Psychedelics

London-Based Psychedelic Startup Incubator Raises $3.3M in Seed Funding

September 20, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

London, England-based psychedelics startup incubator Beckley Waves has raised $3.3 million in seed funding, Axios reports. The firm backs startups focused on therapies, education, and software.  Investors in the raise include the Joe and Sandy Samberg Foundation, Satori Neuro, Evolve Ventures and Foundation, Bridge Builders Collaborative, 1440 Foundation, Austin Hearst, and Asia Agnelli.  Daniel Love, a partner at Beckley, told Axios the company plans to use the funds to launch two companies and “make a handful of strategic investments.” Love added that… Read more.

The $12 Billion Mental Health Crisis Cure? – Psychedelics Poised to Generate Billions in Sales Over the Next Decade

September 18, 2023 · Cannabis.net

New York Firm Predicts Psychedelic Drugs Market Will Generate Over $12B In Next 12 Years The burgeoning interest in psychedelic substances and their potential applications has caught the attention of Research Nester, a New York-based strategic consulting firm. In their latest global market research analysis, they have peered into the future of the psychedelic drugs market, projecting trends and growth prospects through the year 2035. The results of this comprehensive study paint a promising picture, indicating significant expansion in the industry… Read more.

California Assembly Approves Psychedelics Legalization Bill With Amendments, Sending It Back To The Senate For Final Passage

September 7, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The California Assembly has approved a Senate-passed psychedelics legalization bill, sending it back to the opposite chamber for concurrence on recent amendments before the measure potentially heads to the governor’s desk. The Assembly cleared the legislation from Sen. Scott Wiener (D) in a 42-11 vote on Wednesday—a significant victory for advocates after an earlier version of the psychedelics reform measure that also passed the Senate ultimately stalled out in the Assembly last year. The bill would legalize the possession and… Read more.

California Senate-Passed Psychedelics Legalization And Marijuana Employment Bills Head To Assembly Floor With New Amendments

September 2, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California Senate-passed bill to legalize the possession and facilitated use of certain psychedelics is officially heading to the Assembly floor after being approved by a third committee in the chamber, albeit with several substantive amendments. The Assembly Appropriations Committee also cleared a separate Senate-passed measure on Friday that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about prior marijuana use. The panel adopted technical amendments, so it will need to return to the Senate for concurrence before moving to the floor. The… Read more.

Adult Marijuana And Psychedelics Use Now At ‘Historic Highs’ While Teen Consumption Remains Stable, Federally Funded Study Finds

August 18, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

While underage marijuana use has remained stable amid the legalization movement, a new federally funded study shows that adult consumption of cannabis, as well as of psychedelics, reached a “record high” last year. The annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey—which is conducted by the University of Michigan with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—found that past-year marijuana use among those aged 19-30 hit 44 percent in 2022, while 28 percent of older adults aged 35-50 said they… Read more.

Magic Mushrooms to Help Quit Your Gambling Addiction? New Medical Study to Launch This Fall

August 15, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Psilocybin therapy's role in addiction treatment is not a recent exploration. Recent studies have notably illuminated the burgeoning potential of this emerging psychedelic therapy. It exhibits promise in aiding individuals contending with substance use disorders, spanning the realms of alcohol and nicotine addiction. These studies underscore the growing interest in harnessing psilocybin's therapeutic effects to address the complex challenges of addiction, potentially opening doors to innovative and effective approaches for those in need. Originating from the appropriately labeled "magic" mushrooms, this compound's extensive… Read more.

Atai Looks To Step Away From Ketamine Study After Posting Positive Results

Atai Life Sciences (NASDAQ: ATAI) announced results from Perception Neuroscience’s Phase 1 intravenous-to-subcutaneous bridging study of PCN-101 (R-ketamine). The small study seemed to deliver positive results, but it also looks as if Atai needs a partner before moving forward with the drug. The study enrolled 16 healthy volunteers, each into one of four sequences of administration. The Phase 1 open-label, 4-period crossover study assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of 60mg, 90mg and 120mg of PCN-101 delivered subcutaneously as compared to 60mg of… Read more.

Minnesota Psychedelics Task Force Takes Shape, But Key Appointments And First Meeting Delayed

August 8, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Minnesota government psychedelics task force is being built out to prepare the state for the possible legalization of substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. But even though appointments to the panel are behind schedule and it missed a deadline to hold its first meeting by August 1, the lawmaker who championed its creation says he isn’t worried about the delays. Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the psychedelics legislation into law in May as part of a broader omnibus health and human services package.… Read more.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Celebrate House Passage Of Veterans Medical Marijuana Access And Psychedelics Research Provisions

July 29, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are cheering the passage of marijuana and psychedelics amendments that were included in a spending bill that was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday. While not every drug policy reform amendment that lawmakers proposed made it in the final legislation covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MilCon/VA), two key measures did advance. One would allow U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations to veterans, and the other would encourage research… Read more.

House Approves Veterans Medical Marijuana Access And Psychedelics Research Amendments As Part Of Spending Bill

July 27, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved amendments to a large-scale spending bill that would allow U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis to military veterans and promote research into substances like psilocybin and MDMA. Just one day after the House Rules Committee made the measures in order for floor consideration, they passed on the floor on Wednesday and are advancing as part of appropriations legislation covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MilCon/VA). The medical… Read more.

VA And Defense Department Oppose Medical Marijuana For PTSD, But Take Neutral Position On Psychedelics As Research Continues

July 24, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) are strongly against the use of marijuana for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—but they’re taking a neutral position on psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, simply saying that more research should be done. In an update to their joint clinical practice guidelines, the departments provided recommendations on a variety of therapeutics used to treat PTSD and acute stress disorder that commonly afflict military veterans. And while many… Read more.

Minneapolis Mayor Issues Executive Order Making Psychedelics The City’s ‘Lowest Law Enforcement Priority’

July 22, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The mayor of Minneapolis has issued an executive order making the criminalization of possession, use and cultivation of psychedelics the city’s lowest law enforcement priority and generally preventing local resources from being used to aid federal and state actions against the substances. The chief of police says he stands with the mayor and will direct officers accordingly. Mayor Jacob Frey (D) signed the order on Friday, sending a strong message that the city does not consider substances like psilocybin to… Read more.

Fetterman Shows Support For Wiz Khalifa As Rapper Gets ‘Stoned AF’ On Marijuana And Psilocybin To Throw Opening Pitch At MLB Game

July 21, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) tacitly endorsed rapper Wiz Khalifa’s plan to get “stoned af” on marijuana before throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game this week. But the artist’s plans apparently involved cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms. Khalifa first said that he planned to get high before the game on Monday, and Fetterman quoted the tweet with a photo of him holding up his flag that says “It’s 420 Somewhere.” The senator has been known to use flags to promote his… Read more.

Psilouette Founder Derek Chase on Taking Risks in Psilocybin Products

July 21, 2023 · Green Market Report

Chase sees opportunity in the limited enforcement actions by the DEA. The limited legality of most psychedelic products hasn’t stopped some people from trying to get an early advantage. Case in point, Derek Chase founded L.A.-based entheogenic wellness company Psilouette to take advantage of what he called a “lucky period” for the industry. Green Market Report’s Executive Editor Debra Borchardt recently interviewed Chase to get more insight on why now was the time to found the company and where he sees the regulated… Read more.

‘Hallucinogenic’ MUSHROOMS may be to blame for US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, 76, repeatedly bowing to China’s vice premier after she ordered four portions at dinner (but the chef insists they weren’t psychedelic)

July 19, 2023 · Daily Mail

Hallucinogenic mushrooms may be to blame for US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's cringeworthy bows to China's vice premier after she ordered four portions at dinner three nights before their meeting, sources claim. Jian shou qing mushrooms, which have psychedelic properties if they are not cooked thoroughly, formed part of a traditional dish Yellen polished off at Beijing restaurant Yi Zuo Yi Wang on July 6. The usually stately politician, 76, then came under fire from Republican opponents for bowing to her Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng, three days later… Read more.

GOP Congresswoman Pushes For Psychedelics And Marijuana Research For Veterans In Floor Speech

July 17, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A GOP congresswoman is touting recently released Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on psychedelics research and calling for additional work to study the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for military veterans. In a speech on the House floor on Wednesday, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) talked about the need to support “novel forms of research” to unlock the potential of psychedelics and cannabis for the treatment of conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that commonly afflict veterans. “As a doctor, former director of… Read more.

