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Media > MAPS in the Media: Recent and Archival

Welcome to MAPS’ media archives. On this page we post media articles that discuss psychedelic and marijuana research, political issues that affect MAPS and our research endeavors, and other media that is of interest to MAPS and the MAPS community. Below you will find articles that we've archived since 2000. If you would like to alert us to a news article that we should archive, email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Archived Media Articles by Year

2010 Media Articles...

September 1, 2010

Guardian.co.uk "Psychedelic drugs return as potential treatments for mental illness" by Moheb Costandi.

An article that discusses the history of psychedelic research for treating mental illnesses and the challenges and benefits that future research face in this area. It cites the recent studies on ketamine and mdma for the treatment of depression and PTSD respectively.

NewScientist "Psychoactive drugs: From recreation to medication" by Catherine de Lange.

A comprehensive article that discusses the recent increase in psychedelic research. The article discusses the potential medicinal uses of several psychoactive substances including cannabis, LSD, MDMA and Psilocybin and cites recent studies conducted at Mcgill University and Johns Hopkins, as well as a new study at Imperial College London.

August 30, 2010

CNN "Study: Smoking pot may ease chronic pain" by Amanda Gardner, Health.com.

This article discusses the results of a recent study conducted at Mcgill University examining the potential benefits of smoked marijuana in reducing chronic pain. It was posted on CNN but was originally written at Health.com.

August 26, 2010

The Winnipeg Sun "U.S. approves Ecstasy testing on vets" by QMI Agency.

An article discussing the results of the recent MDMA-PTSD pilot study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology and the implications for further studies. The article also briefly touches on the potential mechanisms of action through which MDMA might assist in the treatment of PTSD patients.

August 25, 2010

Medscape "Psychedelic Drugs May Reduce Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and OCD" by Deborah Brauser.

A discussion about the recent article published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience which indicates that several psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, LSD and psilocybin may be effective for treating depression, anxiety, OCD and chronic pain.

August 24, 2010

The Ottowa Citizen "A terrible disease" by The Ottowa Citizen.

An article discussing the new research conducted at Yale University which suggested that ketamine might be effective in treating people with depression.

CNN "Can Psychedelic Drugs Treat Depression?" by Anne Harding, Health.com.

An in-depth article that discusses the new research on the potential of psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin in treating a number of medical conditions. The article also briefly explores the history of psychedelic research. The article was also posted in the Huffington Post.

August 22, 2010

The Cleveland Leader "Scientists: Psychedelics Can Reduce Symptoms of Mood & Affective Disorders" by Julie.

A brief article discussing three recent studies all indicating that psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin and ketamine might be useful for treating mood disorders.

August 20, 2010

Scientific American "Psychedelic Drugs Show Promise as Anti-Depressants" by David Biello.

This article discusses the potential of psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, LSD and psilocybin in relieving depression and obsessive-compulsive behaviours and expores some of the possible mechanism of actions of such drugs.

Montreal Gazette "Psychedelic drug could be “magic” bullet for depression: Study" by Sharon Kirkey, Postmedia News.

An article discussing the results of the recent study conducted at Yale University suggesting that ketamine may be effective at helping people suffering from bi-polar disorder. This article was also published in the Ottawa Citizen and the Calgary Herald.

EmaxHealth.com "Party Drugs May Treat Depression Quickly" by Tyler Woods, Ph.D..

An article that discusses two new studies published in the last week indicating that psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin may be useful for treating certain medical condtions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.

National Post "Research Awaits Ecstasy Approval" by Terrine Friday.

This article from a Canadian paper did not choose the best quote from Rick Doblin to express his position on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD compared to conventional pharmaceutical drugs. While conventional pharmaceuticals drugs treat the symptoms of PTSD, Rick would characterize MDMA-therapy as a method for treating the causes of PTSD, thereby healing the trauma. It is disappointing to read Canadian Forces Surgeon General wrongfully generalize our research as “hype.”

The Times Of India "Psychedelic drugs chase blues away" by IANS.

Another short article disucussing the implications of the recent review in the Nature Neuroscience Journal suggesting that psychedelic drugs such as LSD, ketamine and psilocybin may be useful in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions such as depression and symptoms associated with cancer and terminal illnesses.

August 19, 2010

SwissInfo.ch "Scientists suggest new look at psychedelic drugs" by SwissInfo.ch & Agencies.

A brief article discussing the potential use of psychedelics such as LSD, ketamine and psilocybin in treating several medical conditions with quotes from Franz Von Vollenweider.

World Science "“Psychedelics” could find new lease on life—in the doctor’s office" by Nature Publishing Group & World Science staff.

A discussion of the recent review in the Aug 20 issue of the research journal Nature Neuroscience proposing that “psychedelics” might be useful in low doses as a treatment for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Daily Mail "Psychedelic ‘party drugs’ like LSD could combat depression and treat cancer, say top scientists" by Fiona Macrae.

An article discussing the potential healing properties of psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, LSD, & psilocybin in peope suffering from depression and cancer.

AOL News "Psychedelic Drug Trips Might Help Treat Mental Illness, Researchers Say" by Katie Drummond.

An article written in response to a new review in the Nature Reviews Neuroscience Journal discussing the potential of psychedelic drugs in helping to treat people suffering from several medical conditions including depression and PTSD.

Fox News "Scientists Want to Bring Back LSD and Mushrooms" by Kate Kelland.

An article with quotes from Swiss researchers, that discusses the potential of psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, LSD and psilocybin in helping to treat a variety of mental disorders and chronic pain. It was originally posted on Reuters, but can also be found on the MSNBC and ABC News websites as well as those for China Daily, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald & the Montreal Gazette.

August 17, 2010

BayCitizen.org "Dutch Company Enters Oakland Pot Scene" by Kate Mclean.

A Dutch marijuana producing company that recently set up shop in California is reported on in this article, with a quote from MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin.

August 12, 2010

StopTheDrugWar.org "Ecstasy found to Help Alleviate PTSD among Military Veterans" by Al Camus.

This is a brief article about the results of the recent MDMA-PTSD pilot study and touches on the implications of future studies for war veterans.

August 11, 2010

Medical Observer "Could psychedelic drugs treat depression and addiction problems?" by Kirrilly Burton.

An article that discusses the renewed interest in psychedelics for relieving depression, anxiety and PTSD. It discusses the potential of psilocybin for helping relieve depression and MDMA’s potential in helping PTSD patients. It includes a section about the dangers of using these substances and what skeptics in the field are concerned with.

Examiner.com "Know what MDMA is?" by Linda Chalmer.

This article discusses the protocol and results from the recent MAPS sponsored MDMA-PTSD study and mentions the recently approved new study for veterans with PTSD.

The Huffington Post "Cops For and Against the War On Drugs" by Norm Stamper.

An article that discusses the various attitudes towards the war on drugs from within the police enforcement community.

August 8, 2010

HealthForAll "Clot-Busting Drug Immediately Improves Patient’s Condition"

This article discusses the results of a study examining the effects of the hallucinogen (tPA) on stroke patients.

August 5, 2010

Calgary Sun "Ecstasy drug a potential PTSD treatment" by Kathleen Harris.

This article printed orginally in the Toronto Sun was picked up by other Canadian papers. Additional text has been added.

August 4, 2010

Toronto Sun "DND would consider using Ecstasy to treat PTSD: Top doctor" by Kathleen Harris .

In this article, Lt. Col. Rakesh Jetly, a psychiatrist and senior health adviser for the Canadian Forces, said the department of national defence (DND) is committed to evidence-based care, and would embrace any treatment that has undergone rigorous scientific research to help relieve suffering of battle-scarred troops. “If you replaced Ecstasy with substance X - whether it was an absolutely approved legal drug, a mainstream medication, my answer would be the same. The fact that it’s Ecstasy means nothing to us,” Jetly told QMI Agency. “If there’s any substance, any drug that has the research, the randomized controlled studies, the publications to prove its efficacy, we would entertain adding it as an approved treatment.”

EmaxHealth.com. "One Ketamine Dose Wipes out Bipolar Depression" by Kathleen Blanchard.

A brief article written about the recent study using ketamine to help people suffering from bipolar disorder.

August 3, 2010

Australian Broadcasting Corporation News "Ecstasy May Help Traumatised Veterans"

“United States scientists say the drug ecstasy may help war veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.” Reports this Australian news source.

MedscapeToday "Ketamine Yields Swift Antidepressant Effect in Treatment of Refractory Bipolar Depression" by Megan Brooks.

An in-depth article discussing the recent published study examining the effectiveness of using ketamine in treating treatment-resistant bipolar disorder.

Reuters "Ketamine Lifts Mood Quickly in Bipolar Disorder" by Anne Harding.

This article discusses the results of new small study that showing that ketamine might be effective in helping people suffering from bi-polar disorder and depression. It briefly discusses on the possible mechanisms of action that ketamine might work in the brain.

August 2, 2010

Treatment Solutions Network "Using Ecstasy to Treat PTSD" by Bethany Winkel.

This story begins, “Many of the illicit drugs in our world today originally came about for medicinal uses. Most of the other drugs people abuse are current medications that are strictly regulated. Sometimes the line is even blurred between necessary medical use and the abuse of a drug. Occasionally, a drug will begin as an illicit drug and then be found to be effective in treating some mental or physical condition. Ecstasy, though its origin is not completely clear, has certainly been an illicit drug for many years, and just recently has been found to have some positive uses.”

The Post and Courier (online) "Ecstasy drug under study for PTSD"

This article discusses the recent MDMA-PTSD pilot study and mentions the new veteran study.

Examiner.com "Ketamine found to reduce depression symptoms in bipolar disorder" by Michael Velardo.

This article discusses a recent study on the potential of ketamine to help people suffering from bipolar disorder.

EnvironmentalGraffiti.com "“Making Medicine from Magic Mushrooms”" by The Blunt.

This article discusses the potential role of psilocybin in helping a variety of health issues. It also discusses the new study at New York University examining the effectiveness of psilocybin in helping the terminally ill.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation News "“Ecstasy may help traumatised victims”"

This is a brief article that discusses the effects of the MDMA-PTSD pilot study.

Medpage Today "Ketamine Cuts Depression in Bipolar Illness" by John Gever.

This article discusses the results of a new small study funded by the NIH examining the effectiveness of ketamine in helping people suffering with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder.

WebMD "Anesthetic Shows Promise for Bipolar Disorder: Single Injection of Ketamine Provides Relief" by Katrina Woznicki.

This article discusses the results and implications of a new study showing that ketamine might be effective in treating bipolar disorder and depression.

Business Week "Ketamine Eased Depression in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder"

A brief article discussing the results of the new study on the effects of ketamine in people suffering from bipolar disorder.

August 1, 2010

NursingLibrary.org "Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD"

This article briefly discusses the outcomes of the recent MDMA-PTSD pilot study and touches on the history or, and potential dangers of MDMA.

DailyNewsToday "Research Finds Ecstasy helps treat PTSD"

A brief article discussing the outcomes of the recent MDMA-PTSD pilot study.

July 31, 2010

Lifestyle.com "Psychedelic Psychotherapy at Eleusis" by Pamala Duncan.

This articles discusses the Eleusis drug addiction treatment center and the role of ketamine in helping people overcome addictions.

Epagini.com "“Ecstasy, treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.”"

This article is brief and discusses the MDMA-PTSD pilot study.

Lifestyle.com "Psychedelic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Now Available at Eleusis" by Pamala Duncan.

This articles discusses the Eleusis drug addiction treatment center and the role of ketamine in helping people overcome addictions.

Epagini.com "Ecstasy, treatment for soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder"

This article is brief and discusses the MDMA-PTSD pilot study.

July 30, 2010

"138 articles about mdma/ptsd therapy"

The Journal of Psychopharmacology's publication of MAPS' MDMA/PTSD study led to at least 138 media articles!

MAPS "Over 100 Media Articles About Journal of Psychopharmacology Publication"

There were at least 138 media articles about the publication of MAPS’ U.S. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. A list of these media mentions are compiled here in no particular order.

July 28, 2010

Inthemix.com "Ecstasy tested on traumatized war veterans." by JackT.

This brief article comments on the use of MDMA for treating PTSD in war veterans.

Alternet.com "Has a Common Marijuana Test Resulted in Thousands of Wrongful Convictions?" by John Kelly.

The faults of the most common test used by law enforcement to detect the presence of marijuana are explored in this article.

July 27, 2010

Vanity Fair "The Electric Beverly Hills; Cary in the Sky with Diamonds" by Cari Beauchamp and Judy Balaban.

Before Timothy Leary and the Beatles, LSD was largely unknown and unregulated. But in the 1950s, as many as 100 Hollywood luminaries—Cary Grant and Esther Williams among them—began taking the drug as part of psychotherapy. With LSD research beginning a comeback, the authors recount how two Beverly Hills doctors promoted a new “wonder drug,” at $100 a session, profoundly altering the lives of their glamorous patients, Balaban included. The MAPS-sponsored Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference is mentioned in the article’s conclusion.

July 23, 2010

Scienceblogs.com "MDMA for PTSD: The first peer-reviewed clinical trial report" by Drugmonkey.

This article discusses the preliminary outcomes of the MAPS pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

AlterNet "80% of Post-Traumatic Stress Sufferers Lost Symptoms After Taking Ecstasy" by Craig K Comstock.

This article discusses the preliminary outcomes in the MAPS pilot study on MDMA-assisted for the treatment of PTSD.

July 22, 2010

Mental Health News Organization "Ecstasy Research to Enter Phase 2, Seeking FDA Approval" by Shandra Bruce.

The title of this article is incorrect, since the research is already in Phase 2 with FDA permission, but the article is informative.

Medscape "Ecstasy-Assisted Psychotherapy and PTSD" by Deborah Brauser.

The South Carolina Phase II MDMA study results are reviewed in this article with great depth and detail, with comments and criticisms by participating researchers and other medical professionals.

Medscape. "Ecstasy-Assisted Psychotherapy May Help Patients With Treatment-Resistant PTSD" by Deborah Brause.

The South Carolina Phase II MDMA study results are reviewed in this article with great depth and detail, and includes comments and criticisms by participating researchers and other medical professionals.

Nursingtimes "Ecstasy Used to Treat Post Traumatic Stress"

Very brief summary of the pilot Phase II study of MDMA-assisted
psychotherapy of the treatment of PTSD

July 21, 2010

ModernMedicine "Ecstasy May Help Relieve Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Appears to help patients resistant to…" by HealthDay.

“The drug ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy, appears to be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) without evidence of harming patients, according to research published online July 19 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology” reports ModernMedicine.

Popsci "Ibogaine: Fighting Drugs With Drugs" by Steven Kotler.

The practice and potential of administering Ibogaine to treat drug addictions is discussed in this article, with comments from Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Executive Director, and Valerie Mojeiko, MAPS Deputy Director.

Online-International News Network "Ecstasy ‘may help trauma victims"

A Pakistan based news network reports on the recent MDMA findings, another example of the considerable amount of exposure the study is getting.

Lifescientist "Ecstasy Study Gives Hope to PTSD Sufferers" by David Binning.

This article is a thorough summary of outcomes in MAPS pilot phase II study
of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Also covers the problem of PTSD, as well
as currently approved drugs for treatment.

July 20, 2010

Stars and Stripes "New treatment for PTSD? Dropping some Ecstasy" by Leo Shane III.

The MDMA-PTSD study is briefly covered in a military blog. The author thinks the VA will avoid studies with MDMA because ” Earlier this year, officials rejected calls for expanded use of marijuana for PTSD patients, noting that their doctors cannot consider prescribing anything illegal to patients.” But, since this writing the VA has switched positions and allows veterans in Medical Marijuana states to use medical cannabis.

ScienceDaily "MDMA (Ecstasy)-assisted psychotherapy relieves treatment-resistant PTSD, study suggests" by By SAGE Publications UK.
MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as Ecstasy), may one day offer hope for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even people for whom other treatments have failed. Clinical trial results out July 19 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that MDMA can be administered to subjects with PTSD without evidence of harm and could offer sufferers a vital window with reduced fear responses where psychotherapy can take effect.

Tweed Daily News "Ecstasy ‘may help trauma sufferers’" by AAP.

Some background information on MDMA and PTSD appear in this article along with a discussion on the recently published results of the Phase II MDMA PTSD study.

Psych Central "MDMA May Have Role in Treatment of PTSD" by Jessica Ward Jones.

This thorough article covers the details and results of the MDMA PTSD study recently published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Toke of the Town: Cannabis Culture News and Views "Can Ecstasy Ease Post-Traumatic Stress?" by Steve Elliot.

The results of the South Carolina MDMA study are discussed in this article, with details on the study and comments by Dr. Mithoefer.

The Guardian "Banning naphyrone will get us nowhere" by David Nutt.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ (ACMD) recent recommendation to ban the drug naphyrone sparks a discussion over the lack of solid scientific evidence or reasoning for the efficacy of drug prohibition.

Straight.com "Canada’s war on drugs bucks the global trend" by Carlito Pablo.

This article discusses some of the recent changes in drug policy, contrasting changes in South American countries with those in Canada and the United States.

Time "Ecstasy Shows Promise in Relieving PTSD" by John Cloud.

Time reports on the recent study, MDMA's potential as a medication, and comments that the recently published paper on the results “represents the first time in a generation that psychedelic drugs have been taken seriously as treatment.”

Natural News "Ecstasy as a viable treatment for trauma victims?" by Jonathan Benson.
Natural News covers the results of the study recently published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

WebMD "Ecstasy May Ease PTSD Symptoms" by Denise Mann.

This thorough article from WebMD touches on a number of topics, including details and results of the South Carolina study, the possible risks and benefits of MDMA, and ‘Ecstasy’s’ role in treating PTSD. Harriet deWit, PhD a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, comments “the results were quite dramatic and it is proof of concept and very good early evidence.”

USNavySeals.com "Study Uses Ecstasy to Treat PTSD"

This article discusses the preliminary outcomes of the MAPS pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

Post and Courier "Ecstasy drug under study for PTSD" by Staff Report.

This is another article that discusses the results of the study and gives some general information on MDMA and PTSD.

July 19, 2010

MedPage Today "’Ecstasy’ May Help Alleviate PTSD" by Todd Neale.

The author of this article prefaces it with two action points: “Explain to interested patients that the drug MDMA (commonly called Ecstasy) is not legally available in the U.S. outside of a clinical trial setting.” and “Point out that MDMA was used in a strictly controlled setting with intensive support from therapists before, during, and after use of the drug during psychotherapy sessions”.

Daily News Today "Research finds ecstasy helps treat PTSD" by Sam Walker.

“People who suffer from pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may one day find relief with ecstasy. A small clinical study found that 80 percent of the participants were treated with a combination of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psychotherapy, are no longer signs of PTSD, without serious side effects.” This article reports.

Boston Globe "‘Ecstasy’ helped PTSD patients, small study says" by Elizabeth Cooney.

This Boston-based publication reviews the results of the recently published MDMA research. Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School discusses the possibility in using MDMA to help relieve people with terminal illnesses of anxiety and pain.

New Scientist "Ecstasy may help trauma victims" by Arran Frood.

This balanced article discusses MAPS' PTSD research and the prospect of having MDMA a legal drug for therapy in the future. The author also offers caution that this is still an early investigation and that more research is needed.

UK National Health Service "Ecstasy Tested for Trauma Therapy"

This article by the UK's National Health Service gives a good critique of MAPS Phase II pilot-study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

Investors.com "The drug MDMA"

This brief article shows the far reach of MAPS research - even investors are taking interest!

NHS Choices "Ecstasy Tested for Trauma Therapy"

This article gives a very thorough overview of the entire MAPS pilot Phase II
study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

AOL News "Ecstasy Shows Promise as PTSD Treatment; FDA Aproves Another Study" by Katie Drummond.

This article explains how MDMA is actively being used to treat PTSD in
the pilot Phase II study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy by MAPS.

Techeye "Ecstasy Can Help Treat Sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Hector Dish.

Thorough Summary of the outcomes of the pilot Phase II study of
MDMA-assicated psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

The Sun "Ecstasy Pills Can Treat Soliders"

Briefly states that MDMA made PTSD patients “less frightened” and allowed
them to “open up more”.

Fox News "Study: Ecstasy Can Help Traumatized Soldiers"

Very brief overview of the outcomes of the pilot phase II study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD

CBS News "Ecstasy Helps Treat PTSD Patients, Trial Finds" by David S. Morgan.

