Oxycontin. Opioids are one of the oldest drugs in the human pharmacopeia, but Oxycontins new patents made every person in pain a source of easy money for Purdue. This led to a wave of addiction and overdose. When regulators cracked down on legal pills, many people turned to the illicit drug market, putting them in even greater danger.

Yet even as America reckons with the aftermath of the Oxycontin disaster, its embracing a new class of supposed wonder drugs. Like opioids, these new drugs are long-time favorites: psychedelics. Ironically, one of their supposedly miraculous qualities is their power in treating substance use disorders. The FDA whose lax oversight and close ties to corporate lobbyists played such a crucial role in the Oxycontin debacle has placed MDMA and psilocybin on expedited approval tracks for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is in advanced trials, and could receive FDA approval as soon as 2023.

Researchers and recently formed companies, many of them backed by venture capital, are tripping over each other to study and patent the use of psychedelics not only for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, but also for Alzheimers, headaches, fibromyalgia, cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, and more. This long list might be the result of laudable scientific curiosity but it could also be an attempt to find the largest possible number of applications for a potentially profitable drug. Researchers are also exploring ways of administering psychedelics through patentable tamper-resistant patches like those that were used for fentanyl.

Opioids are vilified and increasingly hard to obtain legally even for acute and end-of-life pain, when they are enormously valuable while psychedelics are in vogue with venture capitalists, medical researchers, and psychonauts alike. No longer confined to the counterculture, psychedelics are celebrated as a panacea for the afflictions of modern life: depression, anxiety, distraction, apathy, loneliness, loss of purpose, insufficient productivity in the workplace. Michael Pollan, author of How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, is only the most famous of the many journalists and writers who have celebrated the beneficial effects of psychedelics.

These new alleged cure-alls are simultaneously being ensconced in the world of medicine and in the booming wellness industry. The New York Times recently ran a wellness story quoting a PR firm with the straightforward moniker Ketamine Media. The piece included photos of the ketamine lozenges, journal, and eye mask included in kits that can now be ordered online albeit at a rather high price. There is a newsletter (Psilocybin Alpha) and a Reddit community (Shroom Stocks: Lets Ride the Mush Rush!) aimed at investors in the burgeoning psychedelic industry.

Some of the organizations researching and advocating for the therapeutic use of psychedelics are nonprofits, and a number of these signed on to a recent statement promising to take an open science approach that does not involve patents. But other psychedelic-assisted therapy companies are traded on Nasdaq, eager to lock in profits through the use of intellectual property law. They are developing proprietary formulations and synthetic versions of plant medicines that have been used for centuries. Once treated as a mysterious gift of nature, psilocybin is being commodified, transformed into private property.

Not content with commodifying the drugs themselves, some in the growing psychedelic industry are even trying to profit from simple techniques familiar to anyone who has ever been a trip sitter. In 2020, Compass Pathways, which receives financing from Peter Thiel, applied for a patent for methods like providing psilocybin-assisted therapy in a room with soft furniture, muted colors, and a high-resolution sound system while a therapist provides reassuring physical contact and holds the hand, arm, or shoulder.

The Oxycontin story showed that the profit motive in medicine brings many dangers: overprescription, a loss of freedom of choice for patients, extortionate prices, the aggressive suppression of those who use or provide a drug outside of corporate pathways. We need to be wary of repeating the same mistakes with psychedelics. Dopesick shows how profit-driven companies can expand or simply invent diagnoses, creating huge new demand for the product they want to sell. A familiar drug whether opioid or psychedelic can be tweaked, granted a new patent, and bring enormous profits for the seller, at great cost to patients.

One of the authors of this article has performed more than 500 ceremonies with the psychedelic ibogaine, helping individuals safely and effectively detox from heroin. He has also performed hundreds of individual psylocibin ceremonies outside the country, and counseled thousands of people following self-administered trips, mostly in coordination with psychotherapists, following a professional pattern not unlike the typical coordination between psychiatrists and psychotherapists.

We know from our extensive professional and personal experience that psychedelics can be enormously useful in many situations. They can provide relief, transformation, insight, and profound moments of awakening. But their value is embedded in cultural practices and social relationships. They have unpredictable results and should never be forced on anyone. Court-ordered drug treatment with psilocybin, for example, would be a recipe for a very, very bad trip that could cause enduring psychological harm. Above all, psychedelics cant solve the problems of a society in which so many people have been harmed by violence and inequality.

Despite the public pillorying of Purdue and the Sacklers, America is still plagued by the untrammeled greed of the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare lobby, by out-of-control drug prices and a deeply unjust medical system that often relies on coercion and control. Treating psychedelics as new wonder drugs risks yet another pharmaceutical disaster. We have to step back and question the foundations and assumptions of our approach to medicine. Otherwise, we risk making the same mistakes we saw with Oxycontin.

Ross Ellenhorn is a sociologist and psychotherapist and the founder and CEO of Ellenhorn. Dimitri Mugianis is a harm reductionist, activist, musician, poet, writer, and anarchist, with over two decades of experience as a psychedelic practitioner. Ellenhorn and Mugianis are the founders of Cardea

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Magic mushroom companies are on the Nasdaq now. Thats a recipe for a bad trip - The Guardian

Stephen Anderson is a Vietnam veteran. Seventy years old, he volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1970. When he came back, Anderson says, he felt he needed to protect himself from the world. That involved considerable self-medication.

