This Month in Psychedelics - August 2022

Policy

Following last month’s attempt to ban five novel psychoactive substances, which was later withdrawn, the DEA announced a plan to criminalize two additional psychedelic drugs—DOI and DOC. However, shortly after the announcement the DEA backed down and communicated that it no longer intends to place these two substances in Schedule I. While this may end up being a temporary victory, it is still a big win for now.

Industry

The psychedelic industry experienced a lot of movement this month. MindMed put an end to its 18-MC for opioid addiction program and slashed a lot of their early research and development projects. atai Life Sciences also decided to narrow its focus as well, cutting three programs: DemeRx’s noribogaine program, the non-psychedelic drug N-acetylcysteine for brain injury, and Salvinorin A for depression. And finally, Mydecine is looking like it is on the verge of closing due to a lack of funding.

Research

A randomized-clinical trial found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is capable of treating alcohol use disorder. The study had a fairly small sample size of only 93 patients but the effect size was large, with the patients who received psilocybin reduced their drinking by 83% within eight months of their first dose.

Meanwhile, yet another placebo-controlled study found that psilocybin microdosing did not have any significant benefits to creativity, cognition, or perception. This study also had a small sample size, with only 34 participants, but it adds to the pile of evidence accumulating against the idea that microdosing has any tangible benefits that go beyond the placebo effect.

Miscellaneous

NFL football player Aaron Rodgers opened up about how he used ayahuasca to help him with his mental health and propel him to the point where he is at now in his career as the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. This was a pretty big admission in the world of sports, where the use of illegal drugs is a big no-no. Fortunately both his coach and the league were accepting of the news, and hopefully this is the beginning of a trend because it would be great to see even more professional athletes come forward about their experiences with illegal drugs.

However, not all athletes got off so easy. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for the possession and smuggling of cannabis oil cartridges. Since then she has appealed the conviction and is hoping to overturn the ruling, but there’s no telling how this case will play out in court.

Wrapping up this month’s recap is a video of a wild bear who helped himself to a supply of psychedelic honey and ended up incapacitated in the back of a truck. Fortunately he turned out just fine after coming down from his trip, which I’m sure he’ll remember for the rest of his life!

That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.

Think Wilder is reader-supported. If you enjoyed this month’s update, please consider helping out by becoming a patron, making a one-time donation, or sharing this post with a friend. Thank you for your support.

This Month in Psychedelics - July 2022

Policy

Following an attempt to ban five novel psychedelic substances, the DEA has withdrawn its proposal so that scientists will have more time to research therapeutic benefits. This decision came on the heels of a public hearing a few weeks ago where advocates, researchers, and policy experts spoke out against the ban.

Looking to the future, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate to end federal cannabis prohibition, President Joe Biden’s administration is planning for the possibility of legal psychedelic therapy within the next two years, and Colorado voters will be voting this November about whether to legalize psychedelics in the state. In addition, San Francisco is working toward decriminalizing psychedelics in the future.

Industry

The world’s first ecstasy “shop” opened in the Netherlands, just outside of Amsterdam in the city of Utrecht. Named “De XTC Winkel” (“The Ecstasy Shop” in English), the temporary store will remain open until mid-September. Since MDMA is illegal in the Netherlands, no drugs will be on sale. Instead, the shop will provide an interactive experience of how a real ecstasy shop could work in a future where the drug is legal.

Research

Health Canada halted trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to review potential patient safety issues and found that while some corrective measures were put in place, at least one of the trials has been allowed to continue. The safety review was in large part a reaction to coverage from publications like Psymposia, New York Magazine, and The Cut, which put a spotlight on serious issues in MAPS MDMA trials involving patient safety and the abuse of power dynamics by nefarious therapists and facilitators.

Harm Reduction

Back in February a batch of champagne was taken off the European market due to contamination with MDMA, and a second batch was recalled this month. The latest batch killed one person and poisoned 10 others. It’s unclear how MDMA-infused champagne is entering the market, but it’s worth mentioning that mixing ecstasy into alcohol and serving it to others without their knowledge is irresponsible and dangerous.

Miscellaneous

The psychedelic community lost one of its most influential elders this month. Ann Shulgin, wife of late Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin, passed away at the age of 91. Known for pioneering the therapeutic use of MDMA, 2C-B, and several other psychedelic compounds, Ann and Sasha co-authored two seminal books—PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story and TiHKAL: The Continuation. She will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, Ann.