Summarizes the findings of the pilot Phase II study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

BBC News: Health "Ecstasy may help trauma victims"

This article discusses the preliminary outcomes of the MAPS pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

July 18, 2010

U.S. News & World Report: Health "Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD: Safety Concerns Remain" by Madonna Behen.

This article covers the successes of the Phase II study using MDMA to treat PTSD. Some of the safety issues concerning the drug are also addressed.

July 16, 2010

Military.com "Study: Ecstasy Treats PTSD" by Bryant Jordan.

The leading online news source for the military reported about the results of our U.S. MDMA/PTSD study. “The drug Ecstasy shows positive results in the majority of patients when used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a report coming out Monday in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.”

July 1, 2010

Wall Street Journal "Reefer Madness" by Randy E. Barnett.

The Lancet Oncology "Cancer and hallucinogens: a long, strange trip"

This article discusses the preliminary outcomes of the MAPS pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

June 16, 2010

San Francisco Chronicle "On Dangerous Meds, the Feds and ’Heads’" by Eugene Schoenfeld.

Psychiatrist Schoenfeld, author of this opinion piece, remarks on two deaths that took place at a rave in San Francisco over Memorial Day Weekend. He points out "Due to federal government interference, we don’t know how best to prevent harm at raves other than to just say no to drugs, obviously and tragically an ineffective strategy." Schoenfeld mentions Julie Holland M.D.'s presentation at Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century.

June 11, 2010

Progressive Radio Network "‘Of Consuming Interest’ hosts Rick Doblin" by .

MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. gave a one hour interview on this radio show. Listen to it on the MAPS website (or on the Progressive Radio Network website).

June 1, 2010

Catalyst "Psychedelic Renaissance" by Trisha Macmillan.
page 1 page 2

This Salt Lake City, Utah periodical writes that "the MAPS conference could mark the end of a 30-year dark age regarding the study of entheogens."

May 25, 2010

CBC News "Ecstasy may damage brain cells, study finds" by .

Recently Kish and colleagues published a study chiefly assessing serotonin transporter sites in ecstasy users and controls who had had not used substances other than alcohol and cannabis, reporting modest but significant differences between the two groups. The study's authors also assessed cognitive function (as memory or planning) and measured a number of confounds, as variations in serotonin transporter genes or hormone levels. The study is retrospective rather than prospective and results do not deviate much from current research findings, but the study is well-crafted and thorough. A review and commentary on the paper by MAPS Research Specialist Ilsa Jerome Ph.D. is included with the full text of the article.

May 19, 2010

NPR "NPR. “Can Marijuana Ease PTSD? A Debate Brews”" by Jeff Brady.

This article reports on persons with PTSD, including veterans of war, who are using medical marijuana to ease anxiety and other symptoms, the debate within the Veterans Affairs, and the conflict between state laws and federal laws.

April 26, 2010

Originally found at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-k-comstock/psychedelic-science_b_547070.html "The Huffington Post. “Can Psychedelic Drugs Treat PTSD?”" by Craig Comstock.

Kept on hold for close to half a century, especially in the U.S., psychedelic science is now coming back to life, in large part due to efforts by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies and researchers it has recruited and supported and with whom it has won approvals to do legal studies here and abroad. This month, MAPS held a conference with main speakers from, for example, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Purdue, UCLA, and leading European universities.

Originally found at: http://theweek.com/article/index/202281/Can_ecstasy_cure_PTSD "Can ‘ecstasy’ cure PTSD?" by .

An illegal psychedelic has promise as a cure for post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers. Following, a quick guide to "the peace drug"

April 23, 2010

CNN "CNN: Hallucinogens Could Treat Ailments" by Dan Simon.

Yahoo News "Psychedelic trips aid anxiety treatments in study" by Malcolm Ritter.

This article discusses one subject's treatment with psilocybin as part of the NYU psilocybin/cancer anxiety research project, as well as mentioning the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference. Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Steve Ross, M.D., and David Nichols, Ph.D. are each quoted.

USA Today "Psychedelic drugs aid anxiety treatments in cancer patients" by .

With this mention in the USA Today, it really does seem that the mainstream media has become friendly to discussing psychedelic research!

Associated Press (VIDEO) "Cancer Patients go on a Psychedelic Trip" by .

This video news article interviews Steve Ross M.D. of the NYU psilocybin/cancer anxiety reserch team and one of his subjects who took psilocybin under his care.

April 21, 2010

Huffington Post "Amanda Feilding’s Talk at the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century Conference" by Amanda Feilding.

The text of Beckley Foundation Director Amanda Feilding's opening talk at Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century was reprnted on the Huffington Post.

Popular Science "Study of Vets Finds Ecstasy an Effective Treatment For PTSD" by Jeremy Hsu.

CNN "Psychedelic Drugs For Your Health" by Campbell Brown and Sanjay Gupta, M.D..

Watch it on the on the MAPS website (or fullscreen on CNN's website.)

This is one of many great media pieces that arose from the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference. This television news piece features interviews with Steven Ross, M.D. from the NYU psilocybin/cancer research team and CNN health correspondent Sanjay Gupta, M.D.

April 20, 2010

Iran PressTV "Ecstasy can alleviate PTSD symptoms" by .

Wired "Modern Psychedelic Scientists Find Data in Countercultural Past" by Alexis Madrigal.

CNN "Science Takes a New Look at Psychedelics" by Dan Simon.

This television news article (MOV) features short interviews with Rick Doblin and Michael Mithoefer, and coverage of the Psychedelic Science in 21st Century conference. (Watch in fullscreen at CNN's website.)

Santa Cruz Weekly "Santa Cruz Psychedelic Drug Research Group Sees Progress" by Jessica Fromm.

This is a different version of the article that appeared in the Silicon Valley Metro News the week before the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference.

Scientific American "Can the Peace Drug Help Clean Up the War Mess?" by Brian Vastag.

At the Psychedelic Science conference, researchers reported positive results on the effectiveness of MDMA in relieving PTSD and talked about psilocybin in reducing stress in late-stage cancer patients

Muslims.net and PressTV "Psychedelic confab closes in NorCal"

The largest gathering on psychedelic science in four decades has been held in San Jose, California.

CNN "MOV File" by .
CNN. "Science Takes a New Look at Psychedelics." With Correspondent Dan Simon.

This television news article features short interviews with Rick Doblin and Michael Mithoefer, and coverage of the Psychedelic Science in 21st Century conference.

April 19, 2010

MSNBC (Reuters) "Party drug ecstasy eases PTSD in small study" by .

Talk therapy combined with MDMA curbed distress, experiment showed

ABCnews.com "Psychedelics Soothe Dying: NYU Researchers Study Use of Psilocybin to Help the Terminally Ill" by Susan Donaldson James..

SantaCruz.com "Psychedelic Conference a Big Hit" by Danny Wool.

Timothy Leary once said that “We are dealing with the best-educated generation in history, but they’ve got a brain dressed up with nowhere to go.” Well, they could have gone to the San Jose Holiday Inn to attend the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Conference. The Santa Cruz-based group brought together 1,000 people to discuss the benefits of psychedelic drugs, especially as a means of helping people tackling such problems as depression, OCD and PTSD.

April 18, 2010

Silicon Valley Mercury News "Psychedelics conference describes the long strange trip to the lab" by Lisa M. Krieger.

This article discusses the close of the Psychedelic Science conference in San Jose, California. (Reprinted in the Philadelphia Inquirer with the title, "Psychedelic drugs get a second look from science.")

BBC Global News "Rick Doblin at Psychedelic Science" by .

Rick Doblin was interviewed twice by the BBC after the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference. His portion in audio file 2 starts at 25:43 (Audio File 1: Audio File 2).

April 17, 2010

"Psychedelic Science Connie Littlefields’ Tribute to the Shulgins"

Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century - Shulgin Tribute from Conceptafilm on YouTube.

The Times of India "Ecstasy could help ease trauma long term" by .

Ecstasy pills may offer treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), say experts. According to clinical-trial results presented at a conference in San Jose, California, the effect of the party drug seems to continue for years after the initial treatment, reports Nature.

April 16, 2010

Nature News "Party drug could ease trauma long term" by Lizzie Buchen.

Ecstasy, a drug that is illegal in most countries, is showing increasing potential as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to clinical-trial results presented at a conference in San Jose, California, today. The effect seems to continue for years after the initial treatment.

April 15, 2010

KQED "Forum" by Michael Krasny.

Rick Doblin, Ph.D. and Charles Grob, M.D. spoke on KQED, San Franciso's largest NPR station the opening morning of Psyhcedelic Science in the 21st Century.

April 14, 2010

Silicon Valley Metro "Psilicon Valley" by Jessica Fromm.

This front page article previewed Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century.

April 13, 2010

Fox 5 (Atlanta) "Hallucinogens Tested to Help Treat Cancer Patients" by .

According to The New York Times doctors are dabbling in psychedelic drugs, like psilocybin, to treat patients with depression and anxiety with a new focus on the terminally ill. To further investigate the effects of hallucinogens the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Cancer Project is looking for cancer patients between the ages of 21 and 70 who are willing to volunteer. Eligibility requirements include a cancer diagnosis that is potentially life-threatening and experiences of anxiety or depressed mood.

Digital Journal "Psilocybin, psychedelics back on scientific radar" by .

Since the early 1960s scientific research into Psilocybin and other hallucinogenic drugs has been at a standstill because of widely held taboos. In the twenty-first century that bias is fading and the medical value of psychedelics is again in the news.

April 12, 2010

CBS News "Report: Doctors Give Psychedelics Second Look"

Early Research Shows Hallucinogens May Be Effective at Treating a Range of Psychiatric Disorders.

New York Times "Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In Again" by John Tierney.

This article by John Tierney, written for the NY Times Health section, gives an overview of emerging psychedelic research in medicine. The article follows up with a patient who participated in the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin end-of-life distress study as an introduction to the greater psychedelic science community. Rick Doblin, president of MAPS, is quoted, as well as UCLAs Dr. Charles Grob.

AOLNews.com "Doctors Again Dabbling in Psychedelic Drugs" by Katie Drummond.

Katie Drummond, a contributor for AOL News, followed up the recent NY Times article "Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In Again", by expanding on psychedelic science being conducted in the U.S. The article has quotes from Michael Mithoefer, a MAPS-sponsored psychiatrist in Charleston, S.C., who has been running FDA-approved studies using MDMA.

April 6, 2010

MNdaily.com "Salvia ban a burn to science" by .

MNdaily.com, a student-produced newspaper of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, published this editorial which criticizes Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, for introducing a bill to ban the sale of the psychedelic herb Salvia divinorum in the state of Minnesota. The editorial lambastes the lawmaker for using fear-driven politics to introduce a law which could stifle legitimate research into finding treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimers disease and schizophrenia.

March 29, 2010

The Daily Campus "Psychedelic drugs should be considered medically useful" by Sam Tracy.

This editorial article by Sam Tracy, written for The Daily Campus, The Independent News Source of the University of Connecticut, argues for ending the legal ban on psychedelic drugs in medicine. The author points to MAPS and its ongoing efforts to help heal people suffering from PTSD with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a move in the right direction.

March 23, 2010

Playboy "The New Psychedelic Renaissance" by Steve Cotler.

This fantastic article (PDF) discusses MAPS' role in the new psychedelic renaissance, and features a lengthy and detailed interview with Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Executive Director.

March 22, 2010

Alternet "The Future of Drug Reform Is Bright" by Fred Gardner.

This article discusses the recent Students for a Sensible Drug Policy conference in San Francisco. This landmark event was attended by over 470 campus activists seeking to network, strategize, party and share updates on the War on Drugs and the widening range of youth resistance efforts.

March 10, 2010

USA Today "Nation’s sole marijuana farm focuses on limiting abuse" by Chris Joyner.

This article is about marijuana research being conducted at the University of Mississippi. The report quotes the main researcher as saying that marijuana may see use in treating Parkison's and cancer. The article is significant in that it brings to light the fact that the only federally mandated marijuana farm is under the control of the National Institute on Drug Abuse whose primary goal is to support Drug War polices rather than investigating medical uses for drugs.

March 5, 2010

Huffington Post "Questions Coming Back to Life" by Craig K. Comstock.

This article discusses the reintegration of psychedelics into the mainstream culture, and mentions MAPS' research with veterans of war and PTSD. The author calls MAPS executive director Rick Doblin "persistent and ingenious."

February 22, 2010

Los Angeles Times "Position on pot is a bit hazy" by Editorial department.

When President Obama nominated Michele Leonhart to head the Drug Enforcement Administration last month, those hoping for a sensible federal policy regarding medical marijuana -- one that promotes scientific research into its medicinal value and eschews prosecution when it is used in accordance with local laws -- shivered.

February 19, 2010

"Overview of amphetamine-type stimulant Deaths in the UK - Critical Review and Commentary" by Ilsa Jerome.

MAPS. "Overview of amphetamine-type stimulant deaths in the UK - critical review and commentary." By Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D.

Despite news generated by a new study authored by Schifano and colleagues, ecstasy is not especially deadly in younger people.

February 18, 2010

The New York Times "Howard Lotsof Dies at 66; Saw Drug Cure in a Plant" by Dennis Hevesi.

Howard Lotsof, discoverer and advocate of the anti-addicitve properties of ibogaine, is commemorated in this article.

February 12, 2010

Financial Times "Charity pushes for LSD use in medicine" by Andrew Jack.

The Financial Times, a prominent business newspaper out of London, UK, published this report about the medical uses of LSD. The article chronicles psychedelic research science being advanced by The Beckley Foundation of the UK. Among LSD research mentioned are the one Swiss and two U.S. studies of psychedelic use as a medical application.

February 8, 2010

HerbalGram, The Journal of the American Botanical Council "The State of Clinical Cannabis Research in the United States" by Lindsay Stafford.

This article (PDF) comes from a peer-reviewed journal and with efficient detail describes the DEA's and NIDA's obstruction of medical marijuana research and the proposed MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility at UMass Amherst. The author concludes that lengthy delays by the DEA "highlight the significance of the state-level medical marijuana movementWhile more people are able to obtain marijuana for treatment under some state laws, little research is being done to document the efficacy and safety of cannabis as a medicine."

February 5, 2010

High Times Magazine (online) "Psychedelic Science Conference to Be Held in California" by .

High Times Magazine, a popular marijuana and psychedelic periodical published this preview of the MAPS Psychedelic Science conference this April 15-18 in San Jose, California.

January 19, 2010

The New York Times "Researchers Find Study of Medical Marijuana Discouraged" by Gardiner Harris.

Major national attention is being drawn to federal obstruction of medical marijuana research. The New York Times reported on the first page of the National section, about the DEA's refusal to license Professor Lyle Craker to operate a MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility at UMass Amherst. Marijuana is the only Schedule I drug of which the federal government has a monopoly on the legal supply for research. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) determines who is granted marijuana. NIDA's mission does not include providing marijuana to researchers who seek to develop the plant form of marijuana into FDA-approved prescription medicines. In 2001, Craker submitted an application to the DEA to start a marijuana production facility sponsored by MAPS in order to grow marijuana for MAPS' medical marijuana drug development efforts. After years of inaction by the DEA, Craker filed a lawsuit against the DEA. On February 12, 2007, DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Bittner presented a recommended ruling that it would be in the publics interest to end the NIDA monopoly on supply by licensing Craker. The DEA failed to respond for almost two years. Then, on January 14, 2009, the DEA rejected ALJ Bittner's recommendation. The DEA's final order has not gone into effect because we have a "Motion to Reconsider" pending before the DEA. However, the DEA is currently winning by delay. In turn, we have a pending appeal filed with the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals in order to launch a lawsuit should the DEA's final ruling actually go into effect. Our hope is that new leadership at the DEA will accept the original recommended ruling and reverse the DEAs pending Final Order. Unfortunately, President Obama has not yet appointed new leadership to replace the Bush-era leaders at the DEA.

January 15, 2010

Global Health News "Study Uses Psychoactive Agent to Promote Well-Being for Cancer Sufferers"

This article covers a current NYU study that is using psilocybin to help counter the emotional distress of terminal illness.

January 13, 2010

Discover Magazine "Treating Agony With Ecstasy" by David Jay Brown.

This article gives information and statistics about a pilot study in South Carolina where MAPS-sponsored psychiatrist Michael Mithoefer is targeting PTSD with MDMA in victims of crime or war. The article points to the initial success of the study and mentions other MDMA/PTSD studies in the works at ohter research facilities.

January 8, 2010

Psychedelic Press UK "Interview with Rick Strassman M. D." by .

Dr. Strassman, author of "DMT: The Spirit Molecule," conducted medical research with the psychedelic substance DMT from 1990-1995; he was the first person in the United States after twenty years of prohibition to embark on human research with psychedelic, hallucinogenic, orentheogenic substances. Dr. Strassman discusses the process of writing "DMT: The Spirit Molecule" as well as future and ongoing psychedelic projects."

2009 Media Articles...

December 29, 2009

AlterNet "10 Reasons the U.S. Military Should (Officially) Use Pot" by Penny Coleman.

This article discusses the sad state of affairs regarding medical marijuana and the US Veterans Association. Although marijuana may have a host of advantages over other treatments for traumatized vets the VA still won't study its efficacy.

December 23, 2009

Hplus Magazine "Soul Medicine: Ecstasy (MDMA) as Therapy" by Oliver Hockenhull.

A beautifully written, brief history of MDMA.

December 14, 2009

The Huffington Post "President Obama: Free the Medical Marijuana Researchers!" by Doug Bandow.

The Huffington Post. "President Obama: Free the Medical Marijuana Researchers!" By Doug Bandow

This editorial urges President Obama to instruct the DEA to license Professor Craker to be able to grow marijuana for research, among other suggestions for increases scientific investigations of medical marijuana.

November 24, 2009

Vancouver Courier "Therapists tout ecstasy as treatment for stress disorder" by Cheryl Rossi.

This article discusses MAPS planned MDMA/PTSD study in Vancouver, British Columbia and mentions former Vancouver Mayor Philip Owens support of the research.

November 20, 2009

"Join Together. “AMA Calls for More Research into Medical Use of Marijuana”" by Bob Curley.

The federal government should consider moving marijuana out of Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in order to facilitate clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medications, the American Medical Association (AMA) said in a new policy statement. Rick Doblin, Ph.D., executive director of MAPS, said the AMA policy shift demonstrates that there is "clearly more interest in medical marijuana in the medical community than ever before." However, Doblin -- who has long contended that NIDA has worked to block medical-marijuana research through its gatekeeping role over supplies of marijuana for research -- said the policy will have "zero effect in getting NIDA out of the loop." Doblin said that a unique and open-ended Public Health Service (PHS) review process for medical-marijuana research, coupled with NIDA's monopoly on the drug supply, has prevented most basic research studies on smoked marijuana from getting off the ground.

Originally appeared at:

http://www.jointogether.org/news/features/2009/ama-says-marijuana-has.html

November 16, 2009

Telegraph.co.uk "Can mind-altering drugs have mental health benefits?" by Arran Frood.

This article opens with an account of two deaths and one person entering into a coma as the result of a group psychotherpay session that allegedly involved illegal drugs. The article quickly moves to a discussion of the ideas behind psychedelic research and names several prominent people conducting studies. The author briefly recounts two sessions he particpated in which he was invited to because he has written about the use of hallucinogenic drug research for many years for scientific media such as Nature and New Scientist.

November 4, 2009

Alternet "Letting the Science, Not the Politicians, Decide About Marijuana" by Jag Davies.

This is an incredibly intelligent article about the hypocrisy of Drug War officials and their obstruction of medical marijuana research. Author Jag Davies is the publications manager for the Drug Policy Alliance and a former MAPS staff member.

October 24, 2009

The Guardian "Scientists study possible health benefits of LSD and ecstasy" by Denis Campbell.

This article originally appeared in print on page 9 of the UK news section.

October 10, 2009

The Guardian "Face To Faith" by Alexander Beiner.

This article discusses how the prohibition of psychedelics infringes on persons ability to choose how they experience the divine. MAPS is mentioned for spearheading the renaissance in psychedelic research.

October 2, 2009

Clinical Psychology Review "PDF File" by Judith Cukor, Josh Spitalnick, JoAnn Difede, Albert Rizzo, and Barbara O. Rothbaum.

