from the Newsletter of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic
Studies
MAPS - Volume 5 Number 1 Summer 1994
Spreading the good news in Atlanta and Los Angeles
by Sylvia Thyssen
On April 2, 1994, MAPS was represented at the Fifth Annual Great Atlanta
Pot Festival. Rick Doblin was invited to speak about the developments and
objectives of medical marijuana research. Unfortunately, Rick was unable
to attend. However, taking courage in both hands, I agreed to represent
him and MAPS on the stage in Atlanta. I would chalk up my debut public
speaking occasion to experience, I thought, rattled at the prospect of
speaking to the 30,000 people scattered across Piedmont Park.
Speaking to a crowd
For the purpose of disseminating news of MAPS and the two medical
marijuana studies that MAPS is supporting, a small informational flyer was
prepared. (This same flyer was also distributed by a MAPS member at the
Ann Arbor Hash Bash held on the same day.) I spent most of the day at an
information table answering questions from whomever stopped and looked
quizzically at the newsletters and books on display. The word
"psychedelic" was eliciting sly grins and giggles among some
festival-goers. Several newsletters and books were sold, and the 50th
Anniversary LSD t-shirts were very popular. I spent time explaining to
people the therapeutic potential of MDMA, LSD, and marijuana. Young
people, in particular, were astonished to learn of the early LSD research.
It was an educating experience for me, as well; I experienced first-hand
some of the myths and misinformation that is circulated about psychedelics
and became familiar with responding to frequently asked questions. It was
surprising how much attention the book LSD Psychotherapy by Stan Grof was
receiving. Many people perused it and wanted to buy it!
The day culminated in the "public service announcement" about
Dr. Donald Abram's FDA-approved study comparing the effectiveness of
smoked marijuana with the oral THC capsule in treating people suffering
from the HIV-related wasting syndrome, and about MAPS' water
pipe/vaporizer study. I went onstage in the late afternoon, and briefly
yet firmly declared to all the people on the lawn that there was something
to rejoice about in the wake of all the vigorous complaints about the
government. I repeated my litany, "though scientific inquiry was
prohibited for years in this country, governmental restrictions ARE
lifting!" I feel it was essential to share the message of hope. A
few people who had not already decided "the government sucks"
listened and took note. When I remembered that the crowd to which I spoke
was a supportive one, I was much less frightened than I'd anticipated.
A skeptic stops and listens
Rick and I also attended the April 30th Los Angeles Hemp Rally and spoke
onstage there. This was a more vigorous declaration of the role that
sanctioned scientific research plays among the disparate marijuana
agendas. In the parking lot, when I was putting flyers under windshield
wipers, I gave one to a woman who was standing near her car. She looked
at it and replied tersely "I don't think there needs to be any
research, I know it's a good, safe medicine." Here was an avid
cannabis supporter who could use her horizons expanded. It was essential
to listen to her strongly held belief and address it. I looked at her and
kindly agreed with her, while suggesting that there are many people who
can't relate to an assertion about marijuana's safety and efficacy until
it is firmly established by scientific studies. It is also important to
explore and address those risks that do exist with smoking. The feeling
that I got when she looked up and said "yes, I understand now that
this is a good thing" was truly inspiring. I took it up onstage with
me and felt much more comfortable about communicating to the people
attending the rally. If you are interested in becoming an advocate for
medical marijuana, familiarize yourself with marijuana's history and give
it a context among other medicines. Comfort comes with familiarity with
the facts. Honest information and the relieving of suffering are
understandable to most anyone.