Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In Again

New York Times - April 11, 2010 As a retired clinical psychologist, Clark Martin was well acquainted with traditional treatments for depression, but his own case seemed untreatable as he struggled through chemotherapy and other grueling regimens for kidney cancer. Counseling seemed futile to him. So did the antidepressant pills he tried. Nothing had any lasting effect until, at the age of 65, he had his first psychedelic experience. He left his home in Vancouver, Wash., to take part in an experiment at Johns Hopkins medical school involving psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient found in certain mushrooms. Scientists are taking a new look at hallucinogens, which became taboo among regulators after enthusiasts like Timothy Leary promoted them in the 1960s with the slogan “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” Now, using rigorous protocols and safeguards, scientists have won permission to study once again the drugs’ potential for treating mental problems and illuminating the nature of consciousness. Full story... Psilocybin @ wiki

1 comment:

annom said...

Good. Again, how hypocritical not to allow drug psychedelic research. They can't be patented and are illegal so the pharmaceutical industry won't do it.

On a side note, all charges against Bouncing Bear Botanicals are dropped. This is the case I told about where they arrested the owner of a legal shop and seized all property to prevent a good lawyer. They are however still investigating and have not returned his $700,000 because they consider it evidence. It's not clear why they dismissed the charges, may be because they had not legal case at all and he was going to fight it.