Clinical Psychology Review. "Emerging treatments for PTSD." By Judith Cukor, Josh Spitalnick, JoAnn Difede, Albert Rizzo, and Barbara O. Rothbaum

This scientific, peer-reviewed paper has a section on MDMA. The authors quote an article from Rick Doblin, Ph.D. published in 2002 which was about MAPS' MDMA/PTSD Clinical Plan. They also quote Andy Parrott about MDMA's therapeutic potential, even though he has mostly written about the risks of MDMA.

October 1, 2009

Scientific American "LSD Returns—For Psychotherapeutics" by Gary Stix.

This article features commentary from MAPS-sponsored LSD researcher Peter Gasser, M.D.

Psychology Today Brainstorm Blog "Flood the Psych Zone" by Editors.

From September 25 to 27, about 350 people attended the third annual Horizons Conference, which took place at Judson Memorial Church in New York City. Experts from across North America and Europe gathered to discuss the ongoing renaissance in the exploration of psychedelic drugs. MAPS Deputy Director Valerie Mojeiko gave a thoughtful, personal and well-received presentation entitled, "Psychedelic Harm Reduction--Rethinking the 'Bad Trip'." Valeries talks was mentioned in this article.

September 30, 2009

"Re: Professor Lyle Craker, Ph.D., Docket No. 05-16" by Jim Winkler.

September 29, 2009

The Mcgill Tribune "The Psychotherapy Movement: Acid’s Long Trip Back to Clinical Research" by Carolyn Gregoire.

This report in Canada's Mcgill University Student paper is an excellent overview of the current status of LSD research and has quotes from MAPS Director of Communication Randolph Hencken, M.A..

September 27, 2009

San Francisco Chronicle "LSDs long strange trip back into the lab" by Erin Allday.

This article about LSD reemerging in research laboratories appeared on the front page of the Sunday paper.

September 2, 2009

Globe and Mail "Landmark B.C. study lets trauma sufferers find relief with ecstasy" by Frances Bula.
MDMA/PTSD Research Reported in Canadian Globe and Mail

The popular British Columbian Globe and Mail newspaper ran an article about MAPS planned MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) study, to take place in Vancouver, BC. The article titled, "Landmark B.C. study lets trauma suffers find relief with ecstasy" was written by Frances Bula, who presented a concise overview of the study to Canadian readers. As a result of this article, Ingrid Pacey, M.D. the Principal Investigator of the study, received a deluge of media inquiries and even discussed the study on Canadian National TV.

August 20, 2009

The Daily Beast "Is LSD Good for You?" by Paul Schrodt.

This article explores the resurgence of LSD research and includes information about cluster headaches and MAPS' Swiss study of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses.

August 10, 2009

Miller-Mccune "The Ecstasy and the Agony" by Matt Palmquist.

Matt Palmquist, writer for Miller-Mccune, published an article titled, The Ecstasy and the Agony, featuring interviews with Norwegian scientists Pl-rjan Johansen and Teri Krebs. They discuss their paper, "How could MDMA help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale," published in the Journal of Pharmacology.

August 1, 2009

Scientific American "Salvia on schedule: New rules on a mind-altering herb could slow medical research" by David Jay Brown.

This informative article (PDF) on Salvia Divinorum is by MAPS' friend and guest editor David Jay Brown.

July 31, 2009

Washington Post "All in Due Time" by Fred Page.

This short article discusses the Obama Administration's possible picks for new leadership at the Drug Enforcement Administration. The two front runners are rumored to be Deputy FBI Chief John Pistole, New York Assistant U.S. Attorney Boyd Johnson.

July 23, 2009

Good Times (Santa Cruz Weekly) "Transcendental Medication" by Damon Orion.

This cover article (image) in the Santa Cruz Weekly news and entertainment paper gives an up-to-date perspective of MAPS. MAPS operational headquarters are in Santa Cruz.

July 14, 2009

The Vancouver Observer "Healing severe trauma with MDMA" by Brandi Cowen.

MAPS planned MDMA/PTSD research in Vancouver, Canada led by Principal Investigators Dr. Ingrid Pacey and Andrew Feldmar is featured in this article.

July 9, 2009

Der Spiegel "Tune in, Turn on and Cheer UpSwiss Psychiatrist Fights Fear with LSD" by Samiha Shafy.

MAPS-sponsored Swiss study of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety associated with life threatening illnesses was featured in a popular German news magazine.

July 8, 2009

The Huffington Post "Read the Never-Before-Published Letter From LSD-Inventor Albert Hofmann to Apple CEO Steve Jobs" by Ryan Grim.

This article discusses a letter from Albert Hofmann to Steve Jobs that was encouraged by MAPS President Rick Doblin. MAPS board member John Gilmore and MAPS Supporter Kevin Herbert are also included in the story.

July 2, 2009

"Medical Marijuana, Inc. Signs the First Cannabis Collective in Venice, California to Use Tax Card" by .

Medical Marijuana Inc. is a publicly traded company that recently signed Venice California Dispensary 99 High Art Collective. 99 High Art Collective is displaying light paintings by Dean Chamberlain. Sales of the paintings will benefit MAPS.

June 4, 2009

British TV News Channel 4 "Agony or Ecstasy the MDMA Dilemma" by David Fuller.

This newsclip (MOV) features Dr. Michael Mithoefer discussing his MAPS-sponsored study with MDMA to treat PTSD at the United Kingdom's Royal College of Psychiatry.

May 24, 2009

Gnostic Media "Psycho-spiritual evolution an interview with Dr. Neal Goldsmith" by Jan Irvin.

This podcast has an interview with MAPS' good friend Dr. Neal Goldsmith. This an in-depth discussion of the influence of psychedelics on psychotherapy, with a lot about his personal background and experience.

May 18, 2009

CNN.com "Government runs nation’s only legal pot garden" by Mike Ahlers and Jeanne Meserve.

CNN's online story mentions MAPS' struggle to obtain a license for professor Craker to grow marijuana at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rick Doblin's admission of marijuana use to DEA court is cited as one of the reasons that DEA is denying the application:

"[DEA...] objected to Craker's sponsor, saying the sponsor's 'past and ongoing' use of marijuana 'is unacceptable for anyone seeking to have a prominent role in overseeing' a marijuana farm."

April 22, 2009

Alternet "The War on Pot Is an Abject Failure ... Now’s the Time for a New Approach" by Jag Davies.

Former MAPS' Communication Director Jag Davies, now Beckley Foundation U.S. Public Policy Coordinator, probes the foundations proposals for international marijuana law reform.

April 1, 2009

High Times "MAPS’ Quest: The High Times Interview with Rick Doblin" by David Bienenstock.
This excellent interview with Rick Doblin was published in High Times.

March 31, 2009

Jerusalem Post "A growth sector" by David Brinn.

A well-written, detailed article about the Israeli medical marijuana facility MAPS' helped to fund.

March 26, 2009

New York Times "Relief for Patients" by Editorial Staff.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced last week that the federal government will no longer prosecute dispensers of medical marijuana if they comply with state law. The New York Times editorialist writes, “Mr. Holder deserves credit for recognizing that going after medical marijuana dispensers is not only bad policy, it is a distraction from work that really matters.”

March 23, 2009

New York Times "Contraception Pill Strictures Are Eased by a Judge" by Natasha Singer.

This discussion is significant to MAPS because MAPS's plans to make MDMA and psychedelic drugs into prescription medicines are modeled on the success of a nonprofit entity making the oral contraception pill into a prescription medicine.

March 19, 2009

Reuters "‘Ecstasy’ may help PTSD victims get better" by Anne Harding.

This article discusses the March 1, 2009 Journal of Psychopharmacology article by Norweigian researchers Pal Johansen and Teri S. Krebs, titled How could MDMA (ecstasy) help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale.

The New York Times "Attorney General Signals Shift in Marijuana Policy" by Thomas Watkins, The Associated Press.

An article from NYTimes online reported that new Attorney General Eric Holder "signaled a change on medical marijuana policy Wednesday, saying federal agents will target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state law. That would be a departure from the policy of the Bush administration, which targeted medical marijuana dispensaries in California even if they complied with that state's law."

The Jerusalem Post "High times" by David Brinn.

This article discusses the Israeli medical marijuana production facility and program supported by MAPS.

March 18, 2009

Congress Daily "Health: Obama Administration Likely to Review Umass Scientist’s Bid to Grow Marajuana" by Katie Sanders.

On March 18, an article in the National Journal (Congress Daily) quoted an anonymous White House official saying that it was likely that there would be a review of the DEA's last-minute rejection of DEA ALJ Bittner's recommendation that it would be in the public interest for Prof. Lyle Craker to receive a DEA license to grow marijuana exclusively for federally-approved research.

March 10, 2009

Los Angeles Times "The science of pot" by Editorial Desk.

The Los Angeles Times editorialized in favor of DEA licensing of Prof. Craker's medical marijuana production facility, citing as support President Obama's March 9, 2009 statement about scientific integrity. The LA Times editorial said, "DEA is one of the many federal agencies ready for enlightenment."

March 9, 2009

Eureka Alert! - SAGE Publications (UK) "Ecstasy could help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder : New research published in JPP" by Mithu Mukherjee.

The Times of India "Rave party narcotic may help in psychiatric treatment" by .

March 8, 2009

Nature Medicine "US drug agency blunts supply of marijuana for research" by Arran Frood.

Nature Medicine, a prestigious research magazine, has published an article on the Cracker case.

e! Science News, Sawf News "Ecstasy could help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)" by .

March 7, 2009

CNET "Ecstasy treatment draws rave reviews" by Mark Rutherford.

March 5, 2009

The Economist "Failed states and failed policies: How to stop the drug wars" by Editorial Desk.

March 4, 2009

Military.com "‘Party’ Drug Could be PTSD Treatment" by Bryan Mitchell.

Military.com is one of the most active websites online, and gets more hits than Erowid. MAPS is excited that news of our research is reaching the military audience. The comments by the readers are very intriguing.

Blog.wired.com "Ecstasy Pushed as PTSD Treatment" by Noah Shachtman.

March 1, 2009

Journal of Psychopharmacology "How could MDMA (ecstasy) help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale" by Pal Johansen and Teri Krebs.

This article (PDF) about MDMA in the treatment of anxiety by MAPS' associates T Krebs and P Johansen was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

February 27, 2009

San Francisco Chronicle "U.S. to yield marijuana jurisdiction to states" by Bob Egelko.

This Chronicle article reports on the end of DEA medical marijuana raids under the Obama Administration. MAPS DEA lawsuit is mentioned in the last lines: "The Bush administration also blocked a University of Massachusetts researcher's attempt to grow marijuana for studies of its medical properties. Piper, of the Drug Policy Alliance, said he hopes Obama will reverse that position. 'If you removed the obstacles to research,' he said, 'in 10 to 15 years, marijuana will be available in pharmacies.'"

February 17, 2009

Guardian.co.uk "Ecstasy trials for combat stress" by David Adams.

February 11, 2009

Counterpunch "Change We Can Smoke?" by Fred Gardner.

This online political newsletter examines the possibilities around the DEA/Craker lawsuit and what the courts and Obama Administration might do. MAPS President Rick Doblin PhD discusses the best and worst scenarios for the political and legal outcomes.

February 10, 2009

New Scientist "Ecstasy’s long-term effects revealed" by Graham Lawton.

This article discusses contemporary research into the risks of MDMA use as a recreational drug. It points out that long term studies show very few impairments as a result of moderate ecstasy use.

January 30, 2009

Search Magazine "Mystics Under the Microscope" by Peter Bebergal.

Is there such a thing as a core, common mystical experience? This article looks at the research into this question.

January 28, 2009

McClatchy Newspapers "Medical marijuana raid raises question: What’s Obama policy?" by Michael Doyle.

One week after Obama took office the DEA raided a South Tahoe medical marijuana dispensary. This article discusses the legal conundrum that Obama has inherited in the fight between federal law and state law regarding medical marijuana.

The Colorado Springs Independent "Less agony, no Ecstasy" by Anthony Lane.

Dr. Mithoefer is mentioned in this military town’s publication about veterans with PTSD.

January 26, 2009

Marketplace-American Public Media "Food vendors sell with personal touch" by .

Vaporizers aren’t just for inhaling marijuana vapors anymore – they are also good for creating enhancing aromas for the culinary elite.

January 19, 2009

Boston Globe "Marijuana monopoly: Letter to the Editor" by Rick Doblin PhD.

January 16, 2009

CNN.com "Keeping the lid on pot" by Caleb Hellerman.

A CNN editorial about the DEA's refusal to grant Prof. Craker a license to grow marijuana for research purposes.

Daily Kos & Drug Law Reform Project "In Parting Shot, Bush’s DEA Blocks FDA Research Route for Medical Marijuana" by .

January 14, 2009

The Boston Phoenix "The DEA says no (again) to medical marijuana. Now what?" by Mike Milliard.

January 13, 2009

Reason Magazine Online "Marijuana Monopoly Maintained" by Jacob Sullum.

Associate Press "DEA denies professor’s marijuana-for-research bid" by Andrew Miga.

Boston Globe "UMass loses marijuana lab bid" by Bina Venkataraman.

The Med Guru "DEA rejects professors plea to grow medical marijuana for research" by Riya Chauhan.

Scientific American (Magazine) "No way, dude: DEA just says ‘no’ to scientist’s pot request" by Jordan Lite.

January 12, 2009

Salem-News.com "DEA Rejects Judge’s Ruling, Quashes Medical Marijuana Research Project" by .

Boston Globe "DEA rejects UMass request to grow medical marijuana" by Bina Venkataraman, Globe Correspondent.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) "DEA rejects UMass professor’s bid to grow marijuana for medical research" by Andrew Miga with contributions from Rodrique Ngowi.

"PDF Article" by .

MAPS and the ACLU put out a press release in response to the DEA’s ruling against the MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility at UMass Amherst.

Political Blotter, Inside the Bay Area "Political Blotter: Politics in the Bay Area and Bey" by Josh Richman.

January 7, 2009

New York Times "Purple Heart Is Ruled Out for Traumatic Stress" by Lizette Alvarez and Erik Eckholm.

Despite scientific evidence that trauma from war can cause debilitating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the US Pentagon has officially refused to honor vets with a PTSD a Purple Heart – an honor for being wounded in war. MAPS’ goal is to help veterans who suffer from PTSD with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

January 2, 2009

HaMagazin "Prescription for A Joint" by Dan Even (translated by Dana Peleg, MA).

An excellent article on the Israeli medical marijuana program published in an Israeli newspaper.

2008 Media Articles...

December 29, 2008

The New York Times Magazine (p. MM39) "Albert Hofmann: Day Tripper, born 1906"

This is glowing article about the father of LSD. Albert is honored as a tolerant man who was thoughtful in his pursuits of science and spirituality.

December 19, 2008

The Economist "Agony and Ecstasy: Ecstasy may be good for those who cant get over something truly horrible" by .

This is well written article that explores stories of two patients in Dr. Mithoefers study, the history of MDMA, and efforts of MAPS and other scientists in the psychedelic research renaissance.

December 1, 2008

CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics "The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review" by Torsten Passie MD, John H. Halpern MD, Dirk O. Stichtenoth, Hinderk M. Emrich, & Annelie Hintzen.

This comprehensive review of LSD (PDF) was authored by colleagues of MAPS. MAPS’ Swiss LSD/end-of-life anxiety study is the research that Dr. Passie referred to at the end of the following abstract:

“With the entry of new methods of research and better study oversight, scientific interest in LSD has resumed for brain research and experimental treatments. Due to the lack of any comprehensive review since the 1950s and the widely dispersed experimental literature, the present review focuses on all aspects of the pharmacology and psychopharmacology of LSD. A thorough search of the experimental literature regarding the pharmacology of LSD was performed and the extracted results are given in this review. (Psycho-) pharmacological research on LSD was extensive and produced nearly 10,000 scientific papers. The pharmacology of LSD is complex and its mechanisms of action are still not completely understood. LSD is physiologically well tolerated and psychological reactions can be controlled in a medically supervised setting, but complications may easily result from uncontrolled use by layman. Actually there is new interest in LSD as an experimental tool for elucidating neural mechanisms of (states of) consciousness and there are recently discovered treatment options with LSD in cluster headache and with the terminally ill.”

November 21, 2008

The Huffington Post "Obama Drug Czar Pick: No Recovery from War on Drugs?" by Maia Szalavitz.

November 20, 2008

"Damaging Freedom: Psychoactive Drugs and the Duty of the State" by Jonathan Wyse.

A talk presented to the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College

Nature "Ecstasy could augment the benefits of psychotherapy" by Nature Editors.

The renowned publication Nature mentioned the preliminary successes of our MDMA/PTSD pilot study.

November 13, 2008

Nature (online) "Illegal drug shows promise in treating trauma symptoms: MDMA may boost the benefits of psychotherapy" by Arran Frood.

CNN "Ecstasy may help PTSD" by Chief Health Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

This two-minute cable television news segment (MOV) was broadcast the day Dr. Mithoefer presented the findings of our MDMA/PTSD pilot study at the International Society for Traumatic Studies conference. Gail Westerfeld, one of Mithoefers Subjects, told CNN that she has been without nightmares for four years after her MDMA-assisted therapy sessions.

November 12, 2008

WJZ Baltimore TV "Could Tripping On Acid Help Those With Cancer (TV transcript)" by Derek Valcourt.

November 6, 2008

Slate Magazine "High Expectations" by Amanda Schaffer.

Slate Magazine contributor Amanda Schaffer wrote an excellent article on the promise of, and obstacles to, medical marijuana research. The article discusses a variety of successful research applications of marijuana and marijuana derivatives.

October 28, 2008

"Burning Man, at Both Ends" by .

The National Review featured an article about Burning Man that discusses Entheon Village.

October 21, 2008

"PDF Article" by .
British Psychiatrist Ben Sessa, wrote an opinion piece for the Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry about the need for more exploration into psychedelic drugs.

October 20, 2008

"Stone Age man took drugs, say scientists" by .

Archaeologists from North Carolina unearthed evidence that supports the belief that humankind has pursued altered states long before the modern era. Writer Jonathan Wune-Jones reported in the UK telegraph that researchers from the University College of London and North Carolina State University found artifacts of drug paraphernalia that were used for inhaling drugs over 2100 years ago.

October 16, 2008

"Rebuttal to “Damaging Freedom : Psychoactive Drugs and the Duty of the State”" by Rick Doblin, PhD.

October 13, 2008

The Independent "Ethics expert calls for drugs to ‘enhance’ death" by .

UK's The Independent reported that ethics experts believe that psychedelics should be available to enhance and demedicalise a persons death experience.

October 9, 2008

"Prohibition maximizes problems and minimizes benefits" by Rick Doblin, PhD.

A speech presented to the Trinity Philosophical Society

"DRUGS" by Tony Allwright.

A speech presented to the Trinity Philosophical Society

October 8, 2008

"MP3 File" by .

Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D. was interviewed on Friday, 26 September, 2008 at 12:00 AM on Bob Fass' radio show on WBAI FM. The topic was Psychotherapy, Psychedelics, and the Emergence of an Integral Society. You can listen to it here: http://www.maps.org/avarchive/sept26.2008_radiounamable.mp3 [MAPS Permalink].

"External Link" by .

Audio recordings of the talks from the 2008 Horizon's NYC Conference are available at this URL: http://www.archive.org/details/Horizons2008.

October 7, 2008

The Independent "LSD cured my headache" by Arran Frood.

Arran Frood wrote another great article about the therapeutic applications of psychedelics for The Independent, a London based media outlet. This time Frood explored how people with cluster headaches are finding permanent relief from using LSD.

October 2, 2008

Ecollegetimes.com "Despite medical research, salvia may be outlawed" by Emily Murray.

Staff writer Emily Murray wrote a well-balanced article on Salvia Divinorum. She interviewed MAPS Communications Director Randolph Hencken who told her, "our concern about people outlawing this drug is that it is a knee jerk reaction to something they don't understand. It would take this potentially useful substance that naturally occurs on our planet out of the hands of researchers who could possibly find that salvia is the tool we need to cure cancer, Alzheimer's or schizophrenia."

September 25, 2008

Alternet "What Happens When You Put 300 Experts on Psychedelics in the Same Room" by Steve Wishinia.

Steve Wishinia reported on Alternet about the second annual Horizons conference in New York City. MAPS president Rick Doblin was a speaker at the event, as were Sasha and Ann Shulgin, and numerous other noted persons in the psychedelic renaissance.