Until last September, when Anderson tried his first hallucinogenic mushrooms.

"It was in Maui," Anderson said. "I went to their home and they put a lot of candles and things and music and they gave me some psilocybin. They stayed right next to my side the entire time."

"A lot of my emotions were washed with this," Anderson continued. "And my brain and heart were connected again. I kept saying the word, 'Oh I remember, I remember, I remember so much!'"

Anderson says he was connected to healing emotions he felt before Vietnam.

The purpose of the drug is to cause an altered mental state, according to Dr. Thomas Cook. Cook is a psychiatrist, practicing in Honolulu for the last six years. He treats patients for anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, chronic depression, PTSD, and other issues.

In his practice, Dr. Cook finds that psychedelics benefit his patients, at a time when so many are under added stress and anxiety.

"You don't want the patient on the same drug every day," said Cook. "When you're on an anti-depressant every day, you are numbed and you become less discriminatory and less perceptive about mood changes."

Cook says normally happy people notice when they're depressed, and do something about it.

"But depressed people lose that ability and people on the same anti-depressant every day dont have much mood variation either," Cook said.

"We have a lot of people today stuck in their minds in repetitive hamster-wheel-type negative thinking. With a psychedelic that's taken sporadically or occasionally, you have a better ability to discriminate, make changes, and adapt."

Dr. Thomas Cook - Sept. 24, 2021

The Aloha Friday Conversation

Even before the pandemic, the United Nations said depression and anxiety cost the global economy more than a trillion dollars a year.

Last year, the World Health Organization issued a new warning that many people who coped well previously, may now be more at risk due to pandemic stressors.

Increasingly, psychedelics are entering the mental health conversation.

Since 2020, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported on the benefits of treating depression with psilocybin. Here's a Scientific American article on that. Benefits that extend to treating even long-term PTSD and sexual trauma.

Ashley Lukens is co-founder of the Clarity Project. Their goal is to expand legal psychedelic therapies in Hawaii.

For Lukens, it all started in 2017 when she discovered she had brain cancer.

"In this book, Radical Remission, they said one of the key factors to healing from cancer is purging negative emotions and negative stories," she said. "For me, releasing myself from my loneliness and pain that I experienced as a child, I feel has significantly contributed to my amazing physical health outcomes as a cancer patient."

Lukens had brain surgery, which left a residual tumor. She went through a diet and lifestyle reboot as well as a psychedelic experience, after which the spot was gone. Lukens then went through chemotherapy and radiation.

She has had four psychedelic sessions since. Her scans continue to be clear.

"So to be an adult and actually regain some level of efficacy in determining your thought patterns and your personality is pretty powerful," Lukens said. "I would argue, there are a lot of people that do not attain the clarity that psychedelics provide you through mediation and through psychoanalysis because there is a firmly entrenched mental block. Psychedelics have shown, time and time again, to help you overcome that barrier."

Ashley Lukens - Sept. 24, 2021

The Aloha Friday Conversation

In November 2021, The New York Times reported on U.S. veterans lobbying for psychedelic therapy options.

"That's something that really excites me about the work we're doing with veterans," Lukens said. "Our veteran community is in crisis. More veterans die of suicide than soldiers die in combat. The VA has just signed on to participate in clinical trials because they recognize the solutions on the table arent working."

It's not that psychedelics are the easy way out.

"He cried for almost six hours," said Chris Anderson, Vietnam veteran Steve Anderson's wife. "So it was intense, but when he came back, I did see him very different."

Chris Anderson says her husband just seems more engaged in everyday life after his psilocybin experience, which he calls a celebration.

"Once I got over the great rush of the celebration," Steve Anderson said. "I can just tinker with it, like having a cup of tea. Instead of taking anti-depressants, I take micro-dose."

Steve says tiny doses of psilocybin, a mix of a few mushrooms, keep him on track now.

Stephen Anderson - Sept. 24, 2021

The Aloha Friday Conversation

In the 2022 legislative session, State Senator Stanley Chang plans to re-introduce a bill to decriminalize psilocybin and study therapies. In the past, Senators Laura Acasio, Les Ihara, Maile Shimabukuro and Chris Lee have been among those supporting the effort.

Some local psychiatrists, including Dr. Cook, work with ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with some hallucinogenic effects.

In Hawaii, ayahuasca ceremonies have long been a part of the "retreat" scene, especially on Maui and Hawaii Island.

Hallucinogenic experiences are triggered by brewing a vine with leaves from a bush, both of which grow in the islands. The New Yorker has called ayahuasca the "Drug of Choice for the Age of Kale."

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Psilocybin therapy options could expand in Hawaii | Hawai'i Public Radio - Hawaiipublicradio

From psychedelics to 'The Great Resignation' - wellness trends for 2022

There comes a time when all of us, even those who swore wed never let the novelty of new trends bite us, as we attempt to rather beat to the rhythm of our own drums in terms of what sounds like a good idea for our well-being, find ourselves pursuing the internet in the middle of the night wondering what everyone else is up to and whether the trends theyre following are actually beneficial.