New FDA Guidance on Psychedelics Could Open Minds, Funding Sources

July 16, 2023 · Green Market Report

Last month, federal regulators released research guidance for classic psychedelics, marking the first time the government has offered suggestions for studying medicines like LSD, MDMA and psilocybin to treat mental illness. The draft guidance signals a shift in the medical community’s perception of psychedelic medicine—a field that has previously been deemed fringe. Local researchers and biotech companies say it doesn’t impact them much. “In that guidance document, there’s nothing surprising,” said Rob Barrow, chief executive of MindMed, a Midtown-based biotech… Read more.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Celebrate Psychedelics Research Amendment And Say House Speaker Has Committed To Pushing The Issue

July 14, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are celebrating the inclusion of a psychedelics research amendment as part of a must-pass defense bill that’s on the House floor—and a GOP congressman says he has the commitment of the House speaker to fight to broaden the scope of the measure in talks with the Senate. At a press conference that took place shortly after the House Rules Committee advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the psychedelics language that were previously attached in the… Read more.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Push For Marijuana And Psychedelics Amendments To Defense Bill, But Committee Action Is Delayed

July 13, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Bipartisan lawmakers pushed for the adoption of marijuana and psychedelics amendments as part of a large-scale defense bill at a House committee meeting on Tuesday—but the proposals’ fate remains uncertain following complications over unrelated measures being pushed by conservative members. The House Rules Committee did clear 290 largely non-controversial amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for floor votes as the leadership negotiates with House Freedom Caucus members who are demanding adoption of contentious measures on issues like abortion,… Read more.

UC San Diego Researchers Gifted $1.5M to Study Effects of DMT on the Brain

July 13, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The University of California, San Diego Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative has received a $1.5 million gift to study the effects of DMT on the brain. Philanthropist Eugene Jhong gifted the funds to the university for the research. Jon Dean, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the UC San Diego Department of Anesthesiology and director of the Division of DMT Research at the UC San Diego Psychedelic Health and Research Initiative, is one of the principal investigators of the study. In… Read more.

Massachusetts Campaign Quietly Takes First Step To Put Psychedelics Reform On The 2024 Ballot

July 11, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Political strategists in Massachusetts have quietly filed paperwork to put a therapeutic psychedelics legalization initiative on the state’s 2024 ballot. The newly formed Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO) committee submitted initial documents to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), signaling their intent to secure ballot placement for the measure, details of which are currently sparse. An organization statement filed last week says that the purpose of the group will be to “expand mental health treatment options… Read more.

Shrooms Legalized Before Weed? – FDA Posts Guidelines for Doing Research on Psychedelics

July 8, 2023 · Cannabis.net

An important step has been taken toward the acceptance and legitimacy of psychedelic therapies with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) release of a ground-breaking draft guidance addressing the special issues investigating psychedelics for therapeutic reasons. This change occurs when municipalities and states nationwide push more for the study and control of drugs like psilocybin and MDMA. The FDA's draft guidance provides researchers with a framework to design clinical trials that yield interpretable results, supporting the development of psychedelic medicines. As the… Read more.

Australia Becomes the First Country in the World to Legalize Psychedelics for Medical Prescriptions

July 8, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Last week, Australia made headlines around the world for being the first country ever that legally allowed MDMA and magic mushrooms to be prescribed by licensed psychiatrists for the treatment of mental health conditions. This is surprisingly good news albeit controversial, considering that medical marijuana laws are still lagging behind Down Under. Psilocybin magic mushrooms and MDMA have both been approved as medications by the Therapeutic Goods Administration; the former for certain kinds of treatment-resistant depression and MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These regulations became… Read more.

FDA Issues Guidance for Psychedelics Clinical Trials

July 8, 2023 · Cannabis Now

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance that highlights key considerations for researchers conducting clinical trials of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of medical conditions. The move, which was announced by the agency on June 23, marks the first time the FDA has issued guidance for investigating psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD and MDMA, which have shown potential as possible treatments for serious mental health conditions. The guidance “describes basic considerations throughout the drug development process including… Read more.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Applaud FDA For Publishing Psychedelics Research Guidance, As They Requested In New Congressional Bill

July 5, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are applauding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for releasing first-ever draft guidance on psychedelics research—a development that they had requested through a new bill just days before the agency took the step. Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) filed the legislation this month. And while FDA didn’t say that its decision to release the guidance was directly responsive to the measure, it’s precisely the action that the first part of the bill… Read more.

Physicians in Australia Can Now Prescribe Psychedelics for PTSD and Depression

July 4, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Physicians in Australia can now prescribe doses of MDMA and psilocybin to patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and hard-to-treat depression, the Associated Press reports. The reforms make Australia the first nation in the world to allow doctors to prescribe psychedelics as medicine.  The move was announced in February but took effect July 1.  Both MDMA and psilocybin have been added to the list of approved medicines by the Therapeutic Goods Administration but will be expensive – about AU$10,000 (US$6,600) per patient for treatment, the report… Read more.

Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers File Numerous Marijuana And Psychedelics Amendments To Must-Pass Defense Bill

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are looking to use a must-pass defense bill as a vehicle to advance a number of drug policy reform proposals, including provisions to expand access to medical marijuana for military veterans, facilitate the rescheduling of certain psychedelics and protect people from being denied security clearances over marijuana. More than 1,400 amendments have been filed so far for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). And, as has become tradition, members are hoping that the legislation will be used… Read more.

RFK Jr. Pledges To Legalize Marijuana And Psychedelics, Using Revenue To Fund Farms Where People Recovering From Drug Addiction Can Grow Organic Food

July 1, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, says that he would legalize marijuana and psychedelics if elected to the White House—and he’d tax both substances, using revenue to create “healing centers” where people recovering from drug addiction could learn organic farming as a therapeutic tool. He also voiced support for freeing up banking services for the cannabis industry. The candidate’s position on drug policy reform had been vague around the time he entered the race—but it’s quickly come… Read more.

Is Aaron Rodgers the Face of Psychedelics in America?

June 29, 2023 · Cannabis.net

This week, a psychedelics conference in Denver attracted a diverse gathering of thousands, including podcasters, vendors, startups, and seekers. Javier Hasse of Benzinga was one of the attendees who immersed themselves in a captivating atmosphere, exploring a dimly lit hall adorned with kaleidoscope art. They listened to engaging talks by various speakers, from a former Republican governor to NFL star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While the Benzinga Psychedelics Conference is the most known and respected psychedelics show in the industry, the MAPS show is a… Read more.

FDA Releases Draft Guidance for Psychedelic Drugs Research

June 29, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday released its Draft Guidance for research of psychedelic drugs. The guidance covers psilocybin, LSD, and substances such as MDMA. The guidance mirrors the good practices required by other drug and therapeutic companies, including compliance with the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act and that non-clinical investigations should follow 2010’s Nonclinical Safety Studies for the Conduct of Human Clinical Trials and Marketing Authorization for Pharmaceuticals. The guidance also details which psychedelic drugs would be considered botanical… Read more.

New Jersey Senators Discuss Top Lawmaker’s Psilocybin Legalization Bill In Committee

June 28, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A New Jersey Senate committee held a hearing on Monday to discuss a bill that would legalize the possession, home cultivation and gifting of psilocybin mushrooms for adults 21 and older while also creating a system of licensed businesses to provide access to the psychedelic and related services in supervised settings. The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee took up the legislation from Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D)—hearing testimony from experts and people whose lives have been directly… Read more.

Denver psychedelics conference attracts thousands

June 24, 2023 · WLRN

Crowds are gathering in downtown Denver this week to learn about the future of psychedelics like magic mushrooms and MDMA. The five-day Psychedelic Science 2023 event, attracting medical professionals, politicians, celebrities and practitioners, covers a wide variety of subjects from the business of psychedelics to therapeutic uses for these substances. "We are facing very difficult challenges in mental and behavioral health and we're very excited about the opportunities that psychedelics offer to break cycles of addictions for opioids, to deal… Read more.

Steve Cohen Donates $5M for MDMA’s Push to Go Mainstream

June 24, 2023 · Green Market Report

A significant player in the psychedelics industry has received a $5 million infusion from hedge-fund billionaire and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife, deepening the couple’s efforts to bring mind-altering therapies into the mainstream. The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is donating the funds to MAPS, or the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies, a nonprofit that has pushed for more research on psychedelic drugs since 1986. The organization is engaged in a financially-intensive push to get the… Read more.

Congressional Committee Approves GOP-Led Marijuana ‘Pilot Program’ And Psychedelics Study Amendments To Military Bill

A congressional committee has approved a large-scale defense bill that includes GOP-led provisions to create a medical marijuana “pilot program” and require a study into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for active duty military members under the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The House Armed Services Committee held a markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday, approving the legislation with drug policy reform amendments from Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), which were both adopted… Read more.

Colorado Governor Pushes For Mass Psychedelics Pardons At Event That Also Featured Pro-Reform Former GOP Texas Governor

June 23, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is calling on lawmakers to take steps allowing him to issue mass pardons for people with prior psychedelics convictions as the state prepares to implement regulations for legal use of substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. At a the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in Denver on Wednesday, the governor—as well as former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R)—spoke about the therapeutic potential of entheogenic plants and fungi, advocating for legal access. Polis, who recently signed a psychedelics… Read more.

Denver Psychedelic Conference Focuses on Regulatory Processes, Science

June 22, 2023 · Green Market Report

High costs and regulatory hurdles still need to be overcome by psychedelics industry. Business opportunities in the world of psilocybin, MDMA, and other mind-bending substances are still limited, but that doesn’t mean the industry is standing still, as demonstrated by the 12,000 attendees from all over the world at the Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in Denver this week. There were only cursory mentions Wednesday during the conference’s business panels of the burgeoning psilocybin trade that has cropped up in California,… Read more.