September 19, 2008

"Best Of Baltimore > Baltimore Living Winners" by .

Roland Griffiths won the "Best Scientist" award from the Baltimore City Paper. Griffiths and his team at John Hopkins were honored for the courage to study the spiritual benefits of psychedlic use and for bringing the research "out of the dorm room and back into the laboratory."

September 17, 2008

Wall Street Journal "Burning Man Is Hedonistic but Has Social Service, Too" by Charles Shaw.

September 16, 2008

Wall Street Journal "Desert Wanderers Find Their Promised Land" by Travis Kavulla.

The Wall Street Journal printed a hostile article about Burning Man. Journalist Travis Kavulla’s article explicitly mentioned Entheon Village as a “klatch of latter-day hippies and New Agers” and he attempted to discredit Charles Shaw as a witless one-liner wielding conspiracy theorist. A few days later the Wall Street Journal printed Shaw’s abridged rebuttal to Kavulla’s article.

Reality Sandwich "Emerging from the Dark Age: The Revival of Psychedelic Medicine" by Charles Shaw.

Reality Sandwich, published an updated and extended version of Charles Shaw's article Emerging from the Dark Age: The Revival of Psychedelic Medicine. Charles writes in detail about his own journey out of the darkness with the assistance of entheogens.

September 15, 2008

"The federal court ruled on the side of California’s medical marijuana law" by .

The federal court ruled on the side of California’s medical marijuana law. U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel, found that the federal government had made a concerted effort to sabotage state medical marijuana laws. This is a long overdue victor in the federal court system, and a triumph for California, Wo/men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM), and Santa Cruz city and county (plaintiffs in this court case).

September 11, 2008

ABC News Online "Hurdles keep street drugs out of medicine chest." by Russell Goldman.

ABC News Online (permalink) featured Michael Mithoefer's MDMA/PTSD research in Russell Goldman's article "Hurdles keep street drugs out of medicine chest." The article discusses the problems that scientists face when trying to conduct research with drugs that are illegal, but are suspected of having medical benefits.

MAPS president Rick Doblin is quoted, "It is hard to quantify the lost benefits by not allowing this research to go on. But how can the government justify keeping drugs that improve or save people's lives out of their hands?"

September 10, 2008

BBC "Is doctor-precribed LSD and ‘shrooms on the way" by Arran Frood.

The BBC's Arran Frood authored an optimistic article about the future of psychedelics as a prescription medicine in his article "Is doctor-precribed LSD and 'shrooms on the way."

September 8, 2008

"Towards a Culture Of Responsible Psychoactive Drug Use" by Earth and Fire Erowid.

Earth and Fire Erowid wrote an excellent essay that was part of a Cato Institute online discussion. Responses to the essay came from Jacob Sullum, Jonathan Caulkins, and Mark Kleiman.

September 5, 2008

New Scientist "Interview: Keeping the psychedelic dream alive" by Aaran Frood.

The New Scientist, a preeminent science weekly, printed a compelling interview with MAPS president Rick Doblin. Journalist Arran Frood noted that Doblin “kept the faith” in spite of bureaucratic obstacles to psychedelic research.

August 25, 2008

Calgary Herald "Tripping into mental health" by .

Canada’s Calgary Herald published an article titled "Tripping Into Mental Health," which is an enthusiastic response to Andrew Feldmár’s editorial in the Guardian. Kevin Brooker, the author, credits MAPS with opening the doors to MDMA research.

August 23, 2008

The Times "Can Illegal Drugs Help Depression?" by Arran Frood.

The Times Online (permalink) featured Amanda Fielding of the Beckley Foundation in Arran Frood's article "Can illegal drugs help depression?" The Beckley foundation is a generous funder of MAPS. Amanda told Frood, “What motivates me is that I feel [scientific researchwith pscyhedelic drugs is] an area where one can contribute a real benefit to humanity.”

August 20, 2008

The Guardian "Psychedelic drugs could heal thousands" by Andrew Feldmar.

Andrew Feldmar, the 68-year-old Canadian banned from entering the United States after a border guard found an article he had written about entheogen-assisted psychotherapy, wrote an editorial for the UK's Guardian about the numerous healing potentials of psychedelic psychotherapy.

August 14, 2008

Sarasota Herald Tribune "Had a nice trip. Wish you could, too." by Billy Cox.

The Herald Tribune from Sarasota, Florida, home to MAPS President Rick Doblin's Alma Mater New College, featured an article on Doblin, and MAPS' MDMA/PTSD research. Former acting director of NIDA Glen Hanson tries to detract the possibility of MDMA ever being approved as a prescription medicine, but Doblin counters that pre-existing MDMA data will expedite the process of approval by the FDA. NORML's executive director Alan St. Pierre likens Doblin to a mythical deity, "Rick is Pan," St. Pierre says. "He's Pan with the fife. And I've got to admit, I'm not immune to that at all."

August 12, 2008

The Guardian "Clinical trials test potential of hallucinogenic drugs to help patients with terminal illnesses" by James Randerson.

Psychedelic research appeared in the Guardian (Permalink) again. Journalist James Randerson wrote about research done by MAPS, Griffith, and Grob in the piece Clinical trials test potential of hallucinogenic drugs to help patients with terminal illnesses.

The online edition contains an audio clip by the author, and lengthy video clip of Pamela Sakuda, a subject with cancer from Grobs study, discussing her experience with psilocybin.

MAPS president Rick Doblin was quoted: These drugs, these experiences are not for the mystic who wants to sit on the mountain top and meditate. They are not for the counter-culture rebel. They are for everybody."

The Telegraph "Drugs like LSD and Ecstasy ‘could help terminally ill’" by Graham Tibbetts.

The telegraph.co.uk (Permalink) published a straightforward article about the resurgence of psychedelic research. Graham Tibbet's piece Drugs like LSD and Ecstasy could help terminally ill, discusses the MAPS sponsored LSD study in Switzerland, MDMA/PTSD research, Grobs Harbor-UCLA psilocybin research, and Grifiths psilocybin research.

The Mail on Sunday "LSD used to treat terminally ill patients in clinical trials" by DAILY MAIL REPORTER.

A third article about the psychedelic renaissance appeared online in the Mail Online (Permalink) reported about the clinical trials with LSD, MDMA and psilocybin. Norbert Litzinger, the husband of the late Pamela Sakuda, declared that Sakuda's participation the Grobs psilocybin study greatly benefited the final days of her life.

July 30, 2008

WUNC "MP3 File" by .

An excellent radio show (MAPS permalink) on WUNC FM broadcast out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina featured an interview with Anne Levy about her experience as a subject in Dr. Charlie Grob's study on the use of psilocybin for treatment of anxiety in late stage cancer patients.

July 11, 2008

AlterNet "Emerging from the Drug War Dark Age: LSD and Other Psychedelic Medicines Make a Comeback" by Charles Shaw.

Charles Shaw published an insightful article on psychedelic research and MAPS on Alternet titled Emerging from the Drug War Dark Age: LSD and Other Psychedelic Medicines Make a Comeback. Shaw wrote: More than anyone else in his field, [MAPS president] Doblin is all too familiar with what he refers to as the 40-year-long bad trip that researchers like him have faced in dealing with the fallout from the introduction of LSD and other psychedelic compounds to the Western psyche in the mid 1960s. This 40-year intellectual Dark Age, Doblin says, has been characterized by enormous fear and misinformation and a vested interest in exaggerated stories about drugs to keep prohibition alive.

July 6, 2008

The Sunday Baltimore Sun "Tuning In, Not Out" by .

The Sunday Baltimore Sun published an editorial ("Tuning In, Not Out") supporting research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The editorial mentions the MAPS-supported research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in people with PTSD and ends by stating, "Instead of banning drugs that are perceived as bad simply because of their recreational use, scientists should be encouraged to pursue legitimate study - lest we miss out on a valuable medicinal tool."

July 3, 2008

Nature News "Benefits of ‘magic mushroom’ therapy long lasting" by .

Nature News published a piece on Griffiths' follow-up to his human psilocybin research. MAPS President Rick Doblin posted a comment in response to the piece which is included in the full text.

July 2, 2008

Newsweek "A Really Long Strange Trip" by Jeneen Interland.

A web exclusive piece published online by Newsweek discusses Griffiths' psilocybin research and his piece containing guidelines for human research with psychedelic compounds, relating it to the history and future of human stuides with psychedelic compounds.

July 1, 2008

Wired "Psilocybin Study Hints at Rebirth of Hallucinogen Research" by .

Wired just published a story on Roland Griffiths' recently published 14-month follow-up to his initial human psilocybin study, and discusses another paper that he and collaborators M Johnson and W Richards publish in the same journal that presents guidelines for conducting research with high doses of psychedelic compounds, a report Griffiths describes in the Wired story as possibly the more important of the two papers.

Bohemian.com "The Counterculture Colonel" by Martin A. Lee.

Though the article is called "The Counter-culture Colonel," Jim transcends the Culture/Counter-Culture divisions. Jim's ability to be on good terms with US Military, Ann and Sasha, and others in the psychedelic community are an example of how we need to go about integrating psychedelics within our culture, being in close touch with diverse elements and trusted by all.

"NIDA/PHS Review of MAPS’ Vaporizer Protocol" by .

The psilocybin/mystical experience study was primarily funded by the Council on Spiritual Practices. Bob Jesse, founder of the Council on Spiritual Practices, has recently sent out a fundraising letter seeking support for further research in healthy volunteers.

Associated Press "Study finds long benefit in illegal mushroom drug" by Malcolm Ritter.

Roland Griffiths and his study of psilocybin have made the news again, as recounted in this Associated Press news report, with the appearance of a 14-month follow-up to his original study that reported mystical experiences after psilocybin, but not methylphenidate. In the follow-up, people continue to say their experiences with psilocybin were some of the most meaningful in their lives.

June 18, 2008

"PDF Article" by .

British Psychiatrist Ben Sessa, in a scholarly exploration, argued for the renewal of research into psychedelic drugs in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

June 12, 2008

NHPR "Tripping Out at Harvard" by Virginia Prescott.

Virginia Prescott with New Hampshire Public Radio interviews freelance writer Peter Bebergal who is based in Cambridge, Mass., and wrote about the new wave of psychedelic-drug research for the Boston Phoenix.

May 28, 2008

The Boston Phoenix "Will Harvard Drop Acid Again?" by Peter Bebergal.

These two articles - from the Boston Phoenix and the UK Independent respectively - both give MAPS' ongoing research some excellent reviews.

May 19, 2008

"From MAPS: Letter to Editor of the Economist" by .

From MAPS: Letter to Editor of the Economist

Dear Editor,

The obituary for Albert Hofmann, the inventor of LSD who died April 29 at age 102, reported that LSD research was stopped in the early 1970s and never resumed. Actually, a protocol evaluating LSD-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with anxiety associated with end-of-life issues was approved in Switzerland in December 2007, shortly before Albert's wife, Anita Hofmann, died, after 72 years of marriage. Albert spoke about that approval as " the fulfillment of my heart's desire." The first LSD session in that study took place on Tuesday, May 13. This will become the first controlled, scientific study of the therapeutic potential of LSD in over 36 years. As Albert hoped, his problem child may yet become a wonder child, much as perhaps the most feared drug of all, thalidomide, has returned as a prescription drug to treat cancer and leprosy.

Furthermore, to set the record straight (so to speak), Albert himself took LSD for the last time at age 97.

Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
President, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS, http://www.maps.org)

[MAPS is sponsoring the Swiss LSD study]

May 13, 2008

NPR "MP3 File" by .
Another short audio clip about Albert Hofmann and his 'Problem Child' (MP3) from NPR.

"MP3 File" by .

This recent letter from Rick Doblin, Ph.D. to the editor of The Economist about Albert Hofmann's death appeared in an audio release of the paper and is available here in MP3 format.

May 8, 2008

The Economist "Albert Hofmann, chemist, died on April 29th, aged 102"

The Lancet "Research on psychedelics moves into the mainstream" by Kelly Morris.

The May 8 issue of the well-known medical journal The Lancet published "Research on psychedelics moves into the mainstream", a news article that discusses renewed research into therapeutic uses of psychedelic drugs and MDMA.

May 7, 2008

Google News "Albert Dies, LSD Psychotherapy Research Lives" by Rick Doblin, PhD.

New York Times "Albert Hofmann Obituary" by Benedict Carey.

NPR "MP3 File" by .

Remembrances - 'Father of LSD' Dies at 102 by Scott Simon: This MP3 recording from the Weekend Edition (Saturday, May 3, 2008) of NPR discusses Albert Hofmann, the self-described "father of LSD," and his discovery of the substance while working for a pharmaceutical company in 1938 and includes Rick Doblin's comments about Hofmann's discovery and the state of current (and past historical) LSD research.

"MP3 File" by .

Presidential Politics in a Changing America (MP3): from WED APR 30, 2008 - America as a whole is more diverse than ever before, but its increasingly crowded with citieseven neighborhoods--where everybody thinks like everybody else. What does that mean for the presidential campaigns? Is "political unification" a distant dream? Also, an update on a sluggish economy, and the life and death of Albert Hofman, who accidentally discovered LSD and started the "psychedelic generation."

May 4, 2008

The Sunday Times "Ecstasy is the Key to Treating PTSD" by Amy Turner.

The Sunday Times (London) recently published "Ecstasy is the Key to Treating PTSD," an in-depth piece on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in people with PTSD, focusing on Dr. Mithoefer's MAPS-supported study and featuring quotes from MAPS president Rick Doblin and British psychiatrist Ben Sessa.

May 3, 2008

NY Times "Albert Hofmann Obituary" by Benedict Carey.

Another extraordinary obituary of Albert Hofmann.

May 1, 2008

National Post (Canada) "On Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD" by Colby Cosh.

The Independent (UK) "Trip of a lifetime: How LSD rocked the world"

April 30, 2008

"Albert Hofmann Obituaries" by .

Rolling Stone Magazine (PDF)
Gaia Media
London Times
London Telegraph
Chicago Tribune
NY Times
LA Times
Washington Post
CNN
Reuters
SFGate
National Post (Canada)
The Economist
NZZ (German language only)
NY Times Obituary by Benedict Carey
Rick Doblin comments on Albert's life in Google News
Gaia Media Memorial of Albert Hofmann

Bloomberg News "LSD May Shed Hippie Image With Swiss Study of Medical Benefits" by Dermot Doherty.

This recent article entitled LSD May Shed Hippie Image With Swiss Study of Medical Benefits focused on MAPS Swiss LSD study directed by Peter Gasser, M.D. discusses both the current political climate that lead to the study's approval and the counter-cultural currents that spawned the banning of this research in the 1960's.

April 15, 2008

Basler Zeitung (2 articles) "I am no cheerleader for psychedelic drugs" by .

Two intriguing articles about MAPS' involvement in the World Psychedelic Forum 2008 were recently published in the Basler Zeitung newspaper. The first article entitled "Of the Enlightened and the De-Narcotised" is slightly critical about the conference, but it notes that Doblin's comments were balanced, and Michael Mithoefers research was solid. The second article aptly entitled "I am no cheerleader for psychedelic drug" features an interview with Rick Doblin, Ph.D. at the conference.

April 2, 2008

The Capital-Journal Editorial Board "Drug laws — Good riddance" by .

The drug war barrels onward in Kansas as this article from The Capital-Journal Editorial Board suggests. The article discusses the recent legislation to ban sales of hallucinogen in Kansas, boldly claiming that this legislation "isn't an overreaction, it's good for the state"

The London Times "LSD, Ketamine and Cannabis could treat conditions from headache to diabetes" by Arran Frood.

This recent article by Arran Frood which was published in the London Times discusses some of the more exciting and far-sighted uses of psychedelics in the treatment of various illnesses.

March 17, 2008

World Radio Switzerland "LSD and ecstasy bend minds in Basel" by Vincent Landon.

World Radio Switzerland aired a segment about the World Psychedelic Forum in Basel. The segment featured conference organizer Dieter Hagenbach and MAPS sponsored researcher Dr. Peter Gasser.

March 12, 2008

PostModernTimes "MOV File" by .

This intriguing webisode of an interview with MAPS' Founder and President Rick Doblin, Ph.D. was filmed in New York a few months ago by the PostModernTimes.

March 11, 2008

"Is Salvia the Next Marijuana?" by Jesica Gresko.

A recent article from the AP entitled "Is Salvia the Next Marijuana" by Jessica Gresko discusses the US Federal Government's upcoming crackdown on Salvia Divinorum. The article highlights the notion that this legislation is basically an overreaction to a minor problem, despite the fact that no one is disputing the fact "that the plant impairs judgment and the ability to drive".

February 26, 2008

Counterpunch "American College of Physicians Takes Pro-Cannabis Stand (Mostly)" by Fred Gardner.

Counterpunch recently published this online article by Fred Gardner entitled American College of Physicians Takes Pro-Cannabis Stand (Mostly) discussing (as the title implies) the ACP's nearly-unanimous endorsement of dropping the US Federal Government's "monopoly" on Medical Marijuana Research in the United States.

February 21, 2008

The LA Times "Physicians group urges easing of ban on medical marijuana" by Kevin P. Casey.
In what will most likely turn out to be a critical paradigm shift in the battle for Medical Marijuana rights recently, this article from the LA Times entitled "Physicians group urges easing of ban on medical marijuana" discusses the American College of Physicians' decree that "the federal government [should] ease its strict ban on marijuana as medicine and hasten research into the drug's therapeutic uses."

February 19, 2008

"WMV File" by .

Another intriging video from the BBC's Horizons Series is this clip entitled "Brittan's Most Dangerous Drug".

February 18, 2008

"Lauren Anderson Payne on “Shattered Lives”" by .

Listen to this excellent radio interview (available as WAV or MP3) on "Shattered Lives" with MAPS Staffer Lauren Anderson Payne.

February 12 was the one-year anniversary of DEA Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittners historic ruling in which she found that it would be in the public interest for the DEA to license Prof. Craker to produce marijuana for federally approved research, breaking NIDA's monopoly on the supply of marijuana legal for research. Since Judge Bittner's ruling, the DEA has predictably opted for its strategy of delay and has not yet issued a final ruling in response to Judge Bittner's recommendation.

On Monday, January 28, Sharon North interviewed MAPS Government Relations Associate Lauren Anderson Payne on Shattered Lives Radio KZFR, Community Radio for the Sacramento Valley. They discussed the current state of Professor Craker's bid for a license to produce research-grade marijuana for use in FDA-approved protocols. Currently MAPS is working with several other organizations to try to secure Senatorial support for the UMass-Amherst facility. We're starting to mobilize grassroots activists to contact their Senators to provide local support, in addition to the policy arguments we're providing directly to Senatorial staff. We're optimistic that other Senators will soon join Sens. Kennedy and Kerry by signing a letter of support addressed to the DEA urging it to implement Bittners ruling. Let your Senators know that you think medical marijuana research should be put in the hands of scientists, not blocked by politicians! Find your Senators' contact info at http://www.senate.gov and call them today! Your calls can make an important difference, in combination with our work in DC.

February 17, 2008

AlterNet "Breaking the Drug Taboo: Group of Traumatized Veterans Get Ecstasy Treatment" by Scott Thill.

This excellent article by Scott Thill from AlterNet entitled "Breaking the Drug Taboo: Group of Traumatized Veterans Get Ecstasy Treatment" discusses MAPS' role in helping US Military Veterans to get treatment for PTSD as well as providing an insightful overview of MAPS' MDMA/PTSD research in general.

February 12, 2008

"WMV File" by .

This video from BBC entitled Horizons: Psychedelic Science is an excellent introduction into the science and theory behind the psychedelic research movement and the ideas that motivated its founders and continues to drive its proponents.

February 8, 2008

"LA marijuana vending machines violate international treaties, UN-affiliated board says" by .

This article from the Associated Press talks about the U.N.'s concern with the recent installation of computerized medical marijuana vending machines in Los Angeles California.

February 6, 2008

The Province "UN NGO Consulation" by Suzanne Fournier.

This short snippet about the UN NGO's Consultation in Canada from The Province brings up some interesting issues, both criticizing the United States "War On Drugs" and offering the viewpoints of both those for Drug legalization and against it.

February 5, 2008

Arch Gen Psychi "Reply No evidence of decrease in cognitive function in users of low-dose ecstasy" by Schilt, T, de Win MM, Koeter M, Jager G, Korf D, van den Brink W, Schmand B.

