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Post Tag: Regulations

Posted on January 20, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Client Data Concerns in Oregon, Hopeful Legalization in New Hampshire, and Vital & The Five Elements

In this week’s episode, Joe is joined by Kyle, calling in from The Atman Retreat in Jamaica, where he’s running the fourth of five retreats offered through our Vital program. 

They first discuss some news: Oregon Senator Elizabeth Steiner introducing a bill (SB-303) to essentially override many of the recommendations of the Oregon Health Authority, especially around client data – which would be provided to government agencies instead of staying private (which the people voted for); a reparations proposal in San Francisco recognizing the harms of the drug war; GOP lawmakers in Missouri and New Hampshire proposing bills for psilocybin therapy and psychedelics legalization (respectively); and Canada’s Apex Labs being granted approval for a take-home psilocybin microdosing trial.

Then, Kyle gives us an update on his very busy last few months, running Vital retreats: breathwork in Costa Rica, breathwork and cannabis in Colorado, and psilocybin in Amsterdam and Jamaica. He talks about the retreats themselves, the five components of breathwork, the idea of safety and “brave spaces,” the power of community and being witnessed, the concept of focusing on technique over the substance, what students have been saying, and finally: how the five elements relate to Vital, psychedelic therapy, seasons, and the process of growth. Reminder that applications for Vital’s 2023 edition (beginning in April) close at the end of February, so if you’re curious, head to the site to learn more or attend an upcoming Q+A here!

Links

Psychedelicweek.com: Psychedelic Surveillance Bill Would Raise Social and Economic Cost of Oregon Psilocybin Services

Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative

Msn.com: San Francisco reparations committee proposes a $5 million payment to each Black resident

Cnn.com: North Carolina city votes to approve reparations for Black residents

SF.gov: African American Reparations Advisory Committee

Marijuanamoment.net: GOP New Hampshire Lawmaker Files Bill To Legalize Psychedelics Like LSD And Psilocybin

Marijuanamoment.net: Lawmakers Are Already Pursuing Psychedelics Legislation In Nearly A Dozen States For 2023

Marijuanamoment.net: New Hampshire GOP And Democratic House Leaders Team Up On Marijuana Legalization Bill For 2023 (there is progress!)

Wcia.com: Illinois lawmaker introduces bill to create regulated psychedelic therapy program

Newswire.ca: Apex Labs Granted Approval for 294 Patient Take Home Psilocybin Clinical Trial

Marijuanamoment.net: GOP Missouri Lawmaker Files Psilocybin Therapy Bill For 2023 Session

Psychedelics Today: What is Breathwork? (The five components)

Umaryland.edu: The 6 Pillars of a Brave Space

Brenebrown.com

Posted on January 13, 2023January 13, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Prince Harry and Psychedelics, Proposed Legalization, and The Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D. Professorship Fund

For this week’s episode, we had plans for a guest to join Joe to talk about some legal battles, but as seems to be the norm this time of year, sickness postponed that conversation to a future date. With David taking some much-deserved time off and Kyle in Jamaica on a Vital retreat, this Psychedelics Weekly is a rarity: just Joe, monologuing the news.

It’s probably best to just listen and head to the links to follow along, but some highlights this week are: Prince Harry coming out of the psychedelic closet; Virginia lawmakers proposing the legalization of psilocybin; psychedelics legislation already in plans for nearly a dozen states in 2023; NBC news recognizing the need psychedelic therapists, facilitators, and education; the WHO aiming to rename 5-MeO-DMT to Mebufotenin; and Roland Griffiths creating The Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D. Professorship Fund to ensure his work continues to be recognized after he passes.  

He also talks about Convergence, and you should know that prices increase on January 16, so don’t wait any longer! Check back next week for more news and, *fingers-crossed* a co-host – hopefully Kyle calling in to tell us all about the retreat!

Links

Cbsnews.com: Prince Harry says he’s used psychedelics to help cope with grief

Npr.org: On Point podcast (“Psychedelics and who should be able to use them” from 1/6)

Psychedelics Today: PT338 – Melissa Lavasani – The Power of Storytelling, The Preservation of Peyote, and “How to Change Your Mind”

Psychedelics Today: PT223 – Daniel Carcillo – Life After Sports

Psychedelicmedicinecoalition.org

Cnn.com: Chasing Life Podcast, with Dr. Sanjay Gupta – What Promise Do Psychedelics Hold As Therapeutics​​

Marijuanamoment.net: Lawmakers Are Already Pursuing Psychedelics Legislation In Nearly A Dozen States For 2023

Virginiamercury.com: Virginia lawmakers propose legalizing medicinal use of psychedelic mushroom compound psilocybin

Westword.com: Drug Record-Sealing Clinic In Wake of Colorado’s New Psychedelics Law

Cityweekly.net: Dr. Strangelove: Accused killer Dr. Robert Weitzel has a troubled career, but plenty of defenders.