If you’re looking for some new psychedelic content to consume, look no further than Michael Pollan’s new four-part docuseries called How to Change Your Mind on Netflix. And if you know someone who would benefit from learning more about psychedelics, this is a great introductory crash course for them to check out.

Additional Top Stories

• Your Genes May Determine How You React To Psychedelic Drugs (IFLScience)

• Churches sue to use hallucinogenic tea in religious practice (UPI)

• Largest-ever clinical study of ketamine therapy shows that at-home model can be a safe, effective treatment for anxiety and depression; 62% fewer patients report suicidal ideation after four sessions (PR Newswire)

That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.

Think Wilder is reader-supported. If you enjoyed this month’s update, please consider helping out by becoming a patron, making a one-time donation, or sharing this post with a friend. Thank you for your support.

This Month in Psychedelics - June 2022

Policy

Thailand legalized the cultivation and sale of cannabis after removing the plant from its banned narcotics list. As such, it has become the first nation to do so in Southeast Asia, which is well-known for having extremely strict drug laws. However, this move does not mean that Thailand has entirely legalized cannabis, as the government is still heavily discouraging personal use for non-medical reasons and officials have warned against smoking or vaping it in public.

Colorado’s governor signed a bill that will allow the state to legalize MDMA prescriptions if and when the federal government eventually allows its therapeutic use. This new legislation would legalize prescribing, dispensing, transporting, possessing, and using MDMA after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves it as a prescription drug, which is expected as soon as next year.

Industry

A petition challenging two patents held by Compass Pathways was denied by the Patent Trial and Appeal board. Although the challenger (Freedom to Operate) presented evidence that synthetic psilocybin is not a new invention, and thus should not be patentable, the United States Patent and Trademark Office disagreed. Unfortunately there is no ability for Freedom to Operate to appeal this decision.

Research

Another placebo-controlled study found that LSD microdosing does not improve mood or cognitive ability. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean that microdosing is ineffective, it is more evidence that it may not be as life-changing as its proponents believe it to be.

Harm Reduction

Festivalgoers in England have been warned that a combination of Brexit, Covid-19 lockdowns, and attempts by police to disrupt the supply chain have led to a dangerous increase in fake MDMA. Researchers found that roughly half of substances sold as the drug did not contain any of the advertised compound. Instead, purchasers were buying drugs containing cathinones, novel psychoactive substances, and/or caffeine. Be safe out there folks!

Miscellaneous

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has started running clinical trials to see if psychedelic-assisted therapy is effective at treating a variety of conditions that veterans of recent wars commonly experience. This marks the first time that psychedelic research has been conducted on members of the U.S. military on such a wide scale and hopefully it will yield positive results.

Additional Top Stories

• DARE 2.0 is "Keepin' it Real" in US schools (Substance)

• An Ayahuasca Retreat Claims to Sell 'Miracles.' Former Workers and Guests Say It's Unsafe and Abusive. (VICE)

• Prescription cannabis products with more THC may ease chronic pain, at least a little, study finds (CNN)

• Another Phoenix Church Sues DEA Over Religious Use of Ayahuasca (Phoenix New Times)

• Malaysia Ends Mandatory Death Penalty for Nonviolent Drug Crimes (High Times)

That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.

Think Wilder is reader-supported. If you enjoyed this month’s update, please consider helping out by becoming a patron, making a one-time donation, or sharing this post with a friend. Thank you for your support.

This Month in Psychedelics - April 2022

Policy

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to federally legalize cannabis for the second time in history, following a similar bill that was approved in 2020 but which stalled in the Senate. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act would end cannabis prohibition and promote social equity in the industry. The bill’s next stop is the Senate, where its future is uncertain.

Industry

While it was once a hopeful area for investing, psychedelic stocks are having a really bad trip right now. With multiple psychedelic stocks having lost their value since peaking last year, investors are becoming more wary about dumping their money into psychedelic companies.

The psychedelic industry’s first major merger is about to go down. Numinus Wellness announced this month that it will acquire Novamind Inc. This consolidation of two businesses may be the first, but it’s unlikely to be the last as this emerging industry continues to evolve.