February 4, 2008

Canadian Press "U.S. cities have taken note of Vancouver safe-injection site: conference"

January 28, 2008

"MAPS Staffer Valerie Mojeiko Speaks on Psychedelic Therapy at the University of Amsterdam" by .

On January 28th MAPS Program Director Valerie Mojeiko addressed an audience of over two hundred and fifty psychology students and faculty, as well as others interested in MAPS research, at the University of Amsterdam. Her powerpoint presentation is available as a ZIP file online. Ms. Mojeiko spoke about MAPS current research into the use of LSD and MDMA in psychotherapy and about the principles of psychedelic emergency work. The talk was co-sponsored by Stichting Open, a Dutch foundation that is seeking to stimulate academic research into psychedelic substances.

January 23, 2008

"Using LSD to Treat the Fear of Dying" by Jean-Martin Büttner.

This newspaper article was recently published in the TAGES ANZEIGER paper discussing the new MAPS' sponsored Swiss LSD study - the first of its kind to be initiated in over 40 years. You can find the original German language article as a PDF here.

January 18, 2008

San Francisco Chronicle "RX for Big Pharma - heal thyself. Hey, try this pill." by Mark Morford.

This article by Mark Morford of the SF Chronicle gives a dashing and daring comparison of MDMA with other "licit" drugs (such as Lyrica from Pfizer used to treat fibromyalgia).

January 5, 2008

"Swiss TV News Interview with LSD’s creator Albert Hofmann and MAPS’ researcher Peter Gasser" by .

Now available: a transcript of the December 2007 Swiss TV interview with LSD's creator Albert Hofmann and MAPS' researcher Peter Gasser.

2007 Media Articles...

December 28, 2007

"Licensed by the State of Israel"

December 25, 2007

Chicago Tribune "New Year, New Laws" by Robert Mitchum.

The Chicago Tribune recently published this article about Illinois State's proposed rescheduling of Salvia Divinorum as an illegal drug.

December 5, 2007

"PDF File" by .

Scientific American Mind magazine published this (PDF) article by David Jay Brown about psychedelic medicine in their December/January 2007 issue. The article "Psychedelic Healing?" summarizes much of the research into psychedelics that has gone on in recent years, most of which has been supported by MAPS. Brown discusses how psychedelics are being studied as treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cluster headaches, anxiety associated with cancer, drug addiction, and other difficult-to-treat psychiatric disorders.

November 30, 2007

Science Daily "Methamphetamine is not MDMA"
An excellent article about studies on the effects of methamphetamine, not MDMA, describes findings in rats, not people.

November 29, 2007

Journal of Psychopharmacology "MDMA, politics and medical research: Have we thrown the baby out with the bathwater?" by Ilsa Jerome.

Sessa and Nutt have recently published an editorial in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, "MDMA, politics and medical research: Have we thrown the baby out with the bathwater?", speaking out against the effects of politics and regulation on medical research with MDMA and in favor of more basic and medical research. In their editorial, Sessa and Nutt discuss the costs to the research enterprise imposed by regulation of MDMA, and proposes at least three avenues of further research. The piece is provocative and uneven, but makes for encouraging reading for supporters of MDMA psychotherapy research.

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"

This press release discusses the North Dakota Supreme Court’s rejection of the 8 year bid of North Dakota farmers to grow industrial hemp as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the ND Supreme Court.

November 27, 2007

"PDF Articles" by .

Two Spanish-language summaries of the recent Washington Post Sunday Magazine article entitled "The Peace Drug" about MAPS' South Carolina MDMA/PTSD study (published on Nov. 26, 2007) were published in the ABC (PDF) and El Mundo (PDF) newspapers in Spain.

November 26, 2007

"MP3 File" by .

After the article about the MAPS-sponsored MDMA/PTSD study appeared in the Washington Post, Dr. Mithoefer and Post editor Tom Shroder were interviewed live on NPR's on "Tell Me More" hosted by Michelle Martin.

November 25, 2007

Washington Post "Comments on The Peace Drug" by Tom Shroder.

Washington Post "The Peace Drug" by Tom Shroder.

Washington Post magazine published an article (MAPS PDF Permalink) featured as the cover story about MAPS’ and Dr. Michael Mithoefer’s MDMA-PTSD research entitled "Peace Drug". This article is overall positive with one minor mistake--the idea of MDMA being prescribed only by specially trained therapists in psychedelic clinics is attributed to Dr. Michael Mithoefer when it should have been attributed to Rick Doblin Ph.D.’s dissertation. This article is unique as it is the first time that a reporter has been allowed to interview a research participant from this historic study. You can read the comments about this article here.

November 12, 2007

Freakonomics blog "On the Legalization or Not of Marijuana" by Stephen J. Dubne.

The Freakonomics blog on The New York Times site features an interesting point/counterpoint-style review of the arguments for against the prohibition of marijuana.

November 9, 2007

Salem-News "American Psychiatric Association Assembly Unanimously Backs Medical Marijuana" by Tim King.

The American Psychiatric Association has passed a unanimous resolution supporting medical marijuana.

November 8, 2007

Reality Sandwich "Rising Researchers on the Psychedelic Horizon" by Diana Slattery.

MAPS member Diana Slattery has an interesting article on Reality Sandwich in which she interviews Thomas Roberts, PhD, about the future of psychedelic research. Click here to read "Rising Researchers on the Psychedelic Horizon."

November 4, 2007

Drugsense.org Blog "Teens Who Smoke Pot But Not Tobacco Function Well" by .

According to a new study by Swiss researchers, teenagers who smoke marijuana but not tobacco appear to be more likely to get good grades, play sports and live with both parents than those who also use tobacco. Moreover, the study found that teens who smoke pot were more likely to have a good relationship with their friends than teens who smoked neither tobacco nor pot, found the study published in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Click here to read a report.

November 1, 2007

"Short snippets of speeches on various topics by Rick Doblin, PhD, and videos from Houston, TX" by .

1. General http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMBwPToKdOc
2. LSD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxRyFUfoH3I
3. MDMA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIo5zf7AFu4
4. Marijuana 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBjGrHPr8c
5. Marijuana 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8jP3D8iAmY

These YouTube videos feature Rick Doblin, founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

October 30, 2007

The Georgia Straight "The Quest for the Ultimate Cure for Addiction" by Alex Roslin.

Canada's largest urban weekly, The Georgia Straight, published a feature article about the MAPS-sponsored observational case study in British Columbia evaluating ibogaine treatment in subjects with opiate dependence. The article includes some interesting personal anecdotes and analysis from MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, as well as a discussion of MAPS' FDA Phase II research evaluating MDMA-, LSD-, and psyilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

October 29, 2007

The Guardian "Sheer genius: from the web to Homer Simpson" by Rachel Williams.

London's Guardian published an article about a consulting survey of the British public finding that Albert Hofmann, PhD, shares the top spot for #1 as the person considered to be the greatest living genius. Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who is best known for synthesizing LSD, shares the top spot with British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, and surprisingly ranks ahead of Stephen Hawking (#7), Nelson Mandela (#5), Matt Groening (#4) and George Soros (#3). Click here to read "Sheer Genius: From the Web to Homer Simpson." In 2006, MAPS published a new edition of Hofmann's long-out-of-print autobiographical book, LSD: My Problem Child. MAPS is also raising funds for LSD and psilocybin research by selling books and visionary artwork signed by Albert Hofmann. For details and more information, please visit the MAPS Webstore.

October 1, 2007

American Medical News "Altered Perceptions: Good Outcomes from ‘Club Drugs’" by Victoria Stagg Elliot.

American Medical News published a feature article entitled "Altered Perceptions: Good Outcomes from 'Club Drugs'"? MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, and researchers Michael Mithoefer, MD, John Halpern, MD, and Charles Grob, MD, are quoted. American Medical News is a weekly newspaper for physicians published by the American Medical Association that is ciculated to over 230,000 physicians and health policy regulators.

September 18, 2007

"MAPS Swiss LSD Study Featured in Major Swiss TV News Report" by .

A major Swiss TV news report was broadcast earlier this month about Dr. Peter Gasser's MAPS-sponsored study evaluating LSD-assisted psychotherapy for subjects with end-of-life anxiety secondary to end-stage illness. The report includes a new interview with Albert Hofmann, who rarely speaks publicly due to his fragile health. Click here to watch the broadcast (in German) on the MAPS site. To follow the interview in English, we've posted an English-language transcript online.

September 12, 2007

Chemistry World "Doblin and Halpern on CWPodcast (Sept. 2007)" by .

Chemistry World's monthly podcast (MAPS Permalink to the MP3 File) about medical research evaluating psychedelics features interviews with MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, and researcher John Halpern, MD. A transcript of the interview is also is available.

September 11, 2007

"WVC Audio/Visual Archive" by .

The 2007 Women's Visionary Congress audio recordings are now available for download and streaming audio (mp3) in the MAPS A/V Archive.

September 4, 2007

"PDF File" by .

Chemistry World magazine recently published a comprehensive feature-length article about the "resurgence of medical hallucinogens." MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, is quoted throughout the article.

August 27, 2007

Los Angeles Times "Headway in developing a faster-acting antidepressant" by Denise Gellene.

The Los Angeles Times published an article about research evaluating ketamine's effect on depression -- "Headway in developing a faster-acting antidepressant."

August 26, 2007

"External Source" by .

MAPS President Rick Doblin gave a comprensive interview about MAPS' medical marijuana efforts on Health Radio with Dr. Meg Jordan. Click here to listen to the full interview.

August 20, 2007

Foreign Policy "Think Again: Drugs" by Ethan Nadelmann.

Foreign Policy published a cover story by Ethan Nadelmann, PhD, "Think Again: Drugs." While not directly about MAPS, the article points to the larger challenges our work faces because of prohibitionist public policy. Nadelmann is executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation's leading organization working to reform the nation's drug laws. DPA awarded MAPS a grant earlier this year for $12,500 for our medical marijuana case.

August 15, 2007

Medical Marijuana "Letter to the Editor" by Daniel Pope.

Neurology Now published a strong letter to the editor from a medical marijuana patient in Colorado that urges DEA to accept Judge Bittner's recent ruling on behalf of MAPS and Professor Lyle Craker.

August 9, 2007

Orange County Register "Treatment Interrupted" by Alan Bock.

Orange County Register Senior Editor Alan Bock published an insightful editorial about the implementation of California's medical marijuana law. Bock connects the challenges of implementation to the federal government's obstruction of scientific research. He descibes MAPS' effort to establish the nation's first privately-funded research-grade marijuana production facility at UMass-Amherst, which would pave the way for an FDA drug development effort with marijuana.

July 30, 2007

"Will One Joint Really Make You Schizoid?" by Maia Szalavitz.

In response to the recent sensationalistic media coverage exaggerating the link between marijuana and schizophrenia, Maia Szalavitz published an analysis on stats.org debunking the hysteria.

July 21, 2007

"MP3 File" by .

MAPS founder and president Rick Doblin, PhD, gave an extensive intereview on "Of Consuming Interest" on the Progressive Radio Network. Click here to listen to a streaming mp3 of the interview. The interview is primarily about MAPS' strategy to halt the federal government's obstruction of medical marijuana research aimed at developing the plant into an FDA-approved medicine.

July 17, 2007

Huffington Post "A Home for Ibogaine in Barcelona" by Mary Clare Ditton.

The Huffington Post's Mary Clare Ditton published an interesting article about a new ibogaine treatment center in Barcelona. The article discusses the MAPS-sponsored long-term observational case study in Vancouver as well as the parallel ibogaine study that MAPS is developing in Mexico.

July 16, 2007

Chemistry World News "Hallucinogenic drug in the clinic" by Karen Harries-Rees.

Chemistry World published an article, "Hallucinogenic Drug in the Clinic," about MAPS' research, in particular Dr. Peter Gasser's MAPS-sponsored LSD therapy study in Switzerland for subjects with end-of-life-anxiety secondary to terminal illness.

July 3, 2007

"MP3 File" by .
MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, appeared as a special guest and gave a lengthy interview on the Deborah Ray Healthy Talk Show. (The interview comes on about halfway into the show.)

June 29, 2007

Nature Medicine "Scientists Stir the Pot for Right to Grow Marijuana" by Arran Frood.

Nature published an excellent article ("Scientists stir the pot for right to grow marijuana") about MAPS' campaign to break the federal government's illegal monopoly on the supply of research-grade marijuana for use in privately funded clinical studies that would determine whether marijuana meets the FDA's standards for safety and efficacy.

June 27, 2007

Washington Post "Oyez, Oyez" by Charles Lane.

The Washington Post published a fascinating article ("Justice Stevens Calls On History He Lived") about Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' dissenting opinion in the recent 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' Supreme Court case. The 87-year-old Justice Stevens, the third oldest Judge ever to sit on the Supreme Court, reflected on the failed policy of alcohol prohibition and compared it to today's marijuana policy. Stevens wrote:

"[T]he current dominant opinion supporting the war on drugs in general, and our anti-marijuana laws in particular, is reminiscent of the opinion that supported the nationwide ban on alcohol consumption when I was a student. While alcoholic beverages are now regarded as ordinary articles of commerce, their use was then condemned with the same moral fervor that now supports the war on drugs."

June 26, 2007

"Commentary on News Coverage of Ecstasy User/Memory Meta-analysis" by Ilsa Jerome.

Breitbart.com "Dance drug Ecstasy ‘Affects Memory’"

Reuters "Taking Ecstasy Once Can Damage Memory - Study"

Times On Line "Even Low Ecstasy Use Harms Memory" by .

News coverage of a soon-to-be published research report in the journal Human Psychopharmacology vary in depth and accuracy, with some claiming "Even Low ecstasy use harms memory," or Taking Ecstasy Once can Damage Memory", while others provide more details suggesting that this is not the case. The research in question is a meta-analysis of previous research studies. Read initial comments and reflections on the news coverage and research report13.

June 25, 2007

"Under the Spell of the Magic Mint" by .

GQ published a thorough feature about the Salvia divinorum, "Under the Spell of the Magic Mint" (available at pdf).

June 18, 2007

"Crackpot Legislation" by Henry I. Miller.

After the New York State Assembly passed a medical marijuana bill (it still needs to pass the State Senate and be signed by the Governor to become law), the New York Times Metro section published an op-ed by Henry I. Miller, "Crackpot Legislation." Unfortunately, while Miller makes the important point that marijuana should be evaluated by FDA-approved research, he fails to make any mention of the federal government's systematic obstruction of such research.

June 12, 2007

The Times (of Trenton, New Jersey) "Let’s find out if marijuana belongs on the Pharmacy shelf" by Kenneth Wolski.

Kenneth Wolski, MD, published a strong op-ed in The Times (of Trenton, NJ) that focuses on the federal government's obstruction of medical marijuana research and the recent DEA Judge's ruling in favor of a MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana production facility that would be the prerequisite for putting marijuana through FDA clinical trials to determine whether it can be developed into a legal, precsripction medicine.

June 1, 2007

The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia) "Pyne’s pain" by Dr. David Caldicott.

A strong op-ed by Dr. David Caldicott in South Australia's Adelaide Advertiser criticizes an Australian politician's fearmongering about MDMA, his misguided advocacy of "Americian-style Prohibition policies" and his "ignorance of drug policy and indeed illicit drugs themselves..."

May 31, 2007

LA Times "Not Enough Marijuana" by .

The Los Angeles Times published a strongly supportive editorial in favor of MAPS and Prof. Craker in their struggle with the DEA to break the federal government's monopoly on medical marijuana research by establishing an independent research-grade marijuana production facility at University of Massachusetts.

May 30, 2007

"Spiritual Highs and Legal Blows" by Jacob Sullum.

Senior Editor Jacob Sullum wrote a couple of interesting articles related to MAPS and its agenda in the June 2007 issue of Reason. "Spiritual highs and legal blows: The power and peril of religious exemptions from drug prohibition" is a thorough discussion of the implications of last year's Supreme Court victory by the UDV, the Religous Freedom Restoration Act, and the politics of the religous use of psychedelics and marijuana. Along a similar vein,"Looking for God in All the Wrong Places" discusses more consisely the limits of the Religous Freedom Restoration Act. Both articles quote MAPS President Rick Doblin, Ph.D.

May 28, 2007

Alternate 101 "Mapping a New Frontier" by Greg M. Schwartz.

San Jose's weekly magazine Alternate 101 (circulation 27,000) published a thorough cover story about MAPS, "Mapping a New Frontier." The writer, Greg Schwartz, visited the MAPS Love Creek office and paints a relatively comprehensive picture of MAPS' current projects and overall mission.

May 25, 2007

Honolulu Star Bulletin "Editorial: Medical Marijuana Research Should Not Be Hampered"

New York Times "Marijuana Researchers Make Progress in the Lab, but not in Washington"

Washington Post (Also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle) "Researchers Press DEA to Let Them Grow Marijuana"

"Stan Grof: Journey into the Holo-deck of the Unconscious" by Diego Pignatelli.

Associated Press (As published in the Boston Globe) "UMass professor seeks to grow medical marijuana" by .

Now that the ball is in the DEA's court to decide whether to accept or reject the DEA Administrative Law Judge's Recommended Ruling in favor of Prof. Craker and MAPS, the media is keeping the issue of MAPS' marijuana drug development initiative alive. Here's a sampling of last week's news on the case:

May 21, 2007

The Economist "Joint Action" by .

The Economist published a great editorial in favor of MAPS and Professor Lyle Craker's application to establish the nation's first privately funded medical marijuana production facility.

May 17, 2007

Philadelphia Inquirer "Making a case for marijuana use in relieving pain" by Kay Goodstad.

The Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial strongly in favor of medical marijuana, entitled "Making a case for marijuana use in relieving pain".

May 15, 2007

The Walrus "Peaking on the Prairies" by Jake MacDonald.

The Walrus published a fascinating article entitled"Peaking on the Prairies" that describes Dr. Humphrey Osmond's extensive psychedelic therapy research program in the 1950's.

May 12, 2007

"Organizations Writing to DEA Supporting Prof. Craker"

May 11, 2007

"FDA dubious over medical marijuana" by Jean Chemnick.

Washington D.C.'s Politico published an article entitled "FDA dubious over medical marijuana" that describes MAPS' efforts to establish an independent supply of research-grade marijuana as a prerequisite to MAPS-sponsored FDA clinical trials, and how this relates to Senator Coburn's recent medical marijauana legislation.

May 9, 2007

"Inhaling Cannabis Without the Smoke" by Arran Frood.

University of California - San Francisco "Marijuana Vaporizer Provides Same Level Of THC, Fewer Toxins, Study Shows" by .

A new study from University of California-San Francisco provides strong evidence that vaporization has promising potential as a method of medical marijuana delivery. The study, published online by the journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, was conducted at UCSF by a team led by Donald Abrams, MD, and compared a commercially available vaporizer to smoking in 18 volunteers. The researchers found that, "vaporization of marijuana does not result in exposure to combustion gases, and therefore is expected to be much safer than smoking marijuana cigarettes." Dr. Abrams was able to obtain permission from FDA to conduct his study based in part on data on the composition of the ingredients in marijuana vapor gathered in research sponsored by MAPS and CaNORML. That line of MAPS-sponsored research is currently blocked since NIDA has refused to sell marijuana for additional studies. Click here to read Dr. Abrams' full report.

Arran Frood at Nature Medicine published "Inhaling Cannabis Without the Smoke," and Science Daily covered the story in the article "Marijuana Vaporizer Provides Same Level Of THC, Fewer Toxins, Study Shows."

May 7, 2007

Slate "Spirit Tech - How to wire your brain for religious ecstasy" by John Horgan.
John Horgan at Slate magazine published "Spirit Tech - How to wire your brain for religious ecstasy," which discusses MAPS-sponsored psychedelic research.

Litmus Magazine "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out … Get Well?" by Jaime McCutcheon.

Litmus magazine published a thorough article about the history of psychedelic therapy research and MAPS' current efforts. In addition, Litmus published an interview with MAPS founder and president Rick Doblin, PhD.

May 5, 2007

Th Washington Times "When the law can be painful" by Fred Reed.

The Washington Times published an article about the use of LSD and psilocybin to treat cluster headaches, and MAPS-initiated research at Harvard's McLean Hospital investigating the efficacy of this treatment.