Atmanretreat.com

Nbcnews.com: Psychedelic therapies are on the horizon, but who will administer the drugs?

Futurism.com: Startup Trying to test Whether People on DMT Experience a Shared Alien Universe

Dmtx.org

Psychedelics Today: Daniel McQueen – DMTx and Future Psychedelic Technologies

Twitter.com: Psychedelic Alpha: WHO Gives 5-MeO-DMT Generic Name: Mebufotenin

Tim Ferriss Show #646: Brian C. Muraresku with Dr. Mark Plotkin: The Eleusinian Mysteries, Discovering the Divine, The Immortality Key, The Pagan Continuity Hypothesis, Psychedelics, and More

Psychedelics Today: Mark Plotkin – Bio-Cultural Conservation of the Amazon

Psychedelics Today: PTSF 35 (with Brian Muraresku)

Griffithsfund.org

Hopkinspsychedelic.org

UCLA Psychedelic Studies Initiative

UCLA Psychedelic Studies Initiative’s survey: Psilocybin to treat drug addictions

Mixmag.net: New Zealand Authorities Believe 4KG of MDMA Was Flushed Down A Toilet

Psychedelics Today: Convergence

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for I.B.S., NY Aims to Legalize, and B.C.’s Decriminalization Experiment

In this week’s episode, Joe and David meet up to talk about Vital, Convergence, and the latest news: 

-Tryp Therapeutics and Mass General signing a letter of intent for a Phase 2 clinical trial investigating the effects of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome – interesting because it further highlights the likely effect of psychedelics on the brain-gut connection and that psychotherapy is involved;

-New York lawmakers pre-filing a bill to legalize DMT, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin and psilocyn (and remove them from the state’s banned substances list) for 2023;

-New York’s first cannabis dispensary finally opening on December 29;

-British Columbia responding to their opioid crisis (the latest data reports 14k deaths since 2016) by beginning a Portugal-like decriminalization model, allowing people 18 years and older to carry a combined 2.5 grams of drugs (heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and even MDMA);

and finally, an interesting but confusing (maybe a follow-up is necessary) article showing that what we’re learning about ketamine could lead towards a better understanding of psychosis and schizophrenia.

Links

Accesswire.com: Tryp Therapeutics and Massachusetts General Hospital Sign Letter of Intent for Clinical Study Investigating the Use of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Patients Suffering From Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Psychedelics Today: PT350 – Psilocybin and Accessing the “Off” Switch For Nociplastic Pain, featuring Jim Gilligan

PT283 – Greg McKee – Nociplastic Pain and Psychedelics

PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer? Featuring: Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD

Lucid.news: Researcher Charles Nichols Studies the Impact of Psychedelic Substances on Inflammation

Marijuanamoment.net: New York Lawmakers File Psychedelics Legalization Bill For 2023

Fox5ny.com: NY lawmakers propose bills to decriminalize, study psychedelics

Nydailynews.com: Crowd swarms first legal NYC marijuana shop on second day; long line to enter East Village store

Housingworks.org

Cheknews.ca: B.C. poised for drug decriminalization experiment, but will it help stem deadly tide?

Wiley.com: The psychotomimetic ketamine disrupts the transfer of late sensory information in the corticothalamic network

Neurosciencenews.com: Ketamine Found to Increase Brain Noise

Sciencedirect.com: Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology

Posted on December 30, 2022January 2, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Psilocybin and Stress Response, the Minnesota Medical Association Endorses Decriminalization, and Scott Wiener Introduces Senate Bill 58

In this week’s episode, Joe and Kyle are together again before Kyle sets off for a 2-month road trip centered around Vital retreats, where we hope he’ll be able to report in from live while in Jamaica. 

They talk about Vital: applications are open for the April 2023 edition and close in February, so if you have questions, check out the website or attend an upcoming Q+A. And Joe and other members of the team will be at MAPS’ conference in Denver this June (use code PT15 at checkout for 15% off), as well as Cannadelic in Miami this February.  

And for the news, they highlight four stories this week: “Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers,” showing that, even with a small study, long-term stress response was much lower than the placebo group; The Economist highlighting psychedelic medicines as one of the five stories to watch out for in 2023; the Minnesota Medical Association endorsing the decriminalization of drugs with a 219-34 vote, mimicking the Portugal model and saying that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that criminal penalties for possession deter drug use; and San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener submitting a new version of his previously denied SB-519 (now SB-58) that no longer includes LSD and MDMA – modeling the more natural medicine model that we’ve seen succeed in other states. As Joe says often, we want everything and we want it now, but every step helps, as we’ve seen with recent posts about people not being sent to prison for the rest of their lives.