Psychedelics for Athletes Goes Mainstream as ESPN and CNN Plan Documentaries on Shrooms

June 20, 2023 · Cannabis.net

ESPN and CNN are both pushing the envelope on psychedelics, with CNN having a new show, called "The Whole Story", with Anderson Cooper, and ESPN focusing on athletes that are finding hope with the use of psychedelics. While NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has openly discussed his psychedelic use, most athletes are just trying them now for medicinal purposes. Let's cut the to the ESPN storyline as the show opens! A boxer was overwhelmed by a sense of brokenness. Each morning greeted… Read more.

Rapper Wyclef Jean Talks Cannabis, Psychedelics And Hip-Hop: ‘They Were Counter-Culture For A Long Time’

June 19, 2023 · Benzinga

“My mind is constantly racing every second, a new thought or a new idea. Sometimes it feels like a million voices at once, but I have learned... cannabis helps calm the voices down and I get more focused,” says the Grammy-winning musician and producer Wyclef Jean in an exclusive interview. The artist shared his thoughts on cannabis, its connection to hip-hop culture and his own journey with the plant during an interview before performing at The Grass Is Greener Gathering in Hadley,… Read more.

‘Magic’ mushroom use by young adults has nearly doubled in three years

June 19, 2023 · AOL

Consumption of “magic” mushrooms and other hallucinogens by young adults nearly doubled over the past three years, a new study has found, illustrating the accelerating pace of America’s “psychedelic revolution” and growing societal acceptance of mind-altering drugs. Researchers found that 6.6 percent of adults from ages 19 to 30 used hallucinogens other than LSD, a category dominated by psilocybin, in 2021, up from 3.4 percent in 2018. LSD use by young adults rose from 3.7 percent to 4.2 percent in… Read more.

Your Take: Black Americans Have a Place in the Psychedelics Industry

June 19, 2023 · Green Market Report

Most North American Blacks say they have little-to-no participation with psychedelics. When I think about Blacks in North America and psychedelics, I have the tendency to consider the past with regards to the awareness, the availability, and the knowledge of this group and their current state of mind on the topic. Believe me, I don’t want to bring up race. I don’t want to think about the unstructured and poverty-stricken environments. I don’t want to think about the mishandling of… Read more.

California Lawmaker Cautions That Senate-Passed Psychedelics Legalization Bill Faces ‘Challenging Road’ In Assembly

June 17, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California Senate-passed bill to legalize the possession of certain psychedelics and facilitated use of the substances is up against a “challenging road” toward passage in the Assembly, the sponsor said on Wednesday. At a virtual event hosted by the Psychedelic and Entheogen Academic Council (PEAC), Sen. Scott Wiener (D) said that while the reform legislation advanced through his chamber, “it’s not guaranteed to pass” in the Assembly. “But we’re going to try the very best we can,” he said. Part of… Read more.

The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Investigates “Magic Mushrooms: Can They Change Your Mind?” with CNN’s David Culver

June 16, 2023 · CNN Press Room

The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, a CNN Original, continues with immersive new reporting from CNN Correspondent David Culver, as he travels to Jamaica to explore the therapeutic benefits of medically supervised consumption of psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms. “Magic Mushrooms: Can They Change Your Mind?” premieres Sunday, June 18 at 8pm ET/PT. The naturally stunning landscape of Jamaica is the backdrop for a resort that hosts psychedelic retreats, where it is legal to grow and consume magic mushrooms.… Read more.

Magic Mushrooms, $1 Hearing Aids: Medical Marvels Disrupting Healthcare

June 16, 2023 · Newsweek

Medicine may be rooted in science, but it has never been wholly driven by it. The human body and mind are so complex that progress in medicine depends more and more on technology finding better ways of peering into the unknown. Leonardo da Vinci's closely observed drawings gave doctors a better understanding of human anatomy. The discovery of X-rays made it possible to see the structure of the DNA molecule. More recently, progress has come from advances in artificial intelligence… Read more.

PharmAla, Psyched Wellness Raise Funds

June 14, 2023 · Green Market Report

Both companies plan to use some of the proceeds to further their research. While funding for psychedelics companies may be becoming more scarce, at least two firms have managed to successfully initiate rounds recently. PharmAla Psychedelic drug company PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc.  (CSE: MDMA) (OTC: PMBHF) announced a non-brokered private placement of a minimum 3,333,333 units and a maximum 16,666,666 units of the company at a price of $0.30 per unit for gross proceeds of a minimum of $1 million and a maximum of… Read more.

The smart money in medicine: cannabis and psychedelics come of age

June 13, 2023 · Investing.com

Cannabis and its psychedelic comrades MDMA and psilocybin have come a long way from the street to the clinic in the last decade or so, before which they were regarded as well outside the bounds of mainstream western medicine, to put it mildly. Up until the 1980s, these substances were associated with hippies and the counterculture of the 1960s – turning on, tuning in and dropping out – and advocacy for their benefits was in the hands of eccentric cultural… Read more.

RI House OKs bill to legalize ‘magic mushrooms’ statewide

June 13, 2023 · WPRI

Rhode Island is one step closer to decriminalizing so-called “magic mushrooms” statewide. The House approved legislation Monday that would allow Rhode Islanders to possess up to one ounce of psilocybin or grow magic mushrooms at home for personal use. It would also, contingent on approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allow psilocybin to be used as a treatment for chronic mental health disorders. “This is a step toward addressing mental health treatment in a modern way based on evidence and… Read more.

Would You Take Weed and Magic Mushrooms Together in One Pill? – Doctors Working at CaaMTech on New Medical Breakthrough

June 7, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Researchers Aim To Combine Psilocybin and Cannabis Into Single Medical Treatment According to a product patent from the renowned marijuana laboratory, CaaMTech, substantial strides have been made in developing a comprehensive treatment that combines cannabinoids and psilocybin for treating both physical and mental health concerns. Located in Issaquah, Washington, less than 20 miles southeast of Seattle, CaaMTech is aggressively researching the interactions between these two chemicals as well as the potential effects on physical and mental health. The initial stages of their enhanced… Read more.

Nevada Lawmakers Pass Bill To Create Psychedelics Working Group, Sending It To Governor

June 5, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The Nevada legislature has given final approval to a bill to create a new working group to study psychedelics and develop a plan to allow regulated access for therapeutic purposes. It now heads to the governor’s desk. The Assembly passed the measure from Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D) in a 40-0 vote on Sunday, one day ahead of the scheduled end of the session. This comes days after it cleared the full Senate, as well as an Assembly committee on Friday. There was… Read more.

Researchers combine cannabis and psilocybin for medical treatments

May 30, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Combining cannabinoids with psilocybin into a single formula for treating both physical and mental health issues took another step closer to reality as described in a product patent from a major cannabinoid laboratory, CaaMTech. CaaMTech, based in Issaquah, Washington, less than 20 miles southeast of Seattle, is analyzing how the two substances interact with each other as well as the specific physical and mental health outcomes that can be expected. Their purified psilocybin-cannabinoid product is in the early development stages… Read more.

FDA examines using psychedelics in medicine

May 29, 2023 · ABC 10

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. There are pharmaceutical and natural ways to treat anxiety and depression but there's a recent curiosity surrounding psychedelics. ABC10 Health Expert Dr. Tom Hopkins said many of his patients are inquiring about this. Recently, NFL Quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his story of how these drugs helped ease his fear of death, Hopkins said. "What we know is if you take something like CBD and cannabis, particularly with THC, it's been used in a variety… Read more.

California Bill to Decriminalize Some Psychedelics Advances Through the Legislature

May 27, 2023 · Lucid News

Supporters of a psychedelic decriminalization bill in California are hopeful that a new version of the legislation, which focuses on plant-based psychedelics, will be more successful than a similar bill which was stalled by legislators last year.  Sponsored by Senator Scott Wiener, SB 58 would decriminalize the possession and use of some psychedelic substances in California. The proposed legislation was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee on March 21 and will now be sent to the Appropriations Committee. SB 58 would… Read more.

Minnesota Is Forming A Psychedelics Task Force Under Bill Lawmakers Sent To Governor’s Desk

May 23, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The Minnesota legislature has sent a large-scale health policy bill to the governor that contains provisions to create a psychedelics task force meant to prepare the state for possible legalization. About one month after the House initially passed the omnibus legislation including language similar to a standalone psychedelics measure sponsored by Rep. Andy Smith (D), both chambers passed a bicamerally negotiated conference report on Monday that retains the provisions. It first cleared the Senate in a 34-32 vote. The House followed suit… Read more.

Federal Agency Announces $1.5 Million In Funding For Research On Psychedelics To Treat Drug Addiction

May 18, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A top federal health agency is soliciting proposals for a series of research initiatives meant to explore how psychedelics could be used to treat drug addiction, with plans to provide $1.5 million in funding to support relevant studies. As public interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics continues to grow, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) this week published three notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for research projects to better understand how drugs like psilocybin and ayahuasca could help… Read more.

Arizona to Invest $5M Into Psilocybin Research

May 16, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) last week signed the state’s $17 billion budget bill into law; the budget includes about $5 million dedicated to whole-mushroom psilocybin research, the Arizona Mirror reports. Renowned medical cannabis and psychedelics researcher and principal investigator at the Scottsdale Research Institute Dr. Sue Sisley — who had pushed for the funding — said the $5 million was a good starting point for medical psilocybin trials. Additionally, the funding’s emphasis on whole mushroom research makes it unique from most other studies… Read more.