April 29, 2007

"External Source" by .
MAPS Director of Communications Jag Davies gave an interview on the RU Sirius show, transcribed and published in print as "Prescription Ecstasy and Other Pipe Dreams." The interview is about 20 minutes long and covers a broad range of topics related to MAPS' research.

April 20, 2007

Jerusalem Post "Going to Pot" by Sheera Claire Frenke.

The Jerusalem Post published "Going to Pot" -- an article about the medical use of marijuana in Israel, for which there is growing political and medical support.

April 19, 2007

Time Magazine "Was Timothy Leary Right?" by John Cloud.

Time magazine published a relatively balanced article about MAPS' efforts to evaluate the medical and therapeutic applications of psychedelics, entitled "Was Timothy Leary Right?" The article starts by posing the question, "Are psychedelics good for you?" The writer, John Cloud, goes on to say, "today ... we have a Leary for a less naive age: Richard Doblin. Also a Harvard guy--his Ph.D. is in public policy--Doblin founded the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in 1986 to help scientists get funding and approval to study the drugs ... Doblin has painstakingly worked with intensely skeptical federal authorities to win necessary permissions. MAPS helped launch all four of the current Ecstasy studies, a process that took two decades. It's the antithesis of Leary's approach. All drugs have benefits and risks, but in psychedelics we have been tempted to see only one or the other. Not anymore."

April 15, 2007

Sacramento Bee "OPED: Rejected in Court, Medical Pot Advocates Turn to DEA" by Claire Cooper.

This op-ed published in the Sacramento Bee is an excellent summary of the political and legal implications of MAPS' recent legal victory over the DEA in MAPS' quest to put marijuana through FDA clinical trials.

April 12, 2007

Tikkun Magazine "Can Science Validate the Psychedelic Experience?" by Charles Hayes.

Charles Hayes, author of Tripping: An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures (available in the MAPS store), has published a thought provoking article in Tikkun magazine (A Bimonthly Jewish Critique of Politics,
Culture & Society) entitled, “Can Science Validate the Psychedelic Experience?”; Many of MAPS’ psychedelic research studies are mentioned.

April 4, 2007

The Jerusalem Post "Significant Synchronicities" by Reuven Goldfar.

The Jerusalem Post published an interesting article about Pessah, the discovery of LSD, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the human psyche entitled “Significant Synchronicities.” In the article, the writer, Reuven Goldfarb, highly recommends Albert Hofmann’s autobiographical book LSD: My Problem Child, which was re-published by MAPS in 2006.

April 3, 2007

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO "Medical Use of Marijuana Should Be Legalized" by Montel Williams.

The TV talk show host Montel Williams published an articulate op-ed in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Medical Use of Marijuana Should be Legalized.” Williams uses medical marijuana to treat the dehabilitating neuropathic pain caused by multiple sclerosis. Williams writes that, “My doctors wrote me prescriptions for some of the strongest painkillers available. I took Percocet, Vicodin and Oxycontin on a regular basis, knowingly risking overdose just trying to make the pain bearable. But these powerful, expensive drugs brought me no relief ... When someone suggested I try marijuana, I was skeptical. But I also was desperate. To my amazement, it worked after the legal drugs had failed. Three puffs and within minutes the excruciating pain in my legs subsided. I had my first restful sleep in months.”

March 31, 2007

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) "Barr Shifts in Support of Medical Marijuana" by .

As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr has become a vocal supporter of medical marijuana and has taken a new position as a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Read about this development in “Barr Shifts in Support of Medical Marijuana”. Last month, MPP awarded MAPS a grant of $45,000 for lobbying efforts to pressure DEA to accept the recent Administrative Law Judge ruling in favor of Prof. Lyle Craker’s proposed MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility.

March 30, 2007

The New York Times "Pompoms, Pyramids and Peril" by Bill Pennington.

The New York Times published “Pom-Poms, Pyramids, and Peril,” a feature article describing the the high rate of catastrophic injury among cheerleaders and other “recreational” athletes. This story is noteworthy in light of Jag Davies’ article in the Winter 2006-07 MAPS Bulletin, “Ecstasy and Cheerleading: A Basic Risk Comparison”.

March 25, 2007

The Orange County Register "Still Waiting to Inhale" by Alan Bock.

Alan Bock, senior editorial writer for the Orange County Register published “Still Waiting to Inhale,” describing several recent signs of hope for medical marijuana patients, such as the recent DEA ALJ ruling in favor of ending NIDA’s monopoly on marijuana research and licensing Prof. Lyle Craker’s proposed MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana production facility.

March 23, 2007

AP "Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Drugs" by Maria Cheng.

The Guardian "Alcohol Worse Than Ecstasy On Shock New Drug List" by James Randerson.

London’s Guardian published “Alcohol worse than ecstasy on shock new drug list.” The article describes a groundbreaking report published in the medical journal The Lancet from a group of the UK’s leading scientists, including members of the government’s top advisory committee on drug classification, that concluded that alcohol and tobacco should be rated as more dangerous than cannabis, LSD and ecstasy. Back in the US, the Associated Press covered the report in “Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Drugs”.

The Associated Press "Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Drug" by Maria Cheng.

March 22, 2007

The Guardian "Drugs: Stop the War" by .

London’s Guardian published a stinging indictment of the Drug War, entitled “Drugs: Stop the War”.

March 20, 2007

Time Magazine "Taking A Trip For Your Mental Health" by John Cloud.

Time Magazine's annual "What's Next" issue ran a brief story entitled "Taking a trip for your mental health," highlighting MAPS-sponsored MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine research.

March 19, 2007

American Medical New "DEA Judge’s Ruling Could Help Medical Marijuana Research" by Amy Lynn Sorrel.

American Medical News published an article about MAPS’ recent legal victory in our quest for a medical marijuana production facility.

March 16, 2007

San Francisco Chronicle "Opinion: The Laws Against Marijuana are Stupid" by Jon Carroll.

Wall Street Journal "Reefer Madness" by Randy E. Barnett.

"PDF Article" by .

On March 14, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected (3-0) an appeal by medical marijuana patient Angel Raich, ruling that the 10th amendment does not protect her right to use medical marijuana and that there is no constitutional right to use marijuana to treat pain and suffering. MAPS and MPP submitted an amicus curiae brief for the appeal, as well as for Raich’s previous cases, detailing the federal government’s obstruction of medical marijuana research. Raich, a mother of two, uses marijuana to treat severe chronic pain, an inoperable brain tumor, wasting syndrome, and seizures. With Raich’s appeal lost, one more potential door to federally-legal medical marijuana is firmly shut, making the route through FDA even more necessary than before.

Prof. Randy Barnett, Raich’s lawyer and a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, published a thorough op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. The San Francisco Chronicle also published a candid op-ed, “The laws against marijuana are stupid”.

March 6, 2007

"External Source" by .
Peter Jennings' special ABC report entitled Ecstasy Rising is available for viewing. This groundbreaking documentary discusses MDMA's cultural history, its use as a therapeutic tool, the government's criminalization and exaggeration of its risks, and MAPS' recent success with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research. Regarding this clip we would like to give SPECIAL thanks to Nathan for ripping this footage and hosting it onsite

Many gracious THANX...!

February 27, 2007

The Guardian "The Trip Goes On" by Duncan Campbell.

This article about LSD entitled >The Trip Goes On was published in UK’s The Guardian.

February 26, 2007

"DEA stymies science"

The Boston Globe "Judge: Let Prof Grow Medicinal Marijuana" by David Abe.

San Francisco Chronicle "Judge Sides with Botanist on Pot Supply" by Bob Egelko.

San Jose Mercury News "Judge Rules Government Supply of Marijuana is Inadequate" by Michael Doyle.

Daily Journal "Ole Miss May Get Competition in Growing Legal Marijuana" by Errol Castens.

Republican, The (Springfield, MA) "Marijuana Research a New Field at UMass?"

Bay Area Reporter "Judge Tells DEA to Issue License to Grow Pot for Research" by Bob Roehr.

Austin Chronicle "Reefer Madness: Judge Supports Bid to Grow Research Pot" by Jordan Smith.

Sky News (UK) "Ecstasy Trials Approved"

The UK’s Sky News published a short article describing Dr. Peter Oehen’s MAPS -sponsored pilot study evaluating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for subjects with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Chicago Tribune "Truth and medical marijuana" by .

MAPS and medical marijuana advocates won a major victory against the federal government on February 12, as the DEA's administrative law judge ruled on behalf of Professor Lyle Craker, who is attempting to break the government's 65-year monopoly on marijuana research by establishing a MAPS-sponsored research-grade marijuana production facility at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. News of the lawsuit victory was covered by more than 100 media outlets, and most of the top media outlets across the country have repoorted on and editorialized about MAPS' historic legal triumph over the DEA.

One of the best quotes comes from an editorial in the Chicago Tribune that says, "If the government is so sure that marijuana has no medical value, it should welcome this sort of research. If it refuses to facilitate such studies, it must fear knowing the truth."

Here are some more of the articles that we have archived over the past couple weeks:

Chicago Tribune
Truth and Medical Marijuana

St. Petersburg Times:
DEA stymies science

Boston Globe:
Judge: Let prof grow medicinal marijuana

San Francisco Chronicle:
Judge sides with botanist on pot supply

McClatchey News newswire article, which was carried in The Miami Herald, San Jose Mercury-News, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and others:
Judge rules government supply of marijuana is inadequate

Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal:
Ole Miss may get competition in growing marijuana

Springfield Republican:
Marijuana Research a New Field at UMass?

Bay Area Reporter:
Judge tells DEA to issue license to grow pot for research

Austin Chronicle
Reefer Madness: Judge Supports Bid to Grow Research Pot

February 20, 2007

Prince Albert Daily Herald "Weyburn Experiments With LSD" by Paul Spasoff.

The Prince Albert Daily Herald published an article about the pioneering psychedelic research program at the University of Saskatchewan’s Weyburn Hospital in the 1950s and 60s, led by Dr. Humphrey Osmond.

February 19, 2007

Cosmos Magazine "The Acid Test" by Alex Wilde.

Cosmos magazine published an article about medical research with LSD.

February 14, 2007

Swiss Radio International "“Ecstasy” Used to Treat Swiss Trauma Victims" by .

Swiss Radio International's Swissinfo published a brief original article describing Dr. Peter Oehen's ongoing MAPS-sponsored pilot study evaluating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for subjects with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.

February 13, 2007

Washington Post "Research Supports Medicinal Marijuana" by Rick Weiss.

The Washington Post reported in "Research Supports Medicinal Marijuana" on Dr. Donald Abrams' double-blind study of smoked marijuana for HIV-related peripheral neuropathy that was published in the respected journal Neurology. The findings showed that marijuana can be a safe and effective medication for many people with this condition, and is evidence of marijuana's therapeutic potential. Yet, no researchers are continuing Dr. Abrams' promising research, because NIDA's monopoly and arbitrary review process deters any private sponsor from investing in a medical marijuana drug development effort. The article finished by mentioning MAPS' victory in our lawsuit against DEA/NIDA, although it unfortunately doesn't explicitly connect the two issues.

February 7, 2007

New York Times "Court Allows Medicinal Use of Marijuana" by DEAN E. MURPHY.
The Ninth Circuit federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its Raich-Monson decision that allows Californians to grow and use marijuana to treat their illnesses. Not a single judge on the circuit voted to accept the government’s request for reconsideration. The government’s only recourse to reverse the Raich-Monson decision is to appeal to the Supreme Court. The government has 90 days to file a petition for certiorari. An article about this decision by Dean Murphy appeared in the New York Times.

February 1, 2007

"‘Shroom Science: Safe and Effective?" by Glenn McGee.

The Scientist published an article about psilocybin research that attempts to point to the risks of psychedelic research. Read Are Ritalin and psilocybin equivalent in terms of effect and safety?

January 31, 2007

Reuters "“Smokable” Pain Drugs Promise Faster Action" by Toni Clarke.

Reuters reported in "Smokable Pain Drugs Promise Faster Action" on Alexza's development of smokeable drugs for migraine, pain, panic and agitation. This development could have implications for research with medical marijuana, since one of the government's main arguments has been that no legitimate medicine is smoked.

January 23, 2007

Slate "What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been - Ecstasy, The New Prescription Drug?" by Amanda Schaffer.

Slate published a positive description of MAPS' MDMA drug development efforts in a front page article entitled "What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been: Ecstasy, the New Prescription Drug?"

January 20, 2007

"Tackling Depression with Ketamine" by Maia Szalavitz.

The New Scientist‘s Maia Szalavitz reports on promising ketamine research in “Tackling Depression with Ketamine”.

January 13, 2007

The Lancet "An Affirming Trip" by Kelly Morris.

UK medical journal The Lancet published a concise book review of Prof. Thomas Roberts’ book Psychedelic Horizons. Thomas “...challenges swathes of current thinking by asking questions about altered states of consciousness, including those induced by psychedelics. The variety of these experiences clearly suggests our minds are multistate, and prompt further questions about the potential of these different states for healing, psychology, cognitive studies, and education.”

2006 Media Articles...

December 28, 2006

"Cluster Busters" by Arran Frood.

Nature featured an article describing MAPS-sponsored efforts to initiate research with LSD and psilocybin to treat cluster headaches, a rare and painful condition that is difficult to treat.

December 14, 2006

"News Coverage of Dutch Prospective Ecstasy User Studies" by Ilsa Jerome.

In response to the sensationalistic and inaccurate recent news coverage of prospective Ecstasy user studies by Dutch researcher Dr. Maartje M. de Win, MAPS President Rick Doblin, Ph.D. wrote this open letter to Dr. de Win voicing his concerns, and MAPS Clinical Research Associate Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D., wrote a special report evaluating the media's claims and how they relate (or not) to the actual data.

December 11, 2006

BBC News "Psychedelic drug ‘hope for OCD’" by Arran Frood.

Today’s BBC News features an article describing Dr. Francisco Moreno’s Heffter- and MAPS-sponsored research at the Univ. of Arizona-Tucson evaluating psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as treatment for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Dr. Moreno recently published his findings in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

December 8, 2006

"PDF File" by .

While in Thailand to testify in a medical MDMA trial, MAPS President Rick Doblin took the opportunity to do an interview with The Nation, Thailand's largest English-language daily newspaper. In the interview, Doblin speculates on the possibility of conducting MDMA/PTSD research with tsunami victims and discusses MAPS' international psychedelic research agenda.

December 7, 2006

Chronicle of Higher Education "Researchers Explore New Visions for Hallucinogens" by Susan Brown.

The Chronicle of Higher Education published the article “Researchers Explore New Visions for Hallucinogens.” This article describes the current renaissance in psychedelic research, particularly Dr. Francisco Moreno’s recently-published Heffter- and MAPS-sponsored study evaluating psilocybin as treatment for OCD. The article also discusses the recent psilocybin/mystical experience study at John Hopkins, and Dr. Charles Grob’s ongoing Heffter’ sponsored study at UCLA evaluating psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as treatment for individuals with anxiety disorders secondary to advanced-stage cancer.

December 6, 2006

The Prague Post "Long Strange Trip" by Kristina Alda.
Prague's largest English daily, The Prague Post, reported today in "Long, Strange Trip" onMAPS-sponsored long-term follow-up research with Czechoslovak patients that were treated with LSD as part of a government-sponsored program between 1956-1974. A proposed MAPS-sponsored LSD-assisted psychotherapy study in Switzerland could soon become the first LSD research in the world in 35 years.

December 4, 2006

Lone Star Iconoclas "Safer Deals: The Pastors" by Nathan Diebenow.

"Safer Deals: the Pastor" was published in Crawford, Texas' Lone Star Iconoclast this week, describing some of the unusual alliances that have been formed between religious groups and secular activists in order to help medical marijuana research gain credibility. MAPS isn't mentioned explicitly but Professor Lyle Craker's DEA lawsuit for a MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility is mentioned.

December 2, 2006

"PDF Article" by .
The norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv published an interview of John Halpern and Pål Johansen about the rapidly evolving field of clinical research investigating the therapeutic use of hallucinogens and MDMA. The interview was conducted related to Dr. Halperns visit to Norway where he hold workshops and guest lectures. Dr. Halpern got excellent feedback from the workshops, to read more visit the organizers webpage www.evidence.no/en.

December 1, 2006

Concious Choice "Cultural Re:Evolution" by Seamus Presley.

Conscious Choice Magazine "Strangers in the White Tent" by Dan Simborg.

Conscious Choice Magazine "Psychedelic Therapy" by .

The Chicago-based magazine Conscious Choice published a series of articles this week about MAPS, psychedelic therapy, and Entheon Village, the Burning Man theme camp that hosted MAPS' 20th anniversary gathering last summer.

~"Psychedelic Therapy: MAPS Founder Rick Doblin riffs on Burning Man, applied psychedelics, the culture of harm reduction, and America's 40-year long bad trip" is a thoughtful interview with MAPS President Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
~"Chicago's Entheon Village reinvents counterculture with art, community, and activism" discusses MAPS' 20th Anniversary celebration at this year's Burning Man Festival.
~"Strangers in the White Tent: Or, how Burning Man totally flipped my wig" is a well-written account from long-time MAPS member Dan Simborg.

National Public Radio "External Source" by .

"This American Life" on National Public Radio features a story about a former heroin addict who has been treating people addicted to heroin with the psychedelic drug ibogaine. MAPS is currently sponsoring an IRB-approved long-term observational case study of ibogaine treatments at the Iboga Therapy House in Vancouver, Canada.

November 29, 2006

Nature Medicine "US Marijuana Laws Clamping the Lid on Pot Research" by Brian Vastag.

Of particular applicability to MAPS' medical marijuana drug development efforts is Brian Vastag's new "US marijuana laws clamping the lid on pot research," published in Nature Medicine, which speaks to the difficulties faced by marijuana researchers.

November 27, 2006

Biology News Net "Ecstasy can harm the brains of first-time users"

"Interview on NYPR:" by .
Take note that MAPS researchers John Halpern and Michael Mitthoefer were featured on a New York Public Radio show on November 27th, 2006 about Therapeutic or Psychedelic Psychotherapy. The archived show can be heard here (or download by right clicking on the preceeding link and selecting 'save target as').

November 19, 2006

The Los Angeles Times "Mushrooms Take a Trip Back to the Lab" by Denise Gellene.

The LA Times ran "Mushrooms Take a Trip Back to the Lab," on the front page of its Sunday edition. The article describes MAPS-initiated research at Harvard/Mclean Hospital evaluating psilocybin as treatment for cluster headache, Dr. Charles Grob's psilocybin/end-of-life anxiety pilot study at UCLA, and the recent Johns Hopkins study demonstrating that psilocybin induces mystical experiences. MAPS is in the early stages of protocol design for a study evaluating psyilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for end-of-life anxiety. Unfortunately, although the article is mostly accurate, Times Staff writer Denise Gellene misleadingly prefaces her article by stating, "Nothing scientists have learned so far indicates that recreational use of mushrooms is safe," a far cry from the truth.

November 6, 2006

REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA "Chronic cluster headaches responding to psilocybin" by A.P. Sempere, L. Berenguer-Ruiz, F. Almazán.

The Spanish-language journal Revista de Neurologia published a case report of a man with chronic cluster headaches treating the condition with monthly sub-psychedelic doses of psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

October 31, 2006

"Working with Difficult Psychedelic Experiences" by .

Working with Difficult Psychedelic Experiences

MAPS' first educational video, a practical introduction to the principles of psychedelic therapy, is now available for viewing online. This 20-minute educational video teaches psychedelic drug users how to minimize psychological risks and explore the therapeutic applications of psychedelics. Narrated by Donna Dryer, M.D., the video demonstrates examples of when and how to help a friend, peer, or loved one make the most out of a difficult experience with psychedelics.

October 25, 2006

YouTube "External Source" by .

MAPS President Rick Doblin, Ph.D. Presents at the First Arab-Israeli Joint Conference on Drug Policy

October 18, 2006

"External Source" by .

New research from the University of Cincinnati suggests that MDMA can increase the survival of dopamine cells in the brain during fetal development, which are critical in the regulation of voluntary movement, potentially leading to better therapies for neurological diseases like Parkinson's. The press release mentioned MAPS-sponsored research evaluating MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forbes Magazine also reported on this research, along with a report on new research from Ohio State University validating other findings that the active ingredients in marijuana may slow the prorgression of Alzheimer's disease.

