About MAPS

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a membership-based non-profit research and educational organization. We assist scientists to design, obtain approval for, fund, conduct and report on research into the healing and spiritual potentials of psychedelics and marijuana.

With sound research results, psychedelic psychotherapy and medical marijuana research have the potential to help millions of people in alleviating the pain, psychological distress and other symptoms of such illnesses as cancer, AIDS and addiction. Research will also help us to better understand our human potential and bring the tools of science to the study of spirituality, meditation and mental functioning.

Can you imagine a cultural reintegration of the use of psychedelics and the states of mind they engender?

Please join MAPS in supporting the expansion of scientific knowledge in this area. Progress is only possible with the support of people who care enough to take individual and collective action. For information about who we are, see our staff page.

For information about who we are, see our Mission Statement, staff page, our IRS approval letter, our Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.

Our accomplishments

Since 1995, MAPS has disbursed over two million dollars to worthy research and educational projects and has

Obtained FDA and IRB approval to study MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sponsored efforts by Prof. Lyle Craker, Medicinal Plant Program, UMass Amherst Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, to obtain a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration for a marijuana production facility.
Sponsored pioneerig analytical research into the effects of the marijuana vaporizer, leading to the first human study of marijuana vaporizers conducted by Dr. Donald Abrams, UC San Francisco.
Opened an FDA Drug Master File for MDMA. This is required before any drug can be researched in FDA-approved human studies.
Assisted Dr. Charles Grob to design, obtain approval for and fund the first FDA-approved study in the U.S. to administer MDMA to humans.
Assisted in the design and is funding the world's first government-approved scientific study of the therapeutic use of MDMA (Spain).
Sponsored the first studies to analyze the purity and potency of street samples of "Ecstasy" and medical marijuana.
Funded the successful efforts of Dr. Donald Abrams to obtain approval for the first human study in 15 years into the therapeutic use of marijuana, along with a $1 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Obtained Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for smoked marijuana in the treatment of AIDS Wasting Syndrome.
Funded the synthesis of psilocybin for the first FDA-approved study in twenty-five years to evaluate psilocybin in a patient population.
Supported long-term follow-up studies of pioneering research with LSD and psilocybin originally conducted in the 1950s and 1960s.

Benefits of Membership

As a (confidential) member of MAPS, you'll receive the quarterly MAPS Bulletin. In addition to reporting on the latest research in both the U.S. and abroad, the Bulletin includes feature articles, personal accounts, book reviews, and reports on conferences and allied organizations. MAPS members are invited to participate in a vital online mailing list, MAPS-Forum.

Why Join MAPS?

MAPS has positioned itself at the center of the conflict between scientific exploration and the politically-driven strategy of the War on Drugs. MAPS is the only membership organization supporting this crucial research. If we don't support the cultural reintegration of psychedelics and marijuana through good science, who will?

The confidential MAPS mailing list is not available for sale (though we may trade it with other drug reform organizations), and the Bulletin is sent in a discreet envelope.

MAPS members are invited to participate in a vital online mailing list, MAPS-Forum. In addition, MAPS sometimes organizes community-building gatherings for MAPS members, such as the one at the home of Laura Huxley in June 2004. (photo by Dean Chamberlain).