Links

Convergence

Vitalpsychedelictraining.com

Vital 2023: Informational Session and Q&A

Microdosing Masterclass: Investigate the history, science, and best practices for safe and effective microdosing

Psychedelicscience.org (MAPS conference, use code PT15 for 15% off)

Medrxiv.org: Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers

Psychopharmacology in Maastricht’s Twitter thread about this study

Springer.com: Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning

The Economist: The World Ahead 2023: five stories to watch out for

Awaknlifesciences.com

Yahoo.com: Medicine Innovations Group Announces Closing Under Share Subscription Agreement

Marijuanamoment.net: Minnesota Medical Association Endorses Decriminalizing Drugs

Marijuanamoment.net: New Jersey Senate President Files Psilocybin Legalization Bill That Includes Home Grow Option, Unlike Current Marijuana Law

Sfgate.com: ‘Magic mushrooms’ would be decriminalized in California under new bill

Lawenforcementactionpartnership.org

Instagram: ICEERS’ post about Kat Courtney, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison in the USA for ayahuasca

Cannadelic.miami

Posted on December 23, 2022December 23, 2022

Psychedelics Weekly – Prop 122 and Data Privacy, Ending the Crack/Cocaine Sentencing Disparity, and the High Cost of Psychedelic Therapy

In this week’s episode, Kyle is back on the podcast, joining Joe to discuss three recent articles; two of which pose a lot of questions. 

They first look at Colorado’s Proposition 122, which, now that it has passed, enters into the long and arduous process of being figured out – all while existing in the complicated paradigm of state vs. federal legality. One of the biggest concerns revolves around data collection and privacy: Is the collected data truly anonymous? Since psychedelics will still be federally illegal, how can we trust that the DEA isn’t going to abuse their power? 

Next, they discuss Attorney General Merrick Garland making moves to end the sentencing disparity between offenses involving powder cocaine and crack cocaine: while essentially the same substance, being caught with 28 grams of crack cocaine currently carries the same sentencing as having 500 grams of powder!  

And lastly, they touch on a very interesting article from Lucid News about the value of psychedelic therapy, which gives some staggering data points showing why the black market will always exist: MDMA-assisted therapy sessions likely costing $11,500 (with the MDMA itself costing between $480 and $9,600), Esketamine treatments costing as much as $32,400 a year, and more – all with results that don’t seem to be as long-lasting as many believed they would be. This one deserves more analysis, but Joe and Kyle had limited time for recording this week, so stay tuned for more. For now, enjoy this episode, and Happy Holidays from the Psychedelics Today team!

Links

5280.com: Big Questions Surround the Rollout of Psychedelics in Colorado

Wired.com: Seeking Psychedelics? Check the Data Privacy Clause

Nbcnews.com: AG issues new guidance on ending sentencing disparities for crack versus powder cocaine cases

Psychedelicstoday.com: PT236 – Drugs: Honesty, Responsibility, and Logic, featuring Dr. Carl Hart

Lucid.news: Is the High Cost of Psychedelic Therapy Worth It?

Blossomanalysis.com

Tim.blog: Dennis McKenna — The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions, Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, Science, Churches, Learnings, Warnings, and Beyond (#523)

Posted on November 18, 2022December 2, 2022

Psychedelics Weekly – Oregon Measure 109: Approaching the Proposed Final Rules

This week’s episode features David Drapkin and Jon Dennis, who you know from Eyes on Oregon and all of the work he’s done in an effort to protect religious freedom under Oregon’s Measure 109.

They discuss opposition and concerns around Colorado Proposition 122 (which officially passed last week with 53% of the vote!) and recent cannabis legalization in three states, then move on to Oregon: what it’s been like being so involved in Measure 109’s rulemaking progress, what people were saying during this week’s final public comment period, whether María Sabina would be able to work under the proposed guidelines, and even the idea of microdosing under this new framework. 