October 16, 2006

The Globe and Mail "The LSD Treatment" by .

The Globe and Mail published an editorial entitiled, “The LSD Treatment”, describing a study just published in the journal Social History of Medicine about a long-term follow-up study on Dr. Humphrey Osmond’s research treating alcoholics with LSD-assisted therapy.

October 2, 2006

The Los Angeles Times "Oh, Dear God It’s Him Again" by Gina Piccalo.

Bestselling author Sam Harris (“Letter to a Christian Nation,” “The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason”) revealed inan LA Times article that his “deep-seated thinking about religion” originated from an experience while on MDMA in 1986.

September 29, 2006

"Texas Med. Association letter of support for mmj research" by Leonides G. Cigarroa Jr., MD.

September 18, 2006

"External Source" by .
Nicholas Powers' "The Ecstasy of Exile" explores the racial politics of Burning Man and describes his use of MDMA there. Not directly about MAPS, but raises some compelling issues.

September 13, 2006

"Dropping acid may help headaches" by Arran Frood.

The science journal Nature reported today on MAPS-initiated research at Harvard/Maclean Hospital investigating the efficacy of LSD and psilocybin to treat cluster headache. Click here to read “Dropping acid may help headaches.”

September 12, 2006

The Washington Post "Marijuana Aids Therapy" by Rick Weiss.

The Washington Post published the article, <"Marijuana Aids Therapy," describing a study just published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, finding that marijuana can improve the effectiveness of drug therapy for hepatitis C, a potentially deadly viral infection that affects more than 3 million Americans. "The work adds to a growing literature supporting the notion that in some circumstances pot can offer medical benefits," wrote

Post reporter Rick Weiss.

September 9, 2006

Ny Tid "A new time; about developments that change the world" by .

Norway's largest week magazine Ny Tid, feature an article under the section "A new time; about developments that change the world" covering Dr. Halperns workshops. The article stressed the enormous therapeutic potential of almost all the MAPS sponsored research, and critically discusses the supression and schedulling history of this research. To read more about Dr. Halperns workshop visit the organizers webpage www.evidence.no/en.

September 2, 2006

"External Source" by .
The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about a structure built by MAPS Patron Member Vanja Palmers that served as a meditation Zendo in Entheon Village during MAPS' 20th anniversary gathering at Burning Man. Palmers donated the structure -- made entirely from recycled materials -- to MAPS for use at future conferences and events.

August 20, 2006

"PDF File" by .
VG, one of the largest Norwegian newspapers, published a very positive piece on MDMA psychotherapy research that includes interviews with Charles Grob, M.D., and Pål-Ørjan Johansen, Ph.D. (View PDF of article).

August 18, 2006

The Guardian "Truth About Ecstacy’s Unlikely Trip from Lab to Dance Floor" by David Adam.

The Guardian reports on Merck's official history of MDMA, as recounted in a recently published paper in the journal Addiction.

August 16, 2006

Chicago Sun-Times "Pain Sufferer Turns to ‘Shrooms’" by Jim Ritter.

Health Reporter Jim Ritter published in the Chicago Sun-Times today “Pain Sufferer Turns to ‘Shrooms’.” The article describes the use of psilocybin as a treatment for cluster headaches and MAPS-initiated research at Harvard/McLean Hospital investigating LSD and psilocybin as treatment for subjects with cluster headache.

August 15, 2006

Lancet Neurology "Hallucinogen Research Inspires Neurotheology" by Kelly Morris.

In their “Newsdesk” section, the journal Lancet Neurology published “Hallucinogen Research Inspires Neurotheology,” a report on developments in research with psychedelic compounds, such as ketamine or psilocybin. The piece contains comments from Roland Griffiths, John Halpern and Deborah Mash.

August 9, 2006

The Tyee "External Source" by .

British Columbia’s The Tyee published “Psychedelics Could Treat Addiction, Says Vancouver Official,” reporting that Vancouver’s top drug policy official and B.C. public health physicians believe addicts might be treated by giving them psychedelic drugs, and they hope the city will lead in exploring the controversial approach. Last month, MAPS received “conditional approval” from a Canadian IRB for a long-term observational case study examining changes in substance use in 20 consecutive people seeking ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at Iboga Therapy House.

August 8, 2006

"External Source" by .

As reported in the science journal Nature, National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored researchers published a study today in the Archives of General Psychiatry finding that ketamine shows breakthrough potential as a treatment for depression. In the study, 17 people suffering from major depression who had failed to respond to treatment with standard antidepressant drugs or more drastic methods were treated with ketamine. The results showed that 71% felt better the day after taking ketamine, and 35% still felt better a week later, while none improved when dosed with a placebo.

August 3, 2006

Austin Chronicle "External Source" by .

The Austin Chronicle published a brief article describing Prof. Craker’s DEA lawsuit for refusing to license a MAPS-sponsored marijuana production facility. “...Marijuana-law-reform advocates are anxiously awaiting a ruling from a Drug Enforcement Administration administrative-law judge on whether the National Institute on Drug Abuse will be allowed to maintain a monopoly on growing and distributing pot for use in clinical research,” the Chronicle reported.

August 2, 2006

YouTube "External Source" by .

Peter Jenning’s hour-long 2004 primetime special Ecstasy Rising has been posted on YouTube. Ecstasy Rising has to be seen to be believed: the mainstream media acknowledging the government’s fraudulent claims about Ecstasy and openly discussing the history of its therapeutic applications. Click here to watch.

"Peter Jennings Ecstasy Rising" by .
Peter Jenning's hour-long 2004 primetime special Ecstasy Rising has been posted on YouTube. Ecstasy Rising has to be seen to be believed: the mainstream media acknowledging the government's fraudulent claims about Ecstasy and openly discussing the history of its therapeutic applications. Click here to watch.

July 26, 2006

Reuters "Taking Ecstasy Once Can Damage Memory - Study"

July 11, 2006

The Washington Post "Drug’s Mystical Properties Confirmed" by David Brown.

Wall Street Journal "Go Ask Alice: Mushroom Drug Is Studied Anew" by Ron Winslow.

LA Times "Counterculture Drug Provides Spiritual Boost" by Denise Gellen.

ABC News "Tripping Out: Scientists Study Mystical Effects of Mushrooms" by Joy Victory, Bharathi Radhakrishnan, Andrea Carter.

Boston Globe "Psychedelic Mushrooms Earn Serious 2d Look from Science" by Gareth Cook.

The Economist "The God Pill" by .

A NIDA-funded research team from John Hopkins University published the first modern-day continuation of the Good Friday Experiment, finding that psilocybin is likely to induce spiritual experiences in most subjects. A former NIDA director and a former deputy director of ONDCP supported the results of the study, but the current NIDA director issued a statement distancing NIDA from the study. Read about this amazing psychedelic research development as reported by the Economist, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, and ABC News, which features a salient quote from MAPS President Rick Doblin.

Later the same week, National Public Radio"s Weekend America aired two related stories: one detailing the implications of the John Hopkins study, and another desribing Dr. Charles Grob's research investigating psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for subjects with advanced stage cancer suffering from clinical anxiety. Click here to listen. The Boston Globe's Science section also published "Psychedelic mushrooms earn serious 2d look from science".

June 22, 2006

"External Source" by .

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA) voted on June 21 to support access to medical marijuana for people who have a doctor’s recommendation. The Presbyterian Church, USA, is the seventh major denomination to take a position in support of medical marijuana. The others are the United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Union for Reform Judaism, Progressive National Baptist Convention and Unitarian Universalist Association. No denomination has come out officially against medical marijuana. Read more here.

June 21, 2006

http://www.cpdd.org "College on Problems of Drug Dependence" by G. Jager, M. Win, J. van Ree, W. van den Brink, R. Kahn and N. Ramsey.

May 28, 2006

Boston Globe "Weed Control" by .

The Boston Sunday Globe published "Weed Control," an article describing the proposed medical marijuana growing facility at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the current government monopoly on marijuana grown for research and the MAPS-supported lawsuit filed against the DEA to end this monopoly. The piece describes MAPS' involvement in developing the proposed facility and features quotes from MAPS' president Rick Doblin. The article, with multiple graphics, was the lead article in the Ideas section which most everyone reads since it contains the editorials, the op-eds and other feature articles.

May 25, 2006

Cancer Monthly "Medical Marijuana: The FDA Loses More Credibility"

InTheseTimes.com "Science: The Drug Wars Latest Victim" by Salim Muwakkil.

May 24, 2006

Alternet "External Source" by .

Click here to read “The Electric Kool-Aid Medicine Test,” an interview by Terrance McNally published by AlterNet in which psychedelic researcher Dr. Charles Grob explains how psychedelic drugs have the potential to alter modern medicine.

May 21, 2006

New York Times "The New York Times published a letter to the editor from Jerry Epstein of the Drug Policy Forum" by .

The New York Times published a letter to the editor from Jerry Epstein of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, in which he cites the federal governement's obstruction of Dr. Lyle Craker's proposed MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana production facility as an example of its "insane policy against the medical use of marijuana". Click here to read the full text of Epstein's letter.

May 17, 2006

Medscape General Medicine "Medical Marijuana; Politics Trumps Science at the FDA" by Gregory T. Carter MD; Bruce Mirken.

May 16, 2006

"External Source" by .

Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck made a controversial and groundbreaking speech before the Australian Parliament last week advocating harm-reduction drug education and the therapeutic use of MDMA. Read the full text of her speech here, in which she cites MAPS-sponsored research investigating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Advertiser also reported on MAPS President Rick Doblin’s offer of support as she encountered the inevitable political backlash. As evidenced by an article published today in The Australian, however, MP Kanck is standing by her statements and receiving “widespread support.”

May 15, 2006

The Boston Globe "A Good Death" by Scott Allen.

The Boston Globe published "A Good Death", an article that discussess the resurgence of interest in studying MDMA and psychedelic drugs to help people with cancer deal with anxiety and pain. The piece describes research MAPS helped design and locate funding for that will look at the potential therapeutic benefits of MDMA in people who are anxious as a result of advanced stage cancer. The latest MAPS Bulletin contains an article about the woman described in this article who used MDMA to treat cancer-related pain and anxiety. A PDF of the this piece is now available.

May 5, 2006

LA Times "Puffing is the Best Medicine" by Lester Grinspoon.

The LA Times published "Puffing is the Best Medicine", an opinion piece by Lester Grinspoon supporting smoking as an effective means of taking medical marijuana in response to a recent statement on this topic from the FDA.

April 29, 2006

The New York Times "External Source" by .

The New York Times reports Mexico Passes Law Making Possession of Some Drugs Legal. Mexican lawmakers defied US pressure in passing a bill that makes it legal to possess small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, and psychedelics such as LSD, MDMA/Ecstasy, peyote, and psilocybin muchrooms. President Vicente Fox had proposed the law in January 2004 in the hopes of slowing down Mexico’s rapid growth in drug addiction.

April 27, 2006

New York Times "The Politics of Pot"

"24 Members Say Agency Needs To Start Responding To Science & Not To Political Pressure"

The Economist "Medical Marijuana" by .

Following the FDA’s abrupt and poorly documented statement on April 20th, a critical backlash has ensued. The Economist published “Reefer Madness: Marijuana is medically useful, whether politicians like it or not” on the heels of editorials in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune admonishing the FDA for its transparent politicization of science.

April 26, 2006

"Politics Trumps Science at the FDA"

The San Diego Union-Tribune published an Op Ed piece by Stephen Sidney and Bruce Mirken on the FDA statement on medical marijuana.

April 23, 2006

Chicago Tribune "Dissembling on Medical Pot"

The Chicago Tribune responded to the FDA’s recent statement concerning the medicinal potential of cannabis with an editorial, “Dissembling on Medical Pot” that quotes Prof. Lyle Craker of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, saying “The reason there’s no good evidence is that they don’t want an honest trial.”

April 21, 2006

Associated Press "FDA Rejects Marijuana for Medical Uses" by Lou Kesten.

Washington Post "FDA Criticizes Attempts To Legalize Marijuana"

New York Times "FDA Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana" by Gardiner Harris.

The FDA issued a statement indicating that marijuana had no currently accepted medical uses. Stories in the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Associated Press reported on this statement and responses to it within and outside the medical community. Prof. Lyle Craker is quoted discussing his lawsuit against the DEA for refusing to issue him a license for a marijuana production facility. NIDA's marijuana was criticized for poor quality, but not for the more comprehensive lack of an "adequate and uninterrupted" supply that is the basis of Prof. Craker's lawsuit. FDA's statement wasn't that marijuana had no medical uses. Rather, what the statement actually means is that due to a lack of research data from large Phase III studies, which won't take place until NIDA's marijuana monopoly is broken, FDA will consider marijuana to have no currently accepted medical uses. This statment points yet again to the need for large-scale, privately-funded Phase III studies with smoked and vaporized marijuana, which DEA is blocking by refusing to issue Prof. Craker his license.

April 17, 2006

"PDF Article" by .

The University of Pennsylvania published “Psychedelic Psychotherapy: The Ethics of Medicine for the Soul.”

April 15, 2006

New Scientist "Psychedelic Healing" by .
Sue Blackmore interviewed Torsten Passie about psychedelic healing for the NewScientist.

April 14, 2006

The Guardian "Lancet Calls for LSD in Labs" by James Randerson.

The Lancet "Reviving Research into Psychedelic Drugs" by .

A recently published editorial in the Lancet supports research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs and calls for a new legal structure that makes this research easier and less burdensome to conduct. The Lancet editorial was likely inspired by a commentary published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. This editorial was then covered by the British newspaper, the Guardian.

April 7, 2006

Daily Nexus "Activists Assemble for Cannabis Conference" by Ryan Grandov.

The Daily Nexus published Activists Assemble for Cannabis Conference, announcing The Fourth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics at Santa Barbara City College, which features lectures from doctors, health care researchers and patients, as well as talk show-host and medical marijuana advocate Montel Williams.

April 5, 2006

BBC News "External Source" by .

BBC News International publishes “The Trip of a Lifetime,” which describes the resurgence of interest in psychedelics in the medical community and Dr. Charles Grob’s pilot study using psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for subjects with advanced-stage cancer suffering from clinical anxiety disorders.

April 4, 2006

BBC "External Source" by .

BBC Radio 4's weekly program All in the Mind aired a program about LSD, current psychedelic research, and the possible role of these kinds of drugs in modern psychiatry.

Tribune Media Services "Psychedelic ‘Cookies’ are a Mushrooming Problem" by Suzy Cohen.

Tribune Media Services published “Psychedelic ‘cookies’ are a mushrooming problem,” an op-ed written by a registered pharmacist who mentions the LSD/Psilocybin Cluster Headache study at Harvard Medical School and who would rather consume her mushrooms “at a nice restaurant, smothered in Marsala sauce.”

The Guardian "The Strange Case of the Man Who Took 40,000 Ecstasy Pills in Nine Years" by David McCandless.

UK Newspaper The Guardian published “The strange case of the man who took 40,000 ecstasy pills in nine years,” reporting on what London University doctors believe is the largest amount of ecstasy consumed by a single person.

March 29, 2006

Cal NORML "Ninth Circuit Asks Probing Questions at Raich Hearing" by Dale Gieringer.

March 3, 2006

Juxtapose "St. Albert and the LSD Revelation Revolution"

March 1, 2006

San Diego City Beat "Ibogaine - Exploring the New Frontier of Psychedelic Addiction Therapy" by Kia Momtazi.

San Diego CityBeat published a positive depiction of ibogaine as a treatment for addiction at the Ibogaine Association in Tijuana, Mexico.

February 21, 2006

Washington Post "Court Allows for Use of Hallucinogenic Tea" by William Branigin.

New York Times "Sect Allowed to Import Its Hallucinogenic Tea" by Linda Greenhouse.

Associated Press "Supreme Court OKs Hallucinogenic Tea" by Gina Holland.

As reported by the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, on Tuesday morning, February 21, 2006, the US Supreme Court unanimously approved the religious use of ayahuasca by the Uniao do Vegetal (UDV).

February 18, 2006

The Australian "Psychedelic Drugs are Enjoying Renewed Attention from Medical Researchers" by Rak Razam.

The Weekend Australian published LSD faces an acid test as a pain killer, an article about proposed MAPS-sponsored cluster headache research.

February 17, 2006

The Scientist "Growing Pot for Science" by Ishani Ganguli.

British weekly The Scientist published Growing pot for science, an article that covers Dr. Lyle Crakers DEA lawsuit for a MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana production facility.

February 4, 2006

The Age "Tripping the Light Fantasmic" by Rak Razam.

Australian newspaper The Age published “Tripping the light fantasmic,” a positive and in-depth article covering the history of LSD from the perspective of its infamous father, Albert Hofmann.

January 25, 2006

New Zealand Herald "Mental Scars of Iraq Conflict Participants Exposed" by Kim Sengupt.

Dear Editor,

The 25.01.06 article, "Mental scars of Iraq conflict participants exposed" by Kim Sengupta, reported that the US military was giving soldiers fighting the Iraq war "Ecstasy tablets to help free them of flashbacks and recurring nightmares," after the FDA "authorised the issuing of the MDMA drug to Iraq veterans after successful initial research carried out at a facility in South Carolina." This is not quite accurate. Its true that the initial MDMA research in South Carolina is generating very promising results, and the FDA did authorize the expansion of the research to include soldiers. However, no soldiers have yet been treated and the initial study has not been completed. Much larger studies will be needed before MDMA is ever a prescription medication. Research with MDMA for war and terrorism-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been approved in Israel and MDMA/PTSD research is soon to be approved in Switzerland. If approved as a treatment, MDMA will never be issued as tablets directly to soldiers or other patients. MDMA is not a standard pharmacological treatment. MDMA is intended to be used under direct supervision of a therapist as part of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
President, MAPS (http://www.maps.org)
MAPS is the non-profit organization that is sponsoring
the research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy

New Zealand Herald "Mental Scars of Iraq Conflict Participants Exposed" by Kim Sengupta.

An article in the New Zealand Herald about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans mentions the use of MDMA for PTSD but makes some incorrect claimsA letter to the editor from Rick Doblin corrects the mistakes. This article demonstrates that there is a widely perceived need for more effective treatments for PTSD and that the MDMA research is increasingly accepted as a necessary and not very controversial effort.

January 16, 2006

Wired News "LSD: The Geek’s Wonder Drug?" by Ann Harrison.

Wired News published LSD: The Geek’s Wonder Drug?, an article that covers the LSD Conference in Basel, the history of LSD, and the therapeutic potential of LSD and other currently-illegal substances.

January 13, 2006

Reuters "Secret of Longevity Eggs not LSD: Discoverer" by .

Reuters published an article about Albert Hofmann’s 100th birthday, noting that he attributes his longevity to daily egg breakfast rather than his infamous discovery, LSD.

January 12, 2006

Times Union "LSD’s Creator Celebrates 100th Birthday" by Kenneth Aaron.

The Times Union in Albany, New York published an article anounncing Albert Hofmann’s 100th birthday and includes an interview with Roger Walsh, providing his description of what a LSD trip might be like and its potentital to benefit the user.

China Daily "UK Psychiatrists Mull Use of LSD as Treatment" by .

The China Daily published “UK psychiatrists mull use of LSD as treatment,” reviewing the current state of psychedelic and MDMA drug research around the world.

January 11, 2006

The Guardian "Drug Inventor Celebrates 100th Birthday Today" by Sarah Boseley.

UK Newspaper The Guardian published “Psychiatrist calls for end to 30-year taboo over use of LSD as a medical treatment,” reporting on Dr. Ben Sessa’s assessment of LSD and its therapeutic potential.

January 8, 2006

New York Times "Dr. Hofmann on NYT Saturday Profile" by Craig Smith.

January 7, 2006

"Hofmann Letter to the New York Times"

The New York Times published a sincere portrait of Albert Hofmann as his 100th Birthday approaches, marked by an International LSD Symposium in honor of the father and his infamous problem child.

2005 Media Articles...

December 27, 2005

Washington Post "A Political Debate On Stress Disorder" by Shankar Vedantam.

An article in the Washington Post, "A Political Debate On Stress Disorder," by Shankar Vedantam, reports that in 2004 the US Veterans Affairs Department spent $4.3 billion on PTSD benefit payments to a total of 215,871 veterans. If the results of the second half of our MDMA/PTSD study are as promising as the results of the first half, we will have data suggesting that it would be financially wise for the VA to fund the entire $5 million cost of MAPS' Phase III studies to evaluate whether MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD should become approved by the FDA as a legally-available treatment for PTSD.