ESCAPE SHROOM I have the trippiest job in the world helping stressed executives take magic mushrooms – their reactions are wild

May 14, 2023 · The US Sun

OUR busy lives can lead many to find solutions to stress, such as hobbies and therapy, but this man is one of many beginning to administer a unique solution. Nate Howard is one of the first licensed "shamans" who is helping administer magic mushrooms to help those struggling with PTSD, depression and anxiety. Oregon began issuing licenses this year for those looking to guide others through their "trips", but Nate says the interest in psilocybin is nationwide. Consuming the drug can be… Read more.

Dr. Phil’s ‘Moms on Mushrooms’ episode shows psilocybin is becoming more mainstream: report

May 14, 2023 · Raw Story

A Dr. Phil episode that features mothers touting the benefits of magic mushrooms shows that psilocybin is becoming more mainstream, SFGate reports. “Moms on Mushrooms”: A Growing Trend?, which aired May 4, shows two mothers who claim the use of magic mushrooms has benefited their mental health and made them parents. “I’m not as reactive,” Tracey Tee said. “I think before I speak. I don’t get as upset. ... It just softens everything and allows me to be more present, more present with… Read more.

Connecticut House Passes Psilocybin Decriminalization Bill

May 13, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The Connecticut House on Wednesday approved a measure to decriminalize small quantities of psilocybin mushrooms, CT Examiner reports. Under the proposal, penalties for possessing less than a half ounce of psilocybin mushrooms would be reduced from a misdemeanor with penalties of up to a year in jail to a simple infraction with a $150 penalty for the first offense.  The measure passed the chamber 86-64 with two Republicans backing the plan and 13 Democrats opposing it.   Under current state law, for second offenses courts… Read more.

Legalizing Shrooms – Which States are Moving Fast to Approve Psilocybin Laws?

May 11, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Following voters' narrow approval of a measure on the 2022 November ballot, Colorado became the second state in the U.S. to legalize the use of psychedelic drugs. This decision indicates the increasing acceptance and use of psychedelic substances nationwide. So far, a dozen counties and cities in the U.S. have decriminalized psilocybin or psilocin, two psychedelic compounds found in "magic mushrooms." As we covered at the Benzinga Psychedelics Show in Miami, what states are more being more progressive about LSD, mushrooms, and… Read more.

Creso Pharma Acquires Australian Psychedelic Medicine Company

May 9, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Creso Pharma has signed a deal to acquire 100% of Australia-based Health House International (HHI), which is focused on international distribution of medical cannabis products and possesses a number of licenses to store, distribute, import, and export controlled substances, including psilocybin and MDMA.   In a statement, Creso CEO Willam Lay said HHI “has an enviable set of licenses” that Creso can use to its “immediate benefit, and adds another growing revenue channel to the group.”  Combining Creso Pharma’s revenue and… Read more.

Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit About Religious Use of Hallucinogenic Tea to Move Forward

May 9, 2023 · Green Market Report

Parties exchanged legal barbs over religious freedom and the Controlled Substances Act. A U.S. federal judge ruled that a lawsuit by an Arizona religious group seeking legal approval to use a hallucinogenic tea in its rituals can proceed. The Arizona Yage Assembly claims the federal government seized four shipments of ayahuasca tea, which contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), from Peru. DMT is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under U.S. law, making it generally illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess. According… Read more.

Vermont Lawmakers Discuss Plans To Pass Psilocybin Legalization And Psychedelics Work Group Bill Next Year

May 8, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Vermont lawmakers held a committee hearing on Thursday where members discussed legislation to legalize psilocybin and take first steps toward providing regulated access to the psychedelic. Members of the House Judiciary Committee took up H. 371 from Reps. Chip Troiano (D) and Brian Cina (D), who said he’s personally benefitted from using psychedelics. There seemed to be agreement among members about the overall merits of the proposal, but the panel’s chairman said that “we’re not going pass this out this… Read more.

MindMed Board Battle Continues with Competing Shareholder Bids

May 5, 2023 · Green Market Report

Both parties accused each other of not understanding FDA processes. After psychedelic drug company Mind Medicine (Nasdaq: MNMD) released a detailed letter to shareholders pushing back against an attempted board coup by a company called FCM MM Holdings, FCM responded with its own letter to shareholders accusing the current board of botching the company’s strategy as well as other misdeeds. FCM MM Holdings and its affiliates beneficially own 1,368,538 common shares of MindMed Inc., representing approximately 3.5% of the outstanding common shares.… Read more.

MindMed Addresses Board Coup, Says It Has Two-Year Cash Runway

May 4, 2023 · Green Market Report

The company asked its shareholders to reject a slate of directors offered up by FCM MM Holdings. Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (Nasdaq: MNMD) (NEO: MMED) reported a net loss of $24.8 million for the first quarter ended March 31, compared with $18.5 million for the same period in 2022. The company does not have revenue to report at this time. Cash Levels As of March 31, MindMed had cash and cash equivalents totaling $129.4 million, compared with $142.1 million at the end of December 2022.… Read more.

Psyched Wellness Releases Positive Amanita Mushroom Study

May 3, 2023 · Green Market Report

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The study showed how mushroom extracts could boost immune cells in the brain. Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) stock jumped 11% to lately sell at four cents based on the release of a new study demonstrating how mushroom extract can help modulate brain health. The study, to be published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, shows that Amanita muscaria extract activates human microglia, which play a key role in maintaining brain function. These mushrooms are known to contain muscarine, muscimol, muscazone, and ibotenic acid and… Read more.

Rapper Wyclef Jean On Weed, Psychedelics And Creativity: ‘POC Who Were Incarcerated Due To Cannabis Deserve A Seat At The Table’

May 2, 2023 · Forbes

“My mind is constantly racing every second, a new thought or a new idea. Sometimes it feels like a million voices at once, but I have learned... cannabis helps calm the voices down and I get more focused,” says the Grammy-winning musician and producer Wyclef Jean in an exclusive interview. The artist shared his thoughts on cannabis, its connection to hip-hop culture and his own journey with the plant during an interview before performing at The Grass Is Greener Gathering… Read more.

Canada Goes All in on Magic Mushrooms for Severe Depression and PTSD – Largest Psilocybin Medical Study Set to Start!

April 24, 2023 ·

Psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in "magic mushrooms," has been associated with recreational drug use and 1960s counterculture. However, recent research over the past two decades has shown that it can potentially treat various mental and behavioral health disorders. Health Canada has approved a comprehensive psilocybin trial on 160 patients, including macro and multi doses, by Apex Labs Ltd. This Canadian biopharmaceutical firm is also advancing at-home psilocybin microdose studies and supporting veteran patients. The trial has been deemed "statistically powered." SUMMIT-90… Read more.

Mind Cure Limps To The Finished Line

April 21, 2023 · Green Market Report

After the market closed on Thursday, Mind Cure Health Inc. (CSE: MCUR) (OTCQB: MCURF)  announced its financial results for the quarter ending February 28, 2023.  All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. The company had no revenue to report and C$200k in losses. On March 16, 2022, Mind Cure announced that additional capital required to execute the company’s plan was unlikely to be found. Accordingly, the company made the decision to eliminate all expenditures outside those required to preserve the value of… Read more.

North Carolina Lawmakers File Bill To Create $5 Million Psychedelic Research Grant Fund

April 20, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Republican North Carolina lawmaker and a bipartisan group of cosponsors have filed a bill to create a $5 million grant program to support research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and MDMA and to create a Breakthrough Therapies Research Advisory Board to oversee the effort. The legislation from Rep. Edward Goodwin (R) wouldn’t legalize the psychedelics, but it would provide funding for two competitive grants through the state Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for eligible research initiatives focused on… Read more.

Oregon Issues First Licenses For Psilocybin Facilitators

April 20, 2023 · Green Market Report

Oregon Health Authority (OHA)  released a statement on April 18 noting that the authority had licensed the state’s first three facilitators for providing psilocybin services. The licensing follows a regulatory framework created by M109, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act. The OHA  said it issued the licenses to David Naftalin, Alexander Polvi and Jeanette Small. “We want to congratulate the first facilitators to be licensed in Oregon,” says Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) Section Manager Angie Allbee. “As your work in providing non-directive psilocybin… Read more.

Conducting Study Using Psychedelics as Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

April 19, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

University of Iowa (UI) researchers are conducting a pilot study using psilocybin and ketamine as a treatment for alcohol use disorder, the Daily Iowan reports. The study will be conducted as a head-to-head comparison of the compounds; half of the study participants will be given psilocybin and the other half will be given ketamine and neither the researchers nor the subjects will know which the participants will receive.  Study participants will start by having an MRI scan and a meeting with a therapist.… Read more.

April 19 Bicycle Day Celebrates The First LSD Trip

April 18, 2023 · Green Market Report

While most people in the cannabis industry are gearing up for the high holiday of April, 20 or 420, our good friends in the psychedelic industry have their own day of celebration. It’s called Bicycle Day and it falls on April 19. The history is that on April 19, 1943, Albert Hofmann, the Swiss father of psychedelic medicine, dropped lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) at 4:20 pm, interestingly enough, and went on a bike ride, becoming the first human to trip on LSD. According to… Read more.