Links

Eyes on Oregon

Psychedelics Today: Religious Practice Under Oregon Measure 109

Navigating Psychedelics For Clinicians and Therapists

Microdose.buzz: Colorado Votes to Legalize Psilocybin Therapy; Allow Personal Use of Psychedelics (Microdose)

Native coalition against Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (Indian Country Today)

Oregon Psilocybin Business Bans Approved By Voters In Cities And Counties Across The State (Marijuana Moment)

Nearly 70% of Oregon bans psilocybin, but clinics will still open next year (Leafly)

Oregon Psilocybin Services Act (Measure 109) Local Jurisdiction Tracker (Psychedelic Alpha)

Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board Overview

Eyes on Oregon: Last Call – Proposed Final Rules for Measure 109 (Psychedelics Today webinar replay)

With speeches, stars and a blow-up joint, protesters press Biden on pot (Washington Post)

Most Voters In Two States That Defeated Marijuana Ballot Measures Actually Support Legalization In General, Election Poll Finds (Marijuana Moment)

Psychedelicalex.com

Posted on November 11, 2022November 18, 2022

Psychedelics Weekly – Wonderland Controversy and Colorado Proposition 122

In April of 2020, the world was locking down at the same time the Black Lives Matter movement was gathering steam, and Joe and Kyle found themselves in new territory, filled with uncertainty and fear while watching conflicts explode everywhere. They felt an immediate need to talk about all that was happening, largely as a way to break through the lockdown malaise and connect with each other, and hopefully, our audience. And so, Solidarity Fridays was born: a different style of podcast that, instead of interviewing a guest about their story, focused on what was most pressing in their world: in the psychedelic space, and in their lives.

Other priorities took over and the series slowly faded away, but today, we’re happy to announce that the spirit of Solidarity Fridays has returned in a new weekly show, aptly titled Psychedelics Weekly.

The show will feature a rotating cast of familiar voices, while introducing new hosts and friends of the show, covering the most important psychedelic news (and our take on it), while giving you all a glimpse into what’s going on in our lives and at Psychedelics Today.

This week features Joe and Kyle, discussing the controversy around Wonderland banning a small list of people from attending, Colorado Proposition 122 passing (at least we think…), and the newest round of Navigating Psychedelics (starting November 29th; reserve your seat now!). 

Links

Colorado Voters Approve Psychedelics Legalization Ballot Initiative (Marijuana Moment)

Proposition 122: Decriminalization and Regulated Access Program for Certain Psychedelic Plants and Fungi Initiative details (Ballotpedia)

Native coalition against Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (Prop 122 opposition from Indian Country Today)

Prop 122 Opposition from Protecting Colorado Kids

The 2nd Annual Microdose Awards winners (where’s Podcast of the Year?)

Navigating Psychedelics for Clinicians and Therapists (new round begins November 29th!)

Posted on November 4, 2022November 15, 2022

PT370 – Prohibition, Civil Disobedience, and The Coca Leaf Cafe

In this episode, Joe interviews Dana Larsen: one of Canada’s most well-known advocates for cannabis reform and long-time anti-drug-war activist.

Larsen discusses his path from a high school kid sending letters to Canadian Parliament about cannabis drug policy, to his recent Overgrow Canada stunt (where he gave away 10 million cannabis seeds in order to encourage people to grow plants everywhere), to opening his mushroom dispensary where he sells psilocybin and LSD, to last year; opening The Coca Leaf Cafe: a Vancouver, BC-based store that sells peyote and coca leaf tea (and they’re apparently the only store in the world doing this). As a long-time fighter of the drug war who has clearly made great strides, he talks a lot about prohibition and its many problems; and how, in all of his work, it’s been civil disobedience that has been the most successful. 

He discusses what it’s going to take to establish a recreational mushroom market; differences between US and Canadian reform; his feelings on peyote; his thoughts on new designer drugs; his concerns with current rehab and safe supply systems; and he gives and an oddly fitting analogy between the stereotypical picture of an opiate user and the masturbation panic that spread through Europe for hundreds of years.

Notable Quotes

“I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and looking back at this time, the one tactic that was the most effective was the civil disobedience. I’ve done a lot of political work, I’ve done lobbying and other things, and there’s a role and a place for that. But for me, I think the most success has come from myself and others openly breaking the law.”

“Large doses of mushrooms can be great, but for a lot of people, they don’t want to be super high. They just want a little bit. And I think that there’s a tendency, if it’s legal, for most people to move towards milder forms of use. When there’s prohibition, a lot of folks stop using, but those that continue to use are pushed towards the most extreme forms of use, which is most harmful for them and for society in general.”

“We talk about harm reduction, and I think that’s important, but the other side of harm reduction is benefit maximization. These substances aren’t just harmful; like with anything, you want to reduce the harms, but there’s positive things about cannabis use and mushroom use and cocaine use and heroin use. …There are a lot of positives about these substances as well as the negatives. Prohibition just makes the positives very hard to manifest and it accentuates the negatives to an absurd degree.”

