[MAPS] MAPS News: February 2006

[Valerie Mojeiko, MAPS]

If you prefer to read this update as html, go here:
(http://www.maps.org/sys/nq.pl?id=767&fmt=std)

February 2, 2006

Greeting MAPS Members and Friends,

The new year has arrived, and here at MAPS we have already made some amazing
breakthroughs. After celebrating the 100th Birthday of Albert Hofmann in
Basel, Switzerland, we return to our work initiating MDMA studies in
Switzerland and Israel. As we make progress in our clinical research goals,
we are striving to increase our accessibility to a wider audience. This
month, we are pleased to present a podcast for your listening
enjoyment--created for this email news update by MAPS staffer Jag Davies
about MAPS' DEA medical marijuana lawsuit. So after you read the latest
news, give your eyes a break and take in some information in audio form.
Please give us your feedback, and let us know whether you would like us to
make podcasts a monthly feature.

***If you are not a MAPS member yet, or if your membership has expired,
please consider joining MAPS! If you are already a member, we can always use
additional support. Please consider making a special donation to support
your favorite project.*** (http://www.maps.org/donate)

And now the news:
1. Final Testimony in DEA Lawsuit Cancelled; Lawyers Now Working on Final
Legal Briefings
2. MDMA Study in Switzerland Nearly Ready to Begin
3. US MDMA/PTSD Study Now at Halfway Point--Data Under Review
4. Israel MDMA/PTSD Study Moves Forward
5. Ibogaine Outcome Study Protocol Submitted to IRB
6. Two Womens Entheogen Fund Awards Announced
7. LSD Conference in Basel, Switzerland
8. Ayahuasca-Themed Issue of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
9. Merchandise Available at MAPS
10. In Memoriam: Carla Higdon, MAPS staffer from 1995-2001

1. Final Testimony in DEA Lawsuit Cancelled; Lawyers Now Working on Final
Legal Briefings

To hear a podcast that goes into greater detail about this item, featuring
interviews with Dr. Lyle Craker, Rick Doblin, and Al Byrne, go here:
(http://www.maps.org/podcasts/podcast_2.1.06.mp3)

Oral arguments in Professor Lyle Craker's DEA Administrative Law Judge
hearings about DEA refusal to issue a license for a MAPS-sponsored medical
marijuana production facility have officially come to a close. DEA lawyers
cancelled the final hearing, scheduled to take place on January 17th, in
which they had planned to cross-examine Al Byrne, a medical marijuana
advocate who has seen the poor quality of NIDA's "research-grade" marijuana
first-hand. After DEA lawyers learned that Al Byrne was willing to testify
under oath, they decided they didn't really want to hear what he had to say!
Lawyers from the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project and two Washington D.C. law
firms working pro bono are now turning their attention to final legal
briefings. No date has yet been set for when the briefs are due but we
expect it will be in March or April. MAPS expects a decision from Judge Mary
Ellen Bittner by early summer. If Judge Bittner recommends that DEA grant a
license to Prof. Craker, we will then need to generate major political
pressure on DEA Administrator Karen Tandy, encouraging her to accept rather
than reject the recommendation. You can read background information, media
coverage, and court transcripts from the case on the MAPS website:
(http://www.maps.org/mmj/DEAlawsuit.html)

2. MDMA Study in Switzerland Nearly Ready to Begin

On December 27, 2005, we received a report from Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Peter
Oehen saying that he has received final approval for his MDMA/PTSD study
from the ethics committee. This study will be co-funded by MAPS and the
Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy. Dr. Oehen submitted his
protocol to Swissmedic (the Swiss FDA) for a review process, and received
comments back from them in mid-January. The changes they suggested were all
relatively minor, with no suggested changes to the protocol design. This
study will test the efficacy of three MDMA sessions, rather than just two,
and will use supplemental dosing of half the initial dose administered about
2 hours after the first dose. This procedure extends the period of maximum
therapeutic effectiveness. On January 10, MAPS Clinical Research Associate
Valerie Mojeiko, MAPS President Rick Doblin, and MDMA researcher Dr. Michael
Mithoefer met with Dr. Oehen in Solothurn, Switzerland for a prestudy
monitoring visit. We are planning another monitoring visit in early March to
begin the study.
Swiss Protocol: (http://www.maps.org/mdma/swissptsd/protocol011806.pdf)

3. US MDMA/PTSD Study Now at Halfway Point--Data Under Review

Dr. Michael Mithoefer, Principal Investigator of the MAPS-sponsored
MDMA/PTSD psychotherapy study in Charleston, South Carolina, filed an Annual
Status Report with his Institutional Review Board (IRB) in December. There
have been no drug-related Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and the results on
treatment efficacy are very promising. The IRB approved the project for
another year, and the data, now at halfway, is currently being reviewed by
the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). A total of eleven of 20 subjects
have completed the study. We are now preparing a letter to the FDA
requesting that the protocol be revised so that we can be permitted to add a
third experimental session and supplemental dosing, to evaluate whether
these methods can increase therapeutic effectiveness even further.
(http://www.maps.org/mdma/protocol/index.html)