Psilocybin Therapy Continues To Show Positive Outcomes For Cancer And Major Depression Disorder

April 16, 2023 · Benzinga

Results from an advanced clinical trial assessing psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients with cancer and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) conducted by oncology center Sunstone Therapies were published in the acclaimed JAMA Oncology. The open-label Phase 2 study tested psilocybin paired with psychological support in 30 patients with curable and incurable cancer. Participants were divided into cohorts of 3 to 4 and each was given a 25 mg single dose of COMPASS  CMPS-0.10%+ Free Alerts’ synthetic psilocybin COMP360. Dosing was done simultaneously on… Read more.

Atai Advances R-Ketamine Through Phase 1 Bridging Study, Update And Near-Term Expectations

April 16, 2023 · Benzinga

Clinical-stage biopharma company atai Life Sciences  ATAI-6.00%+ Free Alerts announced the dosing of the first subject in majority-owned subsidiary Perception Neuroscience’s Phase 1 intravenous-to-subcutaneous bridging study of proprietary R-ketamine, PCN-101. Open-label, the trial is set to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of 60mg, 90mg and 120mg of PCN-101 delivered subcutaneously as compared to 60mg of the compound delivered intravenously in 16 healthy volunteers across four cohorts. PCN-101 is a single isomer of ketamine and belongs to a new generation of glutamate receptor modulators -pharmacologically,… Read more.

Nevada Senators Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Working Group To Plan For ‘Safe, Accessible And Affordable’ Access

April 15, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Nevada lawmakers have approved a revised bill that would create a new working group to study psychedelics and develop a plan to allow regulated access for therapeutic purposes. While the legislation before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee as introduced would have legalized psilocybin and promoted research into the psychedelic, as well as encouraged studies of MDMA, the panel adopted an amendment that scales it back significantly. As approved in a voice vote on Thursday, Sen. Rochelle Nguyen’s (D)… Read more.

Washington Officials Shut Down Cannabis Operations at Former Orchard Due to Prior DDT Use

April 12, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Silhouette of a man on a hemp field in sunlight

Washington State cannabis regulators have stopped operations at several outdoor cannabis farms and processing facilities located on a former fruit orchard after testing found high levels of a dangerous pesticide used at the site decades ago, the Associated Press reports. The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) found DDE at the site, a byproduct of the pesticide DDT which was banned in the U.S. in 1972. LCB Spokesperson Brian Smith said that while the agency is “very concerned about the jobs and businesses”… Read more.

Small Trial Suggests DMT Can Improve Symptoms of Depression

April 7, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Woman patient having consultation with doctor (gynecologist or psychiatrist) and examining health in medical gynecological clinic or hospital mental health service center

A trial conducted by biotechnology company Small Pharma found that the psychedelic DMT could improve symptoms of depression when used in conjunction with therapy. In the study, which used intravenous DMT dosing, 14 participants out of 34 were in remission from depression within three months and nine remained in remission up to six months.  The study, which utilized a proprietary synthetic formulation of DMT known as SPL026, has not been peer-reviewed.  In a press release, Dr. Carol Routledge, chief medical and… Read more.

My Dad Was Timothy Leary, 60s Drug Icon

April 6, 2023 · Vice

What would you do if Nixon called your father the “the most dangerous man in America”? Tough question – but it’s one of many that stalked Zach Leary, now 49, as he grew up in the shadow of his dad, Timothy Leary (AKA the “Pied Piper of the psychedelic 60s”). Over the years, he tried to get away from his father’s towering legacy and forge his own path. He had big shoes to fill: Leary Sr. inspired the Beatles, got fired… Read more.

Washington State Psychedelic Therapies Bill Pared Down to Pilot Program

April 5, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A bill to allow psychedelic therapies in Washington state has stalled, but lawmakers are considering legislation to allow military veterans and first responders to access a pilot program for the treatment, the Seattle Times reports. The pilot program bill has passed the Senate and last week was approved by the House Committee on Health Care and Wellness.  Under the measure, pilot program participants would have to be 21 and older, and have experienced substance use disorder, depression or anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.… Read more.

Missouri House Approves Measure Requiring State to Conduct Psilocybin Mental Health Studies

April 5, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The Missouri House last week approved a measure that would require the state to conduct studies on psilocybin to treat depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, or use as part of end-of-life care, the Missouri Independent reports.   This bill requires the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to provide more than $2 million in grants for the research, subject to lawmakers approving the appropriation. The state would collaborate on the study with a Missouri university hospital or medical center operated by the U.S.… Read more.

Psilocybin services set for Oregon takeoff

April 2, 2023 · Newsminer

The psychedelics movement and its poster child psilocybin are continuing to make waves as adults 21 and older will likely consume the first legal dose of the magic mushroom-derived compound since 1968 this year in Oregon. The research renaissance of the last decade or so has shown psilocybin and other psychedelics’ unparalleled ability to treat a broad spectrum of mental illnesses, launching the hallucinogens within view of doctors, politicians and to some extent the general public. (Full Story) Read more.

Bipartisan Congressional Bill Would Force DEA To Let Patients Use Psychedelics And Marijuana

March 31, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers filed a bill this week to clarify that federal “Right to Try” (RTT) laws give seriously ill patients access to Schedule I drugs, including marijuana and psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA. While the bipartisan measure would make a technical amendment to the text of existing law, the primary purpose is to clarify—in the face of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) objections—that RTT policy as signed into law by then-President Donald Trump already means that patients with terminal… Read more.

Oregon Issues First Psilocybin Manufacturing License

March 29, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Oregon regulators issued the state’s first business license under the state’s historic psilocybin therapy program last week, the Associated Press reports. The licensee, Satori Farms PDX LLC, received its license to begin manufacturing psilocybin products from Oregon Psilocybin Services — a branch of the Oregon Health Authority — last Wednesday. Oregon’s medical psilocybin program formally launched this January after voters approved the system during the 2020 election. Psilocybin, the psychedelic substance found in magic mushrooms, has shown promise in treating severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, end-of-life anxiety among… Read more.

Hawaii Health Department Says Legalizing Psychedelics Is A ‘More Meaningful’ Step Than Creating A Study Group

March 29, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) says that it would be prudent for the state to legalize certain psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA to prepare for a likely federal policy change allowing their use for medical treatment. At a hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week, DOH testified on a pair of resolutions that call for the establishment of an advisory council to study and make recommendations on approving psychedelic medicines. Members of the panel ultimately… Read more.

Congressional Panel Approves Bill To Streamline Marijuana And Psychedelics Research While Ramping Up Fentanyl Criminalization

March 27, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A congressional committee has approved a bill that aims to ramp up criminalization for fentanyl-related substances, while also streamlining research into Schedule I drugs like marijuana and certain psychedelics. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee with amendments on Thursday. An amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted by the panel, striking original provisions of the bill and replacing them with updated language that lays out penalties for fentanyl-related offenses… Read more.

Texas Trip: The future of psychedelic therapy was a hot topic at SXSW 2023

March 26, 2023 · San Antonio Current

Although the topics at Austin's annual SXSW festival tend to skew toward tech and pop culture, this year's was awash in discussions on the future of psychedelic therapy. At least 20 separate keynote speaker sessions addressed the topic, ranging from "Open Minds: Innovations in Consciousness, Psychedelics & Mental Health" to "Psychedelic Tech: Consciousness in the Modern Age." There was even a psychedelics-related networking event. "It's definitely the future of therapeutic healing," said Alexander Hill, an Austin-based health and wellness entrepreneur,… Read more.

Nevada Senators Discuss Psilocybin Legalization Bill In Committee, Including Amendment To Increase Possession Limit

March 24, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Nevada senators held a hearing on a bill to legalize the possession of psilocybin on Thursday, discussing a proposed amendment to remove therapeutic use provisions and taking extensive testimony from advocates and experts—including from an Assembly lawmaker who shared his own experience with ketamine treatment. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee took up the legislation from Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D), which under the amendment would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to six ounces of the psychedelic for adults… Read more.

Decriminalizing magic mushrooms on the minds of Nevada legislators

March 24, 2023 · Las Vegas Review-Journal

Small amounts of fungi that produces so-called magic mushrooms may soon be decriminalized under a bill heard by lawmakers Thursday. An amended version of Senate Bill 242, presented by Rochelle Nguyen, D-Las Vegas, would allow individuals older than 21 to possess, use and consume 30 grams of the dried fungi that produces psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms. “Twenty-eight grams of fentanyl is not the equivalent of 28 grams of mushrooms and they are treated, in our law, the same,” Nguyen said. The bill also… Read more.

Hawaii Senators Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Advisory Council To Prepare For Federal Legalization

March 23, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Hawaii Senate committee approved a House-passed bill on Wednesday that would create an advisory council to look into possible regulations to provide access to federal “breakthrough therapies” like psilocybin and MDMA. The psychedelics legislation from Rep. Adrian Tam (D) advanced, with amendments, in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in a 5-0 vote. Members took testimony from advocates and experts, including a representative of the Department of Health, which voiced support for the proposal. All 20 people and organizations that… Read more.