The New York Daily News Washington Bureau "City Pols vs. Feds Over Medical Pot" by Kenneth R. Bazinet.

The New York Daily News Washington Bureau published a succint and informative article about the DEA Lawsuit.

December 24, 2005

The Guardian "Daddy Ecstasy" by Dan Glaister.

Mail & Guardian Online, Africa’s first online newspaper, published Daddy Ecstasy, an positive article offering a window into the world of Sasha Shulgin, tracing his path as the forgotten father of modern ecstasy and his thoughts on current therapeutic uses of MDMA.

December 23, 2005

Reuters "Medical Frauds: Korean Scientist Hardly the First" by .

An article by Reuters news service, "Medical frauds: Korean scientist hardly the first", lists several previous articles that have had to be withdrawn from major medical journals. Included in the list is the 2002 paper in /Science/ by Ricaurte/McCann claiming that MDMA damaged dopamine neurons and could cause Parkinson's, retracted since the animals had actually been administered methamphetamine and not MDMA.

December 20, 2005

The Village Voice "Busted for Iboga" by Aina Hunter.

The Village Voice published Busted for Iboga, reporting on the recent arrest of a Wyoming couple who planned to import the drug for addiction treatment. It points out ibogaine’s success in curing addiction and the negative images generated by such DEA busts and the presence of makeshift clinics around the country.

December 19, 2005

Daily Journal "Ole Miss Marijuana Monopoly Under Fire" by Andy Kanengiser.

The Daily Journal published Ole Miss marijuana monopoly under fire, reporting on the University of Mississippi's insistence that their marijuana is of an acceptable grade.

December 15, 2005

Join Together "Researchers Seek New Source of Marijuana"

Join Together published Researchers Seek New Source of Marijuana.

December 13, 2005

Associated Press "Prof. Questions Gov’t Monopoly on Marijuana" by Andrew Miga.

The Associated Press published Prof. questions gov't monopoly on marijuana, a positive article about the DEA Lawsuit.

WPBFNews.com "Government’s Medical Pot ‘Just Isn’t Strong Enough’ Professor Sues For Permit To Grow Marijuana" by .

The West Palm Beach Florida News published Government's Medical Pot 'Just Isn't Strong Enough'.

December 12, 2005

The Washington Post "Federal Marijuana Monopoly Challenged" by Marc Kaufman.

The Washington Post published Federal Marijuana Monopoly Challenged, an article that comprehensively summarizes the MAPS/Craker DEA Lawsuit, quoting Lyle Craker, Rick Doblin, and Grover Norquist.

December 5, 2005

"DEA to Argue Against U. Mass Growing of Medicinal Cannabis at Administrative Hearing December 12-16" by .

A press release was issued today, "DEA to Argue Against U. Mass Growing of Medicinal Cannabis at Administrative Hearing December 12-16: Grover Norquist, Medical Groups and 35 Members of Congress Tell DEA They Support Expanded Research." We've also posted background information including transcripts of the hearing.

December 3, 2005

Reuters "Ecstasy ‘Has Great Potential’" by .

Reuter’s published Ecstasy ‘has great potential’, a short article referencing Sasha Shulgin’s talk at MIT and his concerns for MDMA’s fate to be known as a dangerous club drug rather than a powerful medicine.

December 2, 2005

"“Dr. Ecstasy” Laments the Rave Drugs Notoriety" by Jason Szep.

Leading the Charge, an Australian weekly newspaper, published “Dr. Ecstasy” laments the rave drugs notoriety, quoting Sasha Shulgin from his talk at MIT about the path and fate of MDMA in our society. The article also mentions the MAPS/MDMA study with Dr. Mithoefer, although not by name.

November 29, 2005

NORML News "Legal Challenge To NIDA’s Pot Monopoly To Resume Next Month" by .

NORML.org published NIDA's Pot Monopoly To Resume Next Month.

November 16, 2005

Reuters "Pressure on FDA Could Stall Advances - Ex-Official" by Michael Conlon.

A Reuters news service article, “Pressure on FDA could stall advances,” by Michael Conlon, discusses the political pressures on FDA regarding women’s health issues. This sort of pressure isn’t happening with psychedelic and marijuana research, where science still carries the day.

November 15, 2005

"PDF Article" by .

An excellent roundtable discussion about psychedelics and Judaism was published in Jewish Currents, published by the Association for Promotion of Jewish Secularism, Inc. The article is entitled, "Just Say Maybe- Psychedelic Drugs, Healing and Politics: An Interview with Four Jewish Researchers (Rick Doblin, Charlie Grob, Julie Holland, Howard Lotsof).

November 11, 2005

"MP3 File" by .

The Good Drugs Guide Radio show, out of England, broadcast a show entitled,"The State of Ecstasy." The show is described as follows, "It's ten years since the death of Leah Betts, a teenager who died after taking a single tablet of ecstasy, also known as MDMA. Her tragic death triggered a huge backlash against the drug here in the UK. Even so, 700,000 people still take E every week in this country. So what have we learnt about ecstasy in the last decade? Do the stories of terrible comedowns, brains like swiss cheese, and instant death have any credibility? Could MDMA really become a prescription drug? And has the music got any better? We find out. Guests include Dr Julie Holland, author of Ecstasy The Complete Guide, Rick Doblin, president of www.maps.org, and Mike Linnell of drug charity Lifeline. The show also uses clips from the excellent ABC documentary, Ecstasy Rising."

November 7, 2005

The Daily Texan "The Harm of Ecstacy, II" by Nishat Mukherji.

"Dear Editor, I Was Disappointed to Read Misleading Information"

The Daily Texan "Debunking Drug Folklore" by Ryan Ash and Elliott Ash.

The Washington Post "The Washington Post" by Shankar Vedantam.

The Washington Post publishes an article covering John Halpern’s peyote study.

The Daily Texan "The Harm of Ecstasy" by William Robins.

The Daily Texan, the newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin, published a letter about, "The harms of MDMA" that presented misleading information about MAPS' MDMA research projects. The letter critiqued a previous column entitled, "Debunking drug folklore," MAPS President Rick Doblin replied to correct the record. While taking time to write to a student newspaper may not at first glance represent a wise use of MAPS staff time, in the age of Google, even student letters can be read by a large number of people, especially when the topic is discussed repeatedly in the student newspaper. Indeed, the Daily Texan also published a more reasonable letter, "The harm of Ecstacy, II." While MAPS concentrates on scientific research, our educational mission is also of major importance.

"Harvard University’s Web Site Presents a Story about Dr. John Halpern’s Peyote Study" by .

Harvard University's web site presents a story about Dr. John Halpern's peyote study in the upper right hand corner of the home page!!

November 6, 2005

Maariv "Peyote to the Masses - New Research Conducted Among Native Americans" by .

Maariv, a popular daily newspaper in Israel, published "Peyote to the masses - new research conducted among native Americans shows that the drug produced from the Peyote cactus does not harm the brain - perhaps even the contrary!" In Hebrew, the article references John Halpern's Peyote study.

November 4, 2005

PBS "Supreme Court and Brazilian Religious Rituals" by Religion and Ethics News Weekly.

PBS's Religon and Ethics NewsWeekly ran a segment about the

November 2, 2005

Associated Press "High Court Hears Hallucinogenic Tea Case" by Gina Holland.

New York Times "Justices Weighing Narcotics Policy Against Needs of a Church" by Linda Greenhouse.

"Justices Weighing Narcotics Policy Against Needs of a Church," a NYTimes article by Linda Greenhouse discusses yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court case about whether the religious use of ayahuasca is protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or whether the DEA can criminalize that use, which is what DEA wants to do.

AP wire service reporter Gina Holland also wrote an article, High Court Hears Hallucinogenic Tea Case.

October 21, 2005

Daily Bruin, UCLA "Activists Protest on Campus - Various Animal Rights Groups Rally Against Medical Testing on Primates" by Shauntel Lowe.

An article in the UCLA Daily Bruin discusses animal rights protesters objecting to a proposed study in primates, "Making Connections: MDMA Research on the Mechanisms of Affiliation and Trust." The article mentions that this research was submitted for funding to MAPS, by Anthropology Professor Alan Page Fiske, who is quoted as saying, "The biggest problems we have in the world are people not trusting each other and not feeling a solidarity (and) feeling distant," Fiske said. "If we could understand the basis of compassion and caring, that's about the most important thing human and biological sciences could do." A MAPS Bulletin article about Prof. Fiske's research can be found here. At present, there is no funding for the study.

Briefly stated, MAPS has not funded animal research for about ten years but is not categorically opposed to doing so if the research is of sufficient importance. MAPS considers Prof. Fiske's proposed research to be sufficiently important to be worthy of being conducted but the information it would generate isn't essential for MAPS' program of research intended to develop MDMA into an FDA-approved prescription medication. MAPS' top priority is our human studies into the therapeutic use of MDMA. These studies require substantial resources so our intention is to conduct further research in animals only when required by FDA.

October 19, 2005

Mother Jones Magazine "Respectable Reefer" by Gary Greenberg.

October 19, 2005. Mother Jones Magazine publishes, "Respectable Reefer," an excellent article about medical marijuana by Gary Greenberg that discusses GW Pharmaceuticals, MAPS and drug war politics.

October 15, 2005

Br J Psychiatry "Can Psychedelics Have A Role In Psychiatry Again?" by Dr. Ben Sessa.

The British Journal of Psychiatry publishes four letters and a reply, commenting on Ben Sessa's June 15, 2005 editorial urging the resumption of psychedelic research.

September 27, 2005

Neurology "Sativex, a Cannabis-Based Medicine, Significantly Reduces Central Neuropathic Pain"

The cannabis based medicine, Sativex, is effective in reducing central neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a UK study published today in the medical journal, Neurology.

September 19, 2005

Salon.com "The Return of Reefer Madness" by Maia Szalavitz.

An article from Salon.com marks the The Return of Reefer Madness, as the US Drug Czar's marketing implies a connection between marijuana and insanity.

September 18, 2005

"PDF Article" by .

The Tampa Tribune reports about the use of ketamine-induced comas in chronic regional pain syndrome.

Washington Post "Man Collects Peyote Buttons From Cactus for American Indian Rites" by Sylvia Moreno.

The Washington Post published "A Rare and Unusual Harvest," an article about the Native American Church's efforts to successfully maintain peyote cultivation in the United States.

September 12, 2005

Letras Libres "Septiembre y el xtasis" by Gerardo Kleinburg.

Mexican website ViveConDrogas.com published "Septiembre y el xtasis," an intriguing article about drug policy reform and MAPS-funded MDMA research.

September 1, 2005

Sarasota Bradenton-Herald "Cannabis College" by Steve Echeverria Jr..

The Sarasota-Herald Tribune published Cannabis College, an article about New College of Florida's ranking in High Times Magazine's list of the nation's top cannabis colleges. The article quotes Rick Doblin, who received his undergraduate degree from New College.

"A Summary of Recent Press Coverage of the MAPS/Craker/DEA Hearing" by .

A summary of recent press coverage of the MAPS/Craker/DEA hearing is available here.

August 31, 2005

"LSD Finds New Respectability" by .

Julia Thompson from McMaster University in Canada published "LSD finds new respectability." The article references the MDMA studies and protocols currently underway and points out that the term 'psychedelic' was coined in Canada.

August 27, 2005

Penthouse "The Gang That Couldn’t Grow Straight" by Michael Simmons.

The New York Times "Letters to the Editor/The New York Times" by Michael Simmons.

New York Times "Marijuana Pipe Dreams" by John Tierney.

The New York Times published op-ed column "Marijuana Pipe Dreams" by John Tierney, reporting on the current Craker-DEA lawsuit. In a subsequent letter to the editor responding to the mention of a Marinol patient choking to death on his own vomit, Michael Simmons informed the New York Times of the vomit-choking myth.

August 25, 2005

Sacramento Bee Washington Bureau "Clash Over Pot Research Gets Personal" by Michael Doyle.

The Sacramento Bee Washington Bureau published Clash over pot research gets personal, an article about the DEA-Craker lawsuit proceedings including a quote from Rick Doblin.

August 22, 2005

ACLU "External Source" by .
The ACLU issues a press release on the MAPS DEA Lawsuit proceedings.

August 18, 2005

New England Journal of Medicine "Medical Marijuana and the Supreme Court" by Susan Oakie.

The Perspective Section of the New England Journal of Medicine published an article, "Medical Marijuana and the Supreme Court," by Susan Oakie, MD, a contributing editor of the Journal. Click here for full text version.

August 17, 2005

"PDF Article" by .

Commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), by Dean Lawrence Gostin, Georgetown Law School, criticizes NIDA for blocking medical marijuana research. The article is entitled, "Medical Marijuana, American Federalism, and the Supreme Court."

August 2, 2005

News-Medical.net "Sotnikova et al. 2005 on MDMA and Parkinsons"
Ironically, after NIDA-funded researchers Drs. McCann and Ricaurte claimed that MDMA damaged dopamine neurons and could cause Parkinson's disease, a claim that they later had to retract, new research conducted at Duke University Medical Center has shown that MDMA is the most effective of 60 drugs tested in reversing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease! This research was discussed in an article in News-Medical.Net; note also a brief commentary on this and other related research into MDMA as an anti-Parkinson's disease treatment.

MAPS "Comments on Sotnikova et al 2005" by Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D.

Read the original article here.

The Guardian "Headache Sufferers Flout New Drug Law" by Mark Honigsbaum.

Guardian publishes a positive article by Mark Honigsbaum, "Headache sufferers flout new drug law- Calls for clinical trials and rethink of legislation as patients claim that magic mushrooms can relieve excruciating condition." MAPS' effort to sponsor research into the use of LSD and psilocybin in treating cluster headaches is favorably mentioned.

July 26, 2005

San Francisco Chronicle "Controlling Medical Pot is Not Such an Out-of-control Idea" by Ethan Nadelmann.

San Francisco Chronicle publishes this op-ed about medical pot regulation and the measures San Fransciso is taking to protect its medical marijuana patients.

July 19, 2005

Australia Herald Sun "Pill poison" by John Ferguson and Michael Warner.

Australia’s Herald Sun publishes “Pill poison,” an article about the proliferation of of ecstasy dealing, consumption, and adulteration in the nation’s most populated region. The link also includes and editorial from the Herald Sun demanding that the community take responsibility for the nation’s drug problems.

July 18, 2005

United Press "Dealers lacing ecstasy with other drugs"

Austrailia’s United Press runs “Dealers lacing ecstasy with other drugs,” reporting on the widespread adulteration of ecstasy tablets throughout the country.

June 29, 2005

"Letter By John C. Lewin, MD"

June 20, 2005

San Francisco Chronicle "Vaporized fumes said to be cleaner, almost toxin-free" by Joe Garofoli.

San Francisco Chronicle writer Joe Garofoli reports on the completion of the nation’s first clinical human study on vaporization at UCSF. He gives an overview of vaporizer benefits and use, and informs readers how to obtain affordable vaporizers.

"PDF Article" by .
A new political advertisement about medical marijuana, mentioning federal obstruction of research and providing a link to the MAPS website for more information, appeared in the National Review, the New Republic, the American Prospect, The Nation, Reason Magazine, and The Progressive. The ad was placed by Common Sense for Drug Policy.

June 17, 2005

The Guardian "The Ecstasy Man" by .

UK News site Guardian Unlimited ran this story about Alexander Shulgin, his history as a pharmacologist, and the repercussions of his 1965 synthesis of MDMA.

June 15, 2005

British Journal of Psychiatry "Meeting with Ronnie Sandison" by Ben Sessa.

Br J Psychiatry "Can Psychedelics Have A Role In Psychiatry Again?" by Dr. Ben Sessa.

Dr. Ben Sessa's article from the British Journal of Psychiatry debates whether psychedelics can have a role in psychiatry again. On October 15, 2005, the Journal published four letters and a reply, commenting on the editorial and its urging for the resumption of psychedelic research. Ben also conducted an interview with Dr. Ronnie Sandison, inventor of the word "psycholytic.

June 13, 2005

Boston Globe "The Medical Pot Hysteria" by Cathy Young.

The Boston Globe ran an article by Cathy Young entitled, “The Medical Pot Hysteria,” that includes a mention of Sally Satel’s terrific New York Times op-ed piece talking about federal obstruction of research.

June 9, 2005

High Times "Conference Review: Mind States" by Mark Miller.

Mark Miller of High Times magazine puts forth a review of the Mindstates Conference held in San Francisco this past May, including quotes from MAPS Founder and President Rick Doblin.

June 8, 2005

Wired Magazine "Legal Pot’s No Pipe Dream" by .

Wired Magazine writes Legal Pot's No Pipe Dream, discussing the recent Supreme Court decision on medical marijuana and MAPS efforts to estabish a medical marijuana pilot production facility at the University of Massachussets at Amherst with Professer Lyle Craker.

Op-Ed New York Times "Good to Grow" by Sally Satel.

Sally Satel pens an Op-Ed in the New York Times today about medical marijuana, focusing on Lyle Craker, UMass Amherst and Federal obstruction of medical marijuana research.

DesMoines Register "Let Terminally Ill Ease Their Pain by Smoking Pot" by Rekha Basu.

DesMoines Register Columnist Rekha Basu delivers a compassionate and practical article on the benefits of marijuana and the "Catch-22" of the present medical marijuana struggle. She dicusses the treatment limitations that patients with serious illnesses face and urges Americans to "push their representatives for legalization of medicinal marijuana and for more unbiased research."

June 7, 2005

LA Times-THE NATION "Marijuana Patients Remain Defiant" by Eric Bailey.

Nature.com "Marijuana: the dope" by Mark Peplow.

Nature.com offers an article by Mark Peplow discussing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against medical marijuana, mistakeningly stating that over the past two years MAPS has spent over $2 million on marijuana research when in fact, MAPS has spent that figure on all psychedelic research projects.

Salon Magazine "A Guide to Gonzales vs. Raich" by Ryan Grim.

Ryan Grim, Salon Magazine, publishes his article A guide to Gonzales vs. Raich, What the medical marijuana ruling means for patients, the commerce clause, marital sex, Antonin Scalia's career and more. Ryan writes "But if the Supreme Court told us nothing else on Monday, it was that if this drug quagmire is ever going to end, it'll have to be stopped by the ones who started it: members of Congress. Until then, we'll gradually build our way to a society where half the population is locked in prison and the other half is guarding the prisoners."

June 6, 2005

Washington Post "A Defeat For Users Of Medical Marijuana"

The Washington Post reports on today’s Supreme Court decision supporting Federal power over State’s rights in medical marijuana law: A Defeat For Users Of Medical Marijuana. The article quotes John Walters, President Bush’s director of national drug control policy, who said: “Our nation has the highest standards and most sophisticated institutions in the world for determining the safety and effectiveness of medication. Our national medical system relies on proven scientific research, not popular opinion.”

However, the WP article fails to adequately address Federal obstruction of all attempts to engage in research to demonstrate the medical efficacy of marijuana, exemplified by the difficulty MAPS has in obtaining Federal approval for The Amherst MMJ production facility project.

June 2, 2005

Medill News Service "Behind the Vision Vine" by Molly Brown.

Molly Brown of Medill News Service reports on the case between the religious group Uniao do Vegetal (UDV) and the U.S. Supreme Court on the legal status of their sacrament, the Amazonian brew ayahusaca, in this comprehensive article.

June 1, 2005

Il Manifesto "Il Manifesto" by .

Italian publication Il Manifesto reports on MDMA research and quotes Rick Doblin.

May 25, 2005

MPP "Statement by Steve Fox, Director of Government Relations, MPP" by Steve Fox.

ACLU "STATEMENT OF ALLEN HOPPER, ATTORNEY WITH THE ACLU DRUG LAW REFORM PROJECT" by Allen Hopper.

"Illegal Drug Being Promoted by Small Group" by .

The Church of Scientology puts out an article dismissing the therapeutic, medicinal uses of psychedelics and thus continuing the war on psychiatry.

May 23, 2005

Nursing Spectrum "Can Ecstasy Help Dying Cancer Patients?" by Lisette Hilton.

Online Publication Nursing Spectrum puts forth an article discussing the Harvard study of MDMA psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety associated with terminal cancer. Author Lisette Hilton quotes Dr. John Halpern