Research

There was more trouble in the psychedelic research realm following last month’s release of some disturbing footage of therapists spooning and pinning down a patient during an official MAPS MDMA trial for the treatment of PTSD in Canada. Health Canada has now announced it will review all trials involving MDMA to analyze patient safety and verify that researchers complied with regulations. Meanwhile, in a separate instance a psychedelic therapist was reported to have allegedly taken millions of dollars from an elderly Holocaust survivor. It should go without saying that this misconduct in the psychedelic research and therapy spaces needs to be acknowledged and addressed to ensure this type of behavior doesn’t continue in the future.

However, not all this month’s psychedelic research updates are bad news. A small study found that psilocybin is capable of spurring brain activity in depressed patients and a separate study found that people who use magic mushrooms are less likely to develop an opioid use disorder.

Harm Reduction

While it’s not a story directly about harm reduction, it’s worth mentioning a tragedy that occurred in Florida when a bride and her caterer were arrested after allegedly spiking a wedding reception dinner with cannabis without letting their guests know about it. Several attendees felt ill and were escorted to the hospital, and the police were called on scene to establish order and assist with the situation. It should go without saying that dosing others with psychoactive drugs without their knowledge is inappropriate, unacceptable, and potentially even dangerous. It may sound like no big deal if you are used to using a particular drug, but it’s not a wise thing to do.

Miscellaneous

U.S. President Joe Biden has been in office for more than a year now, and he finally got around to commuting the sentences of 75 people with non-violent federal drug convictions. It’s a small step in the right direction, albeit a bit disappointing considering that he had the opportunity to do much more, but at least it’s a good start.

Wrapping up this month’s recap, researchers found evidence that children who were sacrificed during Peruvian rituals hundreds of years ago were under the influence of ayahuasca and coca, possibly even during the rituals themselves.

That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.

Think Wilder is reader-supported. If you enjoyed this month’s update, please consider helping out by becoming a patron, making a one-time donation, or sharing this post with a friend. Thank you for your support.

This Month in Psychedelics - March 2022

A lot happened in the world of psychedelics in February. A Central American country legalized medical marijuana, another Michigan city decriminalized psychedelics, some ups and downs involving MDMA therapy research, a new U.S. drug-checking mail program, and a caution about natural forms of 5-MeO-DMT.

There’s a lot to get through this month, so without further ado, let’s jump into the news:

Policy

Wins

Costa Rica became the latest country in Central America to legalize medical marijuana after President Carlos Alvarado signed the bill into law. Earlier this year he vetoed the bill due to a lack of limits on individual cultivation and consumption, but after lawmakers made those revisions he approved it.

Another Michigan city decriminalized psychedelics and activists are now pursuing a statewide policy change. Hazel Park is the third city in the state to decriminalize psychedelics after Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Research

Published Studies

There was a lot of news involving MDMA therapy, including a follow-up from a Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA therapy for PTSD that found the drug to be safe and effective. Another study found that the treatment significantly reduced eating disorder symptoms. And a separate analysis suggested that MDMA therapy for PTSD could save the healthcare system millions of dollars.

But not everything involving MDMA therapy research was positive. A disturbing video was released showing sexual abuse and scenes of traumatic events that took place during an official MAPS trial. This has come on the heels of Cover Story, a podcast dedicated to this very topic. It remains to be seen if the criticisms involving improprieties that occurred during clinical research will have any impact on whether MDMA therapy is legalized by the FDA or not.

Harm Reduction

Although its still in its early stages and not available to the public yet, the U.S. now has a free, rapid drug-checking mail program. I look forward to the day when anyone who wants to test a drug sample has access to do just that. After all, testing your drugs is one of the first things you should do before consuming them! (The other is weighing them, because eyeballing a dose is a sure-fire way to eventually have a really bad time.)

Miscellaneous

With the recent increase in demand for 5-MeO-DMT, the Sonoran desert toad that produces this psychedelic compound is in danger. Many people believe that using a synthetic version of the drug is preferable to extracting it from these toads, especially considering the fact that their population is under serious stress. If you are considering working with 5-MeO-DMT it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with this phenomenon so you can make an intelligent decision about which route to take.

That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.

Think Wilder is reader-supported. If you enjoyed this month’s update, please consider helping out by becoming a patron, making a one-time donation, or sharing this post with a friend. Thank you for your support.