Oregon Approves Nation’s First Psilocybin Grower License To Supply Psychedelic Service Centers

March 22, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

Oregon regulators have approved the nation’s first-ever psilocybin production license under a novel state-based regulatory framework for broad access to the psychedelic that voters approved in 2020. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced on Wednesday that they’ve granted a psilocybin manufacturer license to the woman-owned business Satori Farms PDX LLC. The so-called magic mushrooms produced at the manufacturing facility will help supply future businesses where people can go to have the psychedelic administered in a supervised environment. Regulators were tasked… Read more.

New Political Action Committee to Back Candidates Who Support Psychedelics

March 21, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A newly-formed political action committee aims to back candidates for office that back the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, NBC News reports. The Psychedelic Medicine PAC also aims to secure federal funding to further education and research efforts for psychedelics but stops short of calling for full legalization or decriminalization of the substances. In an interview with NBC News, Ryan Rodgers, co-founder and executive director of Psychedelic Medicine PAC, said the group has “to convince a historically stubborn audience around psychedelics that it’s… Read more.

Oakland Bliss lays framework for the psychedelic market with consistent lab testing, tracking batch and lot numbers, and a compassionate program for veterans.

Oakland Bliss, a psychedelic company based in Oakland, is leading the way in setting standards for the emerging market. The company has consistently lab tested their products, implemented batch and lot tracking numbers, and is the first psychedelic product to have a Universal Product Code (UPC). The company’s commitment to harm reduction has been widely praised, and it has set the bar for others in the industry. “Our focus on harm reduction is at the core of our mission,” said… Read more.

Psychedelics, Chat GPT, Chopra: At SXSW, Silicon Valley gets in its feelings

March 16, 2023 · Daily Dot

Analysis The vibes are different. Deepak Chopra is advocating for psychedelic therapy as a gateway to higher collective consciousness. SXSW patrons are invited to take off their shoes and meditate in a dark room while a harpist plays along to music written by plants. New apps like Aimi offer AI-generated music that adapts to your mood and effectively functions as a responsive, customizable “Lo-fi hip-hop beats to relax/study to.” Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is performing three songs about his dead father at the Audible party… Read more.

Texas Lawmakers File Three Bills To Expand State-Sponsored Psychedelics Research

March 13, 2023 ·

Texas lawmakers have filed a series of new bills aimed at promoting and expanding psychedelics research in the state. The Lone Star State took some observers by surprise last session after the conservative legislature enacted a measure to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelics—and now more legislators are hoping to build on that momentum. Three Democratic lawmakers in the state recently introduced separate reform proposals, including one that would expand the law that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) allowed to take effect… Read more.

‘BLEW MY MIND’ Inside the trendy psychedelic drug Prince Harry took to help deal with Diana’s death – which causes most to vomit

March 12, 2023 · The Sun

SHAMAN Adriano Delgado Alvarado blows pure tobacco smoke into my face while chanting and shaking the shacapa plant over my scalp. He is cleansing my body of evil spirits ready to take the potent psychedelic drug ayahuasca — championed by Prince Harry in his online interview with self-help guru Dr Gabor Maté. Dr Maté endorses and promotes The Temple of the Way of Light healing centre in the Peruvian rainforest, where Shaman Adriano works. Harry told how he took ayahuasca to help him deal… Read more.

“Miracle” Psychedelic Drug Could Save Lives and Mint Millions

March 12, 2023 ·

Back in the 1950s, Humphry Osmond led a group of pioneering psychiatrists in an extensive study of psychedelics. And from that research, they found that these hallucinogenic drugs had immense therapeutic potential. With academic research coming to an indisputable conclusion and mental health awareness on the rise, the legal landscape is starting to peel back antiquated laws that were put in place 50 years ago. In creating a superior treatment for mental health disorders, the Shroom Boom will give rise… Read more.

Peyote Talk with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Stephen Colbert

March 11, 2023 · CelebStoner

Lily Tomlin is a shaman and she and her acting partner and friend Jane Fonda have taken peyote together, we learned on The Late Show on Mar. 9. Tomlin and Fonda were there to hype their new comedy Moving On, which will be in theaters Mar. 17. Three minutes into the interview, host Stepehn Colbert asked: "You guys have done peyote together. A lot of people are microdosong. What was that experience like?" Tomlin I microdose. She's not that advanced. Colbert Are you microdosing right… Read more.

I’ve been taking psychedelic mushrooms with my mom for 14 years. It’s brought us closer together.

March 10, 2023 · Yahoo!News

My first experience with psychedelics was with my mom when I was 22. We decided to grow our own when we couldn't find mushrooms in Alabama. After 14 years, we still take mushrooms together, and it has brought our family closer together. At 22 years old, I had my first psychedelic experience. My self-appointed trip guide gave me a half-eighth of psilocybin mushrooms. I figured the few dry stems and one button-sized cap weren't enough to do anything. But I trusted my… Read more.

Less than 6 hours from Denver, this trippy town should be on everyone’s bucket list

March 6, 2023 · Denver Post

Santa Fe calls itself “The City Different” in New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment, but could it change you into a different person while visiting? Less than six hours by car from Denver, Santa Fe is close enough for a weekend away or for spring break without a long flight. Yet this small city is like a world away from the Front Range in terms of the vibe and activities. From art to a transformational retreat, there are many mind-altering —… Read more.

‘They’re not fairy tale magic shaman potions.’ Meet the wounded warriors who want red state Republicans to let psilocybin mushrooms turn the tide on veteran suicides

March 6, 2023 · DailyMail

Military veterans trying to overcome the horrors of war are increasingly finding themselves in an unlikely position — persuading Republican politicians to legalize the healing power of ancient psychedelic plants. DailyMail.com spoke with former Marines, Navy Seals and others left traumatized by America's brutal campaigns overseas who have turned to psilocybin mushrooms and other natural drugs to help fight their inner demons. Left-leaning Oregon and Colorado have started to let psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in 'magic' mushrooms, be used in supervised drug journeys to counter depression and… Read more.

Take a trip: An inside look at Emory’s new psychedelics center

March 4, 2023 · Emory Wheel

The room resembles an unassuming Ikea showroom, with cream-colored walls, a white fur rug and a simple twin-sized bed. Potted plants frame each side of the room with an orange lamp and a bag of blue corn chips atop asymmetric tables. The only indicator that something is abnormal is the two chairs at the front of the room facing the bed. Indeed, this is no ordinary bedroom. It is the site where patients are given psilocybin — commonly known as… Read more.

The debate about legalizing psychedelic mushrooms comes to Rhode Island

March 4, 2023 · Boston Globe

PROVIDENCE — An Instagram account this week made fun of the state legislators who have proposed decriminalizing “magic mushrooms.” An image posted by the “What’s going on in Rhode Island” account shows Representative Brandon C. Potter and Senator Meghan E. Kallman against a backdrop of gigantic mushrooms and a psychedelic rainbow swirl. More than 2,200 people “liked” the image, and some of the comments were scathing. “Can always count on the Democrats to find new ways to try to buy votes,”… Read more.

Are Psychedelics the Fountain of Youth? – New Study Links Anti-Aging Effects with Psychedelics

March 1, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Do psychedelics like mushrooms and LSD have anti-aging effects? Dr. Andrew Steele, a physics professor who has ventured into the field of biology, presents a fascinating perspective on longevity in his new book. He emphasizes that it's not cancer or heart disease but aging that is the root cause of the most significant suffering and deaths worldwide. Dr. Steele proposes that by finding pharmacological remedies that target the cells responsible for degrading tissue function, we could unlock the potential for… Read more.

Rapper Vic Mensa on Mushrooms, Ayahuasca and the New Legal Cannabis Industry

March 1, 2023 · Celeb Stoner

On the Revel events usually feature one major celebrity interview. In the past, it has been Styles P and Al Harrington. At their latest winter conferece at City Tech Theater in Brooklyn, NY on Feb. 25, rapper Vic Mensa was the final act of the day. Mensa has his own cannabis brand, 93 Boyz, based in Illinois. Last year, he was arrested for possessing LSD and psilocybin mushroom products at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC. In June, he made a plea deal that allows for unsupervised probation for one year.… Read more.

Lawmakers Across The Country File More Psychedelics Reform, Drug Decriminalization And Safe Consumption Site Bills

February 25, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The first two months of 2023 have shown expansive interest in bold drug policy reform in state legislatures across the country—most recently, with the introduction of numerous new bills touching on everything from psychedelics legalization to authorizing safe drug consumption sites. Lawmakers in several states will conduct hearings on such reform proposals over the next week. The marijuana legalization movement continues to spread and evolve, but it’s become quickly apparent this session that legislators are eager to more holistically move… Read more.

Ayahuasca, ‘source of knowledge’ in the heart of the Amazon

February 24, 2023 · yahoo!news

In the heart of the Ecuadoran Amazon live the Cofan Avie, masters of ayahuasca -- the powerful hallucinogenic concoction said to open the door to the "spirit" world. Here, they call it "yage" and consume it for health and wisdom. "God once lived here on this planet", recounts Isidro Lucitante, the patriarch and shaman of nine Indigenous Cofan Avie families spread over 55,000 hectares of river and jungle along the border with Colombia. This god "pulled out one of his hairs… Read more.