Links

Danalarsen.com

Mushroomdispensary.com

Cocaleafcafe.com

Potheadbooks.com

Vancouver.ca: Decriminalizing simple possession of illicit drugs in Vancouver

Overgrowcanada.com

NYpost.com: Pot protest slams Biden for ‘self-serving’ and ‘disgusting’ pardon stunt

Mashed.com: Did The Government Really Poison Alcohol During Prohibition?

Psychonautwiki.org: Proscaline

Vicetv.com: Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia: Positive PCP Story

Dana’s Twitter thread about police corruption in Mexico

Getyourdrugstested.com

Psychedelics Today: PT311 – William Leonard Pickard – LSD, Fentanyl, Prison, and the Greatest Gift of All: The Natural Mind

Posted on October 25, 2022November 11, 2022

PT367 – Colorado Proposition 122 and the Decriminalization of Natural Medicines

In this episode, Joe interviews David Bronner: CEO (Cosmic Engagement Officer) of Dr. Bronner’s, a top-selling natural soap brand, that has, over the years, branched more and more into social (and psychedelic) activism. 

Bronner visits largely to discuss Colorado’s Proposition 122, which they describe as “the most progressive policy yet” and would define natural plants like psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline-producing plants (excluding peyote), ibogaine, and DMT as “natural medicine,” and decriminalize their personal use, possession, growth, and transport for people over 21 years of age. If it passes, the statute would also create a Regulated Natural Medicine Access Program for licensed healing centers to administer these substances in safe, controlled environments. 

He discusses the details of the proposal and its friction points with Decriminalize Nature’s efforts (most recently in their Initiative 61); some of the false narratives driven by opposition to Proposition 122; the ways the psychedelic movement is connecting with traditionally psychedelic-averse conservatives; peyote and the need to focus on sustainability; what happened with California’s Senate Bill 519; research into ibogaine; Biden’s federal prison “pardon”; and more. 

While some say the people of Colorado aren’t ready for Proposition 122, we believe that they are, and we join Bronner in voicing our support for the measure – which could be a massive win for Colorado and the psychedelic movement in general. If you live in Colorado, we urge you to research the measure and think hard about which way you’ll be voting on November 8.

Notable Quotes

“Everyone here really wants to bring the healing power of these medicines and is understandably suspicious of corporate takeover like we’re seeing in big pharma. The way I see it; this regulated program and access is what competes with big pharma.”

“Conservative leanings on this could play in our favor, I don’t know. I mean, maybe not, but a crushing victory in Colorado, man, makes a lot of things possible. If we crush it with a 2/3 majority across a political spectrum in an off-year election in a purple state; that’s just going to send a shockwave to the political establishment and just make a lot of things easier, I think, at both the state and federal level.”

“What is a sustainable source of medicine? What’s not? This whole cognitive liberty/religious liberty [belief]: you need to balance that against ecological sustainability and Indigenous rights and not just say, ‘I have the right to use anything. It doesn’t matter how endangered it is or unsustainable that is.’”

Links

Drbronner.com

IMC.fund

Growmedicine.com

Ballotpedia.org: Colorado Proposition 122, Decriminalization and Regulated Access Program for Certain Psychedelic Plants and Fungi Initiative (2022)

Naturalmedicinecolorado.org

Ballotpedia.org: Denver, Colorado, Initiated Ordinance 301, Psilocybin Mushroom Initiative (May 2019)

Ballotpedia.org: Oregon Measure 109, Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative (2020)

Ballotpedia.org: Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020)

Filtermag.org: Colorado’s Two Psychedelic Ballot Efforts Present Competing Visions

Psychedelics Today: Religious Practice Under Oregon Measure 109

Psychedelic Education Center: Psychedelics and Religious Liberty in the United States

Rollingstone.com: These Mormons Have Found a New Faith – in Magic Mushrooms

Churchofeagleandcondor.org

Psychedelics Today: PT246 – Amber and Marcus Capone of VETS – Foundational Healing and the Brain

Psychedelics Today: PTSF77 – Progress and Context, with Jesse Gould of the Heroic Hearts Project

Filtermag.org: California’s Psychedelic Decrim Bill Was Gutted and Pulled; It Should Be Back in 2023

ICEERS.org: First Ever Clinical Trial with Ibogaine for Opioid Dependency

Reason.com: Biden’s Marijuana Pardons Did Not Free a Single Federal Prisoner or Deliver the Expungement He Promised

SSDP.org: Rally for Cannabis Clemency on October 24th at the White House

Brooklyn Psychedelic Society

Posted on July 8, 2022October 4, 2022

PT335 – Christopher Dawson & Andrew Galloway – Modernizing Traditional Plant Medicine With Neuroscience and Luxury

In this episode, Joe interviews Christopher Dawson & Andrew Galloway: Co-Founders and CEO and COO, respectively, of Dimensions; a Canadian-based company creating retreats that blend traditional plant ceremonies with neuroscience and a luxurious, five-star environment.