Trends are popular for a reason, and a lot of the time its because there is something special in what theyre talking about that everyone wants a slice of.

In the health & wellness community, theres been an upsurge of what were once niche, community-based tips and secrets, which have splashed onto the scene of some of the top trending ideas on the internet competing with the likes of fashion and music. Especially given the elephant in the room that refers to the past two years of monumental stress for all of us, mental and physical well being were put in the spotlight of priorities for many.

Whether youre well in the know of all things health and wellness, or whether youre a newbie looking to affirm a resolution of being more mindful of your mind and body, here are the predicted trends of 2022 set to take over the wellness world.

1. Plant-based eating will give a lot of fast-food restaurants a run for their money

The vegetarian and veganism way of life arent the only kids on the block making their way into mainstream eating culture as flexitarianism and reducetarians join the brigade of terms.

Flexitarianism refers to a flexible vegetarian, while a reducetarian speaks to eating less animal products. Both are focused on bettering the body and the planet, and pertain to a start in the world of plant-based eating.

As Vogue records, in Europe and America, numerous people say theyre eating a lot less meat than they had the year before.

The plant-based market is booming onward, and 2022 will likely see far more plant-based restaurants open up as the mindful eater becomes the main consumer.

Its no secret that plant-based eating has become far more popularised in recent times, where most menus youll see, especially in Cape Town usually have a plant-based option or alternative. However, whats interesting to gaze upon for 2022 is just how popular the plant-loving way of life has become, and will grow to be. Even in fashion, vegan products are making their way onto the shelves.

2.Psychedelics are becoming less taboo and a source for trauma healing

Psychedelics were once met with great big eyes and a look of shock from someone who wasnt exactly a hippy or part of the underground scene in many parts of the world where theres drugs were not seen as traditional. However, the collective of psychedelic experiences, with a particular focus on Shrooms, or magic mushrooms has become far more popular in recent years, and its largely because psychedelics are now seen as a part of wellness when they are controlled and guided.

The current model for treating problems like anxiety and depression just isnt very good, says Frederick Streeter Barrett, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine expresses in talking about psychedelic-assiste therapy. Theres also a lot more information available on psychedelic experiences, from user-generated content to professionals opening up about the benefits and the ground-work.

Psychedelic retreats are already on the up-surge, and as the world opens up little by little, this is one movement that will likely form a huge part of the wellness experience for many.

3. Sound healing is becoming the music to the ears of those seeking wellness

Theres been a renewed interest in ancient techniques pertaining to sound, and with all the technology accessible to many people focused on sound experiences, auditory healing is set to make even bigger strides in 2022. From sound baths to psychoacoustic, the world is going to sound a little different this year.

4.The way we think about menstration is set to change and become more eco-friendly

Anyone who has a period will know that stress is an important factor when it comes to the dreaded time of the month. Naturally, the past two-years gave us all the stress we didnt need, and with the surge of women empowerment movements fledging in a fuller force thanks to the myriad of social media movements that happened especially in the early 2020s, conversations about menstrual health became far less conservative, as did mental health talks. The result? Feminine-hygiene products are being made by more female owned businesses now and theres a huge environmental focus attached to many of them. Theres still a way to go in terms of menstrual technology, accessibility and affordability, but the captains of the ship are changing.

Bonus trend: The fertility conversation now includes men. With staggering statistics about declining sperm and a renewed understanding of reproductive health, this topic can no longer remain in the shadows, says Mind Body Green.

5.The age of mental health-focus is set to continue

Social media for all its nonsense can be thanked for opening up the door to honesty about mental health. TikTok has been a huge proponent in mental health awareness, with many psychologists taking to the platform to share tips and knowledge. Beyond information sharing, people have started to take their mental health far more seriously, and a huge case in point were the working conditions and hours movements, or The Great Resignation. As we move into 2022, theres an anxiety for business to retain their talent, while workers demand better for their brains. More psychology-focused apps, platforms and podcasts are set to take the world by storm this year.

6.Skincare is becoming more accessible and sustainable

Skincare is becoming more accessible, affordable, and focused on the environment not just in Cape Town, but worldwide.

Also read: Sustainable skincare looks beautiful on you! Cape Towns best eco-skincare finds

Sustainable skincare was already on the rise in 2021, but as more people start getting back into the economic swing of things as the pandemics tightened grip loosens, people are starting their own business with environmental focus at the ready. Bigger skin companies are shifting the narrative to eco-friendly skincare. Then theres the moving of skincare being primarily feminine as gender stereotypes fall away more and more, bringing more men to the scene of skincare focus. Additionally, while the skincare industry is a usually face-centric one, more people are turning to modalities south of the neck to influence their overall skin quality. Bodywork is nothing new, but for skincare experts and patients alike, it feels urgent now, as Mind Body Green expresses.

Read more:

Healthy eating affirmation on your list? Locals give the lowdown on the challenges

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From psychedelics to 'The Great Resignation' - wellness trends for 2022 - CapeTown ETC