Eighty Six Enters the Legal Psychedelics Market With Launch of Fun Guy Amanita Mushroom Gummies

February 23, 2023 · PR Newswire

Oklahoma based alternative cannabinoid brand Eighty Six jumps on the burgeoning psychedelics market with the launch of Fun Guy, an edibles series dedicated to helping you experience a lighter, brighter, psychedelic trip. Fun Guy enters the market with three classic flavors – BlueRazz, Strawberry, and Watermelon.  Each gummy contains 350mg of Amanita Muscaria, a federally legal medley of mushrooms that deliver a chilled-out psychoactive experience. What are Amanita Mushrooms? Amanita mushrooms, otherwise known as  the Amanita Muscaria, is an easily recognizable red mushroom dotted with… Read more.

John Oliver’s Makes The Case For Psychedelic Assisted Therapy On ‘Last Week Tonight’

February 21, 2023 · The Dales Report

John Oliver is back on “Last Week Tonight” and is once again taking a deep dive into a very intriguing topic: the potential benefits of psychedelic assisted therapy. The show, which aired on Sunday, delves into the history of psychedelics and its potential benefits for mental health. After classically making fun of himself, Oliver, a self-proclaimed drug connoisseur, goes on to look into the different uses of psychedelics, including spirituality, healing, and recreation, throughout the centuries. However, the show focuses on the use… Read more.

Mushroom Extract Shown to Dramatically Improve Brain-Cell Growth in The Lab

February 20, 2023 · MSN

Fungi have attracted attention in recent years for their potential in aiding our brains' growth and functionality. And no, we're not just talking about the psychedelic ones. The lion's mane mushroom, for one, has long had a reputation for various mental health benefits, with recent research supporting its potential in reducing risk for depression or limiting damage from Alzheimer's disease. In a new study conducted by an international team of scientists, researchers identified compounds in the lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) – an edible fungus… Read more.

Washington Senators Strip Psilocybin Bill Of Major Provisions, With Advocates Blaming Governor

February 20, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Washington State Senate committee approved a massive overhaul to a psilocybin services bill on Thursday, gutting sections that would have legalized use of the psychedelic drug by adults—and reform advocates in the state are blaming the governor for being behind the move. As originally filed last month, SB 5263 would have put Washington on the road to regulating psilocybin services much like its neighbor Oregon. Adults 21 and older would have been able to legally use the drug with the… Read more.

What’s it like to take a $249 drug-free psychedelic trip? We found out

February 18, 2023 · LA Times

I’m familiar with magic mushrooms from back in the day. I took them a couple times in college — including on a particularly memorable Halloween — and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. So I was curious about a Santa Monica-based startup called the Reality Center that’s been trying to expand the mind and aid in healing the body via digital psychedelics — a proprietary combination of pulsing lights, sounds and vibrations — instead of consuming drugs. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in… Read more.

Nasdaq Gets a Healthy Dose of Psychedelics With Lucy Scientific

February 17, 2023 · Yahoo!Finance

Lucy Scientific Discovery Inc. (Nasdaq: LSDI), which focuses on psychotropic drugs and had its initial public offering last week, rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange today in New York. The company is focused on becoming the premier research, development, and manufacturing organization for the emerging psychedelics-based medicines industry, it said in a statement. “This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s growth and plans for expansion,” said CEO Chris McElvany. “We look forward to the opportunities ahead of us… Read more.

Novel Combination Of Cannabis-Like Compound With Classical Psychedelics Searches IP Coverage In US

February 15, 2023 · Benzinga

Israeli-based next-gen psychedelics biotech Clearmind Medicine  CMND+0.83%+ Free Alerts together with partner clinical-stage pharma company SciSparc SPRC-0.44%+ Free Alerts has filed three provisional patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patents cover psychedelic-based therapeutics, including monotherapy and novel combinations of SciSparc’s CannAmide and classical psychedelics. More specifically, the patent applications refer to proprietary combinations of LSD, psilocybin, and DMT with SciSparc’s Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a cannabimimetic compound and the active ingredient of its proprietary CannAmide drug. The fruitful collaboration between… Read more.

From Perpetual Otherness To Artistic Triumph: Exploring Identity Through Psychedelic Art With SpookyGirl’s Andi Astra

February 15, 2023 · Forbes

Stepping into the world of illustrator Andi Astra, founder and creative director of SpookyGirl, a colorful home decor, art and apparel brand that boasts more than 150.000 social media followers, is like taking a journey to a different universe. From their base in Honolulu, Hawaii, Andi brings a world of science fiction, color and creativity to life. With a passion for exploring identity and pushing boundaries, Andi's work as SpookyGirl celebrates creative self expression and questions societal norms. What’s more, through… Read more.

Red states join push to legalize magic mushrooms for therapy

February 15, 2023 · Yahoo!News

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Shawn Blymiller spent 10 years of feeling mostly numbed while prescribed traditional anti-depressants, trudging through his day-to-day life as a suburban Salt Lake City father of two kids balancing the obligations of family and work selling technology software. When his son was diagnosed as having special needs a few years later, the stress became increasingly difficult to endure. So like many with treatment-resistant depression, Blymiller, 39, sought out alternatives and found one he said worked: Psychedelic… Read more.

Another kind of ‘super bowl.’ Former NFL athletes talk cannabis, mushrooms

February 13, 2023 · Tucson.com

With the Super Bowl and Phoenix Open in Arizona this weekend, nearly every current and former athlete was in the Valley of the Sun. Most where there to talk about the upcoming big game or next season, but others, especially those retired from their respective sports, were in town to promote their latest ventures. For Ricky Williams, Champ Bailey and Jim McMahon is means promoting their cannabis brands, and for former ASU QB Jake Plummer that latest ventures involves the… Read more.

Can psychedelics really treat OCD, depression, and chronic pain? A researcher explains how they work and their potential risks

February 11, 2023 · Fortune

New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs, taken under strict medical supervision, might help in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. SciLine interviewed Dr. Jennifer Mitchell—a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco—to discuss what scientists have found so far about the effectiveness of these drugs in treating these disorders and how they might safely be administered. The Conversation has collaborated… Read more.

Psychedelic mushroom producer First Person sets terms for $6M US IPO

February 10, 2023 · Seeking Alpha

Psychedelic mushroom producer First Person (FP) has set terms for a downsized $6M initial public offering. First Person, which raises mushrooms for nutritional, nutraceutical and therapeutic purposes, said in a filing that it's planning to offer 1M shares priced between $5.50 and $6.50, which should raise around $6M if priced at the midpoint. Underwriters would be granted a 45-day option to buy up to a 150K additional shares to cover over-allotments. EF Hutton is serving as sole bookrunner. The company hopes to list… Read more.

Psychedelic API Market To Reach $6.1B By 2033 Boosted By LSD: New Analysis

February 10, 2023 · Benzinga

The psychedelic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market, currently estimated at $1.6 billion, is expected to rise at a CAGR of 13.2% over the next ten years and be worth $6.1 billion by the end of 2033. That's according to Persistence Market Research’s latest study, conducted by a team of experts in management, medicine and engineering. “Increasing cGMP practices, growth in the pharmaceutical API manufacturing industry and increasing research on the impact of psychedelics on mental health are factors propelling the global market,”… Read more.

Psychedelics May Be Part of U.S. Medicine Sooner Than You Think

February 8, 2023 · Time

It came as a surprise to many when, on Feb. 3, Australian regulators announced that medicines containing the psychedelic substances MDMA and psilocybin can soon be used there to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression, respectively. That decision makes Australia the first country in the world to formally recognize the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Other countries, including the U.S., may be headed toward a similar outcome, some experts say. Research increasingly suggests that psychedelics can be powerful tools for treating a… Read more.

Australia Legalizes Psilocybin And MDMA Prescriptions As U.S. Patients Seek Similar Authorization

February 6, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The Australian government has rescheduled the psychedelics psilocybin and MDMA to provide access to people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treat-resistant depression. The substances aren’t being legalized for broad use, but by placing them in Schedule 8 for therapeutic use under the country’s drug code, psychiatrists who meet the required standards will be able to prescribe the psychedelics. The drugs will remain in the stricter Schedule 9 for unauthorized use. “The decision acknowledges the current lack of options for… Read more.

LOCALIZE IT: Communities Consider Legalizing Psychedelics

February 2, 2023 · The Skanner

A small but growing movement is pushing to decriminalize the use of psychedelics like “magic mushrooms” and ayahuasca. Colorado in November passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older. It joins Oregon in establishing a regulated system for substances like psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogens found in some mushrooms. Lawmakers in several other states, including Massachusetts and New Hampshire, have introduced bills to decriminalize a range of psychedelics, while an Illinois lawmaker is proposing a sanctioned… Read more.