Dawson realized what so many people were starting to learn about psychedelics after attending a 2015 conference in Peru that mixed neuroscientists with traditional healers, but for Galloway, it was direct experience, as he gives credit to plant medicines for helping him to heal from a 6-year addiction to crack cocaine. They each tell their story and how it led to the beginnings of Dimensions, where they worked for a year with a “Dreamlab” team of MDs, psychiatrists, practitioners from different fields, and even a design agency to create different programs for different substances – all with a focus on true set and setting and integrating perfectly with nature. They’re in the middle of a soft launch right now, offering cannabis in a ceremonial, group setting context to friends and families at their Algonquin Highlands location; perfecting everything before opening up to the general public. And once the law catches up with them, they hope to offer psilocybin and other psychedelic-assisted therapy across several new retreat locations. 

They talk about Health Canada and the country’s trajectory towards legal psychedelics; critiques of traditional addiction treatment and the efficacy of 12-step programs; the tension between the psychedelic space and traditional healing space; investing in biotech; the polyvagal theory; how animals deal with trauma (and how we don’t); and the concept of integration: If you’re just taking a pill and not doing the work, are you missing the point entirely?

Notable Quotes

“We’re biased (we’re in the retreat business), but I don’t think that psilocybin, as an example, should be reduced to a pill that you take with your juice in the morning and you no longer take your SSRI because this is your new pill. For us, it’s the psychedelic-assisted therapy that actually maximizes the potential of the psychedelic experience, and that’s the mechanisms through which fundamental, behavioral change can take place. I think the idea that a pill can replace all of that means that you’re kind of missing the point about the whole experience.” -Chris

“I don’t want to slam traditional treatment because it actually did work for me to some degree. …I had a crack-cocaine addiction for six-seven years and ended up in rehab for six months and came back and participated in 12-step programs and remained abstinent. That part worked. The difference for me when I got involved with plant medicine was something else: I got healed. Instead of just abstaining and not using to cope or to manage with whatever I was dealing with, I actually healed through plant medicine.” -Andrew

“Is it a pill or is it the therapeutic process? If you don’t engage in integration, then you’re just taking a pill.” -Chris

“We talked about stigma earlier; it’s changing, and [for] the general public, the stigma around the war on drugs is changing too. I think people have finally figured out that it doesn’t work. No war works. We only declare war on things that we can make money from.” -Andrew

Links

Dimensionsretreats.com

Dimensionsretreats.com: Algonquin Highlands

Psychedelics Today: PT314 – Daniel McQueen, MA – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

Psychedelics Today: Canada’s SAP Expansion Signals a Step Forward for Psychedelics

Dimensionsretreats.com: Dimensions + Queen’s University

Thedesignagency.ca

National Library of Medicine: Psychedelic perceptions: mental health service user attitudes to psilocybin therapy

Somaticmovementcenter.com: What is the Polyvagal Theory?

Psychedelics Today: PT248 – Pierre Bouchard – Somatic Therapy, Trauma, and the Nervous System (more about the polyvagal theory)

Psychedelicmedicinecoalition.org

About Christopher Dawson

Christopher Dawson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dimensions, a growing collection of retreat destinations combining neuroscientific research with plant ceremony in immersive natural environments. Prior to co-founding Dimensions, Christopher was the founder and CEO of Edgewood Health Network, where he oversaw the largest private network of residential/outpatient treatment providers in Canada and led the merger and acquisition of Canada’s top three treatment centers to create that network.

 

About Andrew Galloway

Andrew Galloway is the Co-Founder and COO of Dimensions, a new paradigm for healing, combining ancient ceremonial plant medicines with modern science in safe, legal, and nurturing natural environments. He leads the organization’s clinical teams and operations for Dimensions Retreats, a new collection of immersive, transformational healing retreats combining neuroscientific research with plant ceremony and luxurious hospitality. Prior to co-founding Dimensions, he was a National Director of Edgewood Health Network; leading 10 outpatient centers. Andrew was the former VP at GreeneStone Muskoka, an international certified alcohol and drug counsellor, and has 14 years of experience working directly for the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse program.

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Navigating Psychedelics


Posted on June 10, 2022October 4, 2022

PT326 – Dr. Rick Barnett, Psy.D – Addiction, Recovery, and Competency in Psychedelic Therapy

In this episode, David interviews Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont, Dr. Rick Barnett, PsyD. 

