Misc. news stories

Not only did it create a booming avenue of tourism for Denver, but it caused a domino effect, leading to 19 states and DC legalizing recreational marijuana.

MDMA-assisted therapy reduces eating disorder symptoms in adults with severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is everywhere. Just this morning, I walked past a bug collection kit in Target fashioned in the image of the unforgettable red and white-speckled mushroom…Despite this ubiquity in representation, A. muscaria is very poorly understood.

The “bad trip” is one of the most common caveats against psychedelics. Sometimes it’s mentioned as a well-intentioned warning for first-timers and a reminder for seasoned users, while others use it as a fear-mongering tool meant to discourage any and all psychedelic experiences.

Compounds in these medicinal fungi may be natural “smart drugs.”

A recent new study compares the transformational effects of NDEs and psychedelics, conducted by researchers at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US.

In a peer-reviewed essay published in the journal Anthropology of Consciousness, Devenot and her co-authors look forward to a culture that makes these medicines available in a safe and affordable way that respects the traditions behind them.

Recent studies have provided initial evidence that psilocybin-assisted therapy might be effective in the treatment of addiction, leading the scientists behind the new research to wonder whether it could also help those who are struggling to control food cravings.

LSD-assisted therapy could provide benefits to patients struggling with anxiety disorders, according to new research published in Biological Psychiatry. The findings suggest that the psychedelic drug can produce notable reductions in anxiety and comorbid depression symptoms.

Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca will be “among the lowest priorities” for law enforcement.

With magic mushrooms seemingly being used more widely than ever, it’s high time we look at the ancient history of psychotropic fungi.

Cannabis users are often depicted as lazy “stoners” whose life ambitions span little further than lying on the sofa eating crisps. But research from the University of Cambridge challenges this stereotype, showing that regular users appear no more likely to lack motivation compared with non-users.

“Our study aims to provide data and tools that can make physicians in the UK and across the world more confident, where appropriate, in prescribing cannabis safely.”

“We now know that psilocybin mushroom microdosing works. It is indisputable that there are benefits.” —Stamets

New research has found that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) briefly reduces binge-like alcohol consumption in mice but does not produce long-lasting effects. The findings, which appear in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, suggest that the psychedelic substance by itself does not produce lasting changes in alcohol drinking behavior.

People who have undergone a mystical experience after consuming a psychedelic substance are more likely to engage in behaviors aimed at protecting or conserving the environment, according to new research published in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.

Image from: Pashminu (Wiki Commons)