Prince Harry Recalls Tripping on Mushrooms During Party at Courteney Cox’s House: ‘I Was a Chandler’

February 2, 2023 · People

Prince Harry shares many personal stories in his sweeping memoir Spare — like the time he took magic mushrooms at Courteney Cox's Los Angeles home. The Duke of Sussex, 38, revealed in his bestselling book that he is a "Friends fanatic" and took comfort in the hit NBC sitcom while navigating panic attacks after completing his second tour of Afghanistan a decade ago. Harry wrote in Spare that he became anxious around crowds and cameras after returning to London, so he started staying home. "Day after day, night after… Read more.

Mexican Senator To File Psychedelics Legalization Bill, With U.S. Congressman Backing International Reform Push

January 27, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A Mexican senator announced on Wednesday that she will be introducing a bill to legalize and regulate psychedelics nationwide to give people an alternative treatment option for serious mental health conditions. At an Intercultural Forum on Entheogenic Medicine that took place in the Senate, Sen. Alejandra Lagunes of the Ecologist Green Party said that substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca have “high therapeutic potential, low toxicity and don’t create physical dependence or abuse.” U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) also made remarks… Read more.

The psychedelic industrial complex is evil

“More real than reality itself.” This is the sales pitch made by fans of dimethyltryptamine. Otherwise known as DMT, the compound found in ayahuasca returned to the spotlight recently thanks to Prince Harry’s description of his trips, which, he says, “cleared the windshield” of trauma from his mother’s death. Indeed, psychedelic drugs have shown some promise in treating disorders ranging from depression to PTSD; their proponents have suggested that the apparently mystical experiences they inspire could play a role in everything from preventing war to enabling a future of… Read more.

Across The Globe: Psychedelic Trials To Treat Late-Stage Cancer, Alzheimer’s Begin

January 26, 2023 · Benzinga

Core One Labs' Akome Partners To Study Next-Gen Psychedelics A subsidiary of Core One Labs  CLABF has signed a contract with Fundació Bosh I Gimpera to begin second-phase studies evaluating the therapeutic potential of its bio-compounds (both alone and combined with psychedelic substances). The studies would progress Akome Partners’ pre-clinical development stage of novel psychedelic drug alternatives for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ischemic stroke and depression. Previous studies conducted by Spanish and Italian institutions included bioassay trials… Read more.

Oregon’s legal psilocybin program begins, but services are not yet available

January 26, 2023 · Oregon Live

While national headlines might make it sounds like psychedelic mushrooms are now available for adults in Oregon, that’s not the case. Oregon’s legal therapeutic psilocybin program officially began on Jan. 2, but there are currently no licensed facilities, facilitators or even manufacturers of the substance, all of which are required, at the same time, for legal consumption of “magic mushrooms” in the state. It’s not hard to see why there is some confusion over the nuances of Oregon’s law – psilocybin… Read more.

Too good to be brew! DMT – the potent psychedelic in Ayahuasca – treats depression after a SINGLE dose, cutting-edge clinical trial shows

January 25, 2023 · Daily Mail UK

DMT — the most potent psychedelic known to man —  treats people with severe depression after a single dose, a cutting-edge clinical trial suggests. Up to six in ten who received a single dose of DMT intravenously before therapy were declared depression-free three months later. And three in 10 participants were declared depression-free two weeks after one session, compared to one in ten in the placebo group who just had therapy on its own. N,N-Dymethyltriptamine (DMT) has received the backing of celebrities… Read more.

Search Is On For Psychedelic Patents & FDA Designations, 3 Companies Share News

January 21, 2023 · Benzinga

Drug discovery company Mindset Pharma  MSSTF has been greenlighted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on its application “Psilocin Derivatives As Serotonergic Psychedelic Agents for the Treatment of CNS Disorders.”  The application includes the company’s psilocybin analogs lead drug candidate MSP-1014, its backup MSP-1009 and additional pro-drug candidates belonging to the family 1 tryptamine drug compounds. Both MSP-1014 and MSP-1009 demonstrated improved efficacy and safety profiles with reduced potential side effects and evidence of increased target engagement in preclinical studies. … Read more.

The rebirth of psychedelic medicine

January 9, 2023 · Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute

It was 1985 and John Lawn had seen enough.  In Boston nightclubs and Dallas bars, MDMA — better known by its street name, ecstasy — had become an enormously popular recreational drug. It had also terrified the Reagan administration, which was in the midst of its historic War on Drugs. Lawn, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the time, acted quickly. Despite the outcry of medical professionals pointing to the range of MDMA’s clinical uses, Lawn classified the drug as… Read more.

Numinus In Strong Position To Capture US$2.5 Billion Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Market

December 20, 2022 · The Dales Report

As the COVID pandemic broke open quite clearly, never has there been a greater need for innovation to treat psychological disorders. With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring mental health disorders as the leading cause of disability worldwide – nearly a billion people are impacted by mental illness of some measurable type. In North America, Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSE: NUMI) (OTCMKTS: NUMIF) is leading the charge among public companies treating patients with emerging psychedelic medicine to ease the pain. In June 2022, Numinus took a big… Read more.

A 36-year-old CEO saw how psychedelics treated his best friend’s mental illness. Now his Peter Thiel-funded firm wants to bring the drugs to the masses

December 5, 2022 · Fortune

Florian Brand knows that there aren’t many people with his profile in biopharma. “You would probably consider me an outlier,” says the 36-year-old chief executive of Germany’s up-and-coming Atai Life Sciences. He doesn’t have a Ph.D. or any scientific background. His previous gig was running an online cookware retailer. But he does possess a history of profound experiences with mental health—experiences that left such an impression that four years ago he dropped everything to cofound Atai, a biopharmaceutical company now backed… Read more.

How Psychedelics Can Transform End-of-Life Care

November 7, 2022 · Slate

Welcome to State of Mind, a new section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. If you’re on TikTok or Instagram, you may have encountered one of nurse Julie McFadden’s viral videos about all things death and dying. Hospice Nurse Julie, as she’s known, shares just how beautiful and difficult dying can be, and has a thing or two to say about how we can make things better for the many people who suffer… Read more.

Does Health Insurance Cover Mushrooms and
Psychedelics? (Even with a Doctor’s Note?)

October 31, 2022 · Cannabis.net

It may seem far-fetched to have a health insurance company pay for an ecstasy or magic mushroom trip, but the psychedelics market is already crunching the statistics and proposing US insurers. Early results from clinical trials on substances like MDMA and psilocybin have been encouraging. In the middle of what is often regarded as a mental health crisis, many of these initiatives target a few of the most expensive and challenging mental health conditions while they are still happening. Researchers and executives… Read more.

The DEA Wants More Weed and Mushrooms Grown for Research – Is It a Trap for One-Sided Negative Research Papers?

October 26, 2022 · Cannabis.net

The DEA Wants to Double the Amount of Cannabis & Psychedelics Grown for Research This Doesn’t Seem Like Good News The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a notice earlier this month, announcing their intention of proposing a much larger increase in cannabis to be grown for research by next year. The notice specifically mentions they want to boost the production of psychedelics including psilocin, mescaline, and LSD, reports Marijuana Moment. The notice proposed the production of some 14,770 pounds of marijuana for 2023.… Read more.

The Natural Medicine Act – Will Colorado Join Oregon in Legalizing Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms Next Month?

Next month, voters in Colorado will decide whether to legalize psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogenic compounds found in what are generally known as magic mushrooms. The Natural Medicine Act, also known as Proposition 122, would make it legal to own and grow magic mushrooms. The plan calls for authorized healing centers to be able to provide psilocybin and psilocin for medicinal purposes. According to the non-profit organizations backing the initiative,  natural psychedelic medications are non-addictive. They can offer significant benefits to people… Read more.

Giving a Whole New Meaning to ‘Get Lite’ – Psychedelics Light Up the Neuropathways in the Brain According to a New Medical Study

October 26, 2022 · Cannabis.net

Brand New Study Shows How Psychedelics Light Up Neuropathways In The Brain - More Fascinating Insight Into How Psychedelics Work Psychedelics are all the rage right now. And for good reason: these trippy substances have so much more therapeutic value than we thought. Drugs that were once used for recreation have been proven to have physical and mental benefits, treating several ailments that even pharmaceutical drugs have failed to despite being around for several decades. Plus, psychedelics don’t have the same side effects… Read more.

Engineering Psychedelics: $22M Pool For Clinical Trials Of Compounds Targeting CNS Disorders

NYC and Cambridge-based Empyrean Neuroscience Inc. is a new genetic engineering company developing neuroactive compounds for neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders launching with a $22 million Series A financing. The company’s CEO is long-time biotech executive Dr. Usman “Oz” Azam, joined by Dr. Fred Grossman as chief medical officer. Azam has previously worked on genetic engineering with Dr. Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania, while Grossman is a psychiatrist that holds expertise in CNS-targeted small molecules development. Both leadmen say the goal is to target the demand gap within… Read more.

Cory Booker Pushes For Psychedelics Reform To Unlock Therapeutic Access

October 18, 2022 · Marijuana Moment

As Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) works to enact marijuana reform before the end of Congress, he’s also pushing to promote access to psychedelics that he says hold therapeutic potential. In a video posted to Twitter on Monday, the senator talked about how psychedelics like psilocybin are strictly controlled under federal law as Schedule I drugs, which places “a lot of limitations” on them. “But at the same time, we’re having massive breakthroughs in a lot of the research,” he said,… Read more.