MAPS' new (and first-ever) director of development, Troy Dayton (troy@maps.org), began work at MAPS this past January. With MAPS' increasing success in obtaining approval for psychedelic research, the amount of money needed to fund that research has increased dramatically.

Troy's primary role is to help raise that money. He will be meeting with MAPS' top few hundred donors to communicate MAPS' plans and gather feedback. He is also reaching out to new supporters who can consider making significant charitable gifts to this historic effort. In addition, he is helping MAPS increase revenue through product sales and membership growth. Troy is splitting his time 50-50 with our friends at the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), also in a development capacity.

Troy is a longtime friend of MAPS and drug policy reform. He spent the last three years as the associate director of the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative (IDPI), mobilizing religious leaders behind ending the War on Drugs. He helped found and currently serves on the board of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), which has more than 100 chapters. He was the promotional director, fund-raiser, and a script consultant for Flex Your Rights' film, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters, now seen by more than 1 million people. Troy also helped start Renewable Choice Energy, which recently made national headlines for making the largest sale of wind power in U.S. history. CNN recently profiled Troy in a special on the science of happiness where he explained that his occasional use of MDMA helps maximize his mental health.

We are excited to have Troy's passion and expertise at MAPS. I hope you get the chance to visit with him soon.