Barnett discusses the importance of building community in psychedelic spaces; psychedelic experiences as preventative medicine, and the differences between (and value within) the sanitized medical model and more ritualistic experiences. He talks about his own personal journey with addiction and recovery and looks at the interrelation between trauma, addiction, trust, and how psychedelics operate as disruptors – with a sense of meaning and purpose.

He discusses many of the current clinical trials happening around psychedelics and addiction; Alcoholics Anonymous and LSD; Vermont’s developing decriminalization bill (Measure H.644); the psychiatric workforce shortage and the potential solution of more prescribing psychologists; and, considering Oregon’s budding psilocybin therapy model, points out that one doesn’t need to be a licensed clinical practitioner with specific schooling to be a good psychedelic facilitator. Could we instead build models that are based largely on competency?

The Psychedelic Society of Vermont is putting on the Psychedelic Science & Spirituality Summit on the summer solstice (June 20-21) in Stowe, VT, with the goal of holding space for both the scientific and spiritual side of psychedelia. The conference is specifically for healthcare professionals, but all others are welcome to virtually attend or come to the summer solstice celebration after the conference. For more info, head to vermontpsychedelic.org.

Notable Quotes

“I had several profound experiences with LSD when I was a kid, and when I crashed and burned on alcohol and wound up in a 12-step rehab (the Hazelden Foundation), I quickly recognized that my experiences with LSD made me extremely receptive to the message that was being put forth to me in a 12-step-oriented rehab program. Concepts like surrender and a connection to spirituality, a connection to open-mindedness, willingness, being honest with oneself, taking one’s inventory – these kinds of concepts that are so common in 12-step programs – they resonated so strongly with me because of my experiences with LSD.”

“We have the ability to instill a sense of trust with our patients, and they can begin to trust themselves, and to trust the therapist, and to review some of these old hurts and really get into it over the course of therapy in a way that’s very healing. So it can happen with therapy, and I don’t think one is necessarily a substitute for the other. I think [psychedelics and therapy] work very well together. Psychedelics are yet another tool, just like therapy is a tool, just like AA is a tool, just like Suboxone and Methadone are tools. They’re all tools, and it’s really important to respect and honor that each one brings something positive, potentially, for an individual.” 

“An AA program, a harm reduction program, a therapy program, a psychedelic program, [a] meditation retreat: All these things provide a nudge, and potentially a very transformative nudge in the direction of like, ‘Okay, and then what?’ What are you doing in your daily life? …That ‘assisted’ part is not just assisted by a therapist. It’s not just assisted by a drug. It’s not just assisted by a shaman or an integration coach. It’s assisted by everything.”

Links

DrRickBarnett.com

Psychedelic Science & Spirituality Summit

Righttotrypsilocybin.com

Psychedelics Today: PT307 – Kathryn L. Tucker, JD – The Right to Try Act and the Battle for Psilocybin Access

Openstates.org: An act relating to decriminalization of a personal use supply of a regulated drug

Psychedelics Today: PT236 – Dr. Carl Hart – Drugs: Honesty, Responsibility, and Logic

Hazelden.org: Hazelden Foundation

Mydecine.com: Mydecine Receives Conditional IRB Approval for Phase 2b Smoking Cessation Study

Pubmed: Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation

University of Exeter: Ketamine and psychological therapy helped severe alcoholics abstain for longer in trial

Psychedelics Today: Dr. Ben Sessa – Preliminary Results from MDMA Assisted Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder

Lucid.news: Bill Wilson, LSD and the Secret Psychedelic History of Alcoholics Anonymous

His Linkedin post about trust and being let down

About Dr. Rick Barnett, Psy.D

Dr. Rick Barnett, Psy.D., is the Co-Founder of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont, the Legislative Chair and Past-President of the Vermont Psychological Association, the founder of the non-profit organization, CARTER, Inc., and is a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist in private practice in Stowe, VT. Dr. Barnett has worked as a Clinical Psychologist in nursing homes, hospitals, and outpatient programs, and has trained hundreds of health professionals through workshops on addiction and mental health issues over the past 20 years. He is in long-term recovery of alcohol and substance abuse and is an active advocate for addiction treatment and recovery resources. Dr. Barnett holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University, a Doctorate and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology. He is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and holds certificate in Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB-S) and Gambling Disorder.

Socials: Twitter / Linkedin 


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Posted on June 7, 2022October 4, 2022

PT325 – Philip Wolf – Cannabis: The Early Days of Legality, Elevated Dining, and the Need for Education

In this episode of the podcast, recorded in-person in Joe’s living room, Joe interviews Philip Wolf: Founder of Cultivating Spirits, Co-Founder of the Cannabis Wedding Expo, past guest, and friend whose path in cannabis aligns nicely with that of Joe’s with Psychedelics Today. 

Wolf’s work in cannabis has largely been in the form of “elevated dining,” where participants are treated to an experience similar to what wine aficionados seek out; with dispensary tours, cannabis tasting, and food-pairing. His current project is CashoM: a platform offering education to cannabis consumers, from beginners to connoisseurs, covering everything related to cannabis – from teaching a newbie how to pack a bowl to the science behind terpenes, and everything in between. 

Wolf discusses the free-for-all, wild west early days of recreational cannabis in Breckenridge; similarities between those days and what’s happening in Oregon with psilocybin; cannabis as medicine and the reframing of what “medicine” is; his recent appointment to the Rolling Stone Culture Counsel; and the recent “deep dive into winter” he took by staying at a house alone in Wisconsin for 2 months. 

And he talks about some higher concepts: The importance of sitting in a circle with a group, the need for integrity in all things, embracing uncertainty, and why we need challenging trips. There is no one tool, modality, or programmable set, setting, and dose that will work for everyone every time, but he believes the secret to making this all work is to find commonality between each other. Can we all grow enough to make that link a general love for one another?

Notable Quotes

“Right now, we’re really limiting the potential of cannabis, and limiting how it can actually affect someone’s experience, and how people are connecting with it. And this comes from people trying to create digestible marketing because they feel like that is the route in order to get new consumers on board. But actually, I think, through that, they’re actually doing a really big disservice, because people are just pigeonholing cannabis with sleep or anxiety relief or [to] energize. It’s just really limiting everything in my opinion. …Having a limited understanding of what cannabis can actually do for your life isn’t going to allow people to tap into the true potential of that particular medicine.”

“I think there is a wisdom to the medicine. Like, if you feel like you ate too many mushrooms, maybe you were supposed to eat too many mushrooms. …You get provided a lot of things in your life that can lead to a lot of other things, and we don’t always have the capability of seeing the importance of that.” 

“Hopefully it’s a good reality check for a lot of people to understand how we’re going to come together to get this right. And it’s not my way, it’s not Joe’s way, it’s not your way, it’s not this person’s way, it’s not this company’s way, it’s not MAPS. It’s none of it. All of that together is the only way that this is going to happen.”

“When we’re going through a bad experience, we grow from it. If we were happy all the time – if we have the happy pill, if we have the happy mushrooms all the time – then there’s no point to grow and advance. But if we can push the edge, as we spoke about, then there’s that opportunity for growth.” 

Links

Cashom.org

Cultivatingspirits.com

Rollingstone.com: The Importance of Empowered Cannabis Consumers

Psychedelics Today: Philip Wolf – Terpenes, Social Consumption and the Cannabis Experience

IMDB.com: High Profits

Aspentimes.com: Breckenridge woman featured in CNN’s ‘High Profits’ dies at 26 after car crash

The Ganja Kitchen Revolution: The Bible of Cannabis Cuisine, by Jessica Catalano

Summitdaily.com: Medical marijuana panel discusses benefits of cannabis

Ffungi.org

Psychedelics Today: PT324 – Amanda Reiman, Ph.D., MSW – Web3, NFTs, Cryptocurrencies, and A Deeper Relationship With Plants

Ritual: Power, Healing and Community, by Malidoma Patrice Some

Psychedelics Today: PT311 – William Leonard Pickard – LSD, Fentanyl, Prison, and the Greatest Gift of All: The Natural Mind

Compasspathways.com: COMPASS Pathways announces positive topline results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

Truenaturehealingarts.com

About Philip Wolf

Philip Wolf is grateful to do the work he was born to do: open the minds of the world to the benefits of cannabis, and showcase them in the form of celebration, ritual, and elevated dining. Since then, he’s founded Cultivating Spirits, co-founded the Cannabis Wedding Expo, co-founded Hispanola Health Partners (501-c3 non-profit) and is currently creating CashoM, a Cannabis Masterclass program for beginners and connoisseurs. His focus: to bridge the gap between mainstream America and cannabis through education, experience and lifestyle. Philip has been featured on CBS Nightly News, NBC, Business Insider, New York Post, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Time Magazine, Bloomberg, Vice, Entrepreneur, and many more. He’s appeared in viral Facebook documentary style videos with over 12 million views, and starred in an episode of the popular television show, “Bong Appetite” on Viceland. Philip was recently honored this year by the Rolling Stone Magazine Culture Council to join its ranks.

Instagram:
Philip Wolf / Cultivating Spirits / CashoM / Hispanola Health Partners  


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