4. Israel MDMA/PTSD Study Moves Forward

In Israel, as we reported in November, Dr. Moshe Kotler, Chair, Department
of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and former
chief psychiatrist of the Israeli Defense Forces, has received all approvals
for his MAPS-sponsored MDMA/PTSD study. We are now working to obtain MDMA
for the study from Switzerland so that the same MDMA will be used in both
the Swiss and Israeli studies. We are now working to schedule a visit by the
Israeli co-therapists, Dr. Rael Strous and Dr. Rakefey Rodrigez, to
Charleston, SC, to observe Dr. Michael and Ann Mithoefer conduct an
MDMA/PTSD session, hopefully around the end of March or in early April. Dr.
Strous, Director of Research at the Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, has
published several interesting papers about PTSD in war veterans and
holocaust survivors which can be viewed on the MAPS website.
Fundraising efforts have now started for this study, seeking the necessary
$100,000. We have recently received a donation of $10,000 for this important
project from MAPS Patron donor Ami Shinitzky. We are planning a pre-study
monitoring visit to the site of this study in early March 2006.
Israel Protocol: (http://www.maps.org/mdma/israel_protocol_3.16.05.pdf)

5. Ibogaine Outcome Study Protocol Submitted to IRB

MAPS' protocol for an outcome study of ibogaine in the treatment of
addiction has been submitted to a Canadian IRB, and we have received
feedback. All of the concerns with the protocol seem relatively easy to
address. The IRB basically just asks for more information about the
treatments. The protocol is only for the outcome study, not the treatments
themselves, which will be provided legally on a fee-for-service basis by the
Iboga Therapy House, directed by Sandra Karpetas. MAPS has hired Philippe
Lucas to shepherd the protocol through the IRB. Philippe has previously
obtained permission from the IRB for a clinical study of the therapeutic use
of marijuana.
MAPS Ibogaine Page: (http://www.maps.org/ibogaine)
Iboga Therapy House: (http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net)

6. Two Women's Entheogen Fund Awards Announced

Sandra Karpetas was awarded a $5000 grant from the Women's Entheogen Fund,
established at MAPS by an anonymous donor. Sandra won the award for her work
with the Iboga Therapy House. Sylvia Thyssen was also awarded $5000 from the
Women's Entheogen Fund, for her work with Erowid and all she does for the
psychedelic community.

7. LSD Conference in Basel, Switzerland

MAPS researchers and staff traveled to Basel, Switzerland in January, where
we celebrated the 100th birthday of Albert Hofmann, the man who discovered
LSD and first synthesized psilocybin. The Spirit of Basel hosted a symposium
for the occasion, where MAPS brought several speakers to discuss topics
related to psychedelic psychotherapy, including Drs. Michael Mithoefer, John
Halpern, Andrew Sewell, Charles Grob, and MAPS staffers Rick Doblin and
Valerie Mojeiko. MAPS associate Brandy Doyle also attended the conference
and created several podcasts which can be downloaded from our website. The
event received much media coverage, including feature stories on several
local television stations in Switzerland and an article in the New York
Times.
LSD Symposium: (http://www.lsd.info)
LSD Symposium Podcasts: (http://www.maps.org/weblogs/basel/)
NY Times Article: (http://www.maps.org/sys/nq.pl?id=746&fmt=page)

MAPS' new edition of Albert Hofmann's famous book, LSD: My Problem Child was
available and for sale at the conference and is currently available from our
online bookstore. MAPS also completed a Chinese translation which is
available on our website along with a Russian and Polish translation. A
Spanish edition is also available. MAPS is now exploring the idea of
creating a Japanese edition.
Chinese, Russian, and Polish Translations:
(http://www.maps.org/freebooks.html)
Spanish edition: (http://www.muscaria.com/lsd.htm)

8. Ayahuasca-Themed Issue of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

As we await a decision from the US Supreme Court in the religious freedom
case about whether the Uniao do Vegetal (UDV) will be able to use ayahuasca
legally in the US in its religious ceremonies, a special themed issue of the
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, "Ayahuasca Use in Cross-Cultural
Perspective," has recently been published. Edited by Marlene Dobkin de Rios,
Ph.D., and Charles S. Grob, M.D., this 120-page journal covers a spectrum of
current developments in ayahuasca use and research, including articles based
on qualitative, neuropsychological and psychiatric assessments. Use of
ayahuasca as a sacrament by the UDV and other groups is explored, as is the
phenomenon of "drug tourism." This special theme issue, volume 37, number 2,
is available from Haight Ashbury Publications for $25 plus shipping. Please
call 415 565 l904 or e-mail journal at hafci.org.

9. Merchandise Available at MAPS

We have an exciting line of limited availability merchandise to offer
including:

Hofmann-signed prints by Alex Grey--
Visionary artist Alex Grey was recently commissioned to paint a portrait of
Albert Hofmann, with the intention of creating an edition of 50 prints, each
16" x 20", numbered and signed by both Alex Grey and Albert Hofmann. 50% of
the profit from the sales of these prints are going toward funding
MAPS-sponsored LSD and Psilocybin research and for promoting Albert's
writings (such as translating LSD-My Problem Child into Chinese). The other
50% is going toward the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Alex and Allyson Grey's
temple which houses all of the Sacred Mirrors as well as other examples of
Alex's most transformative works of art. There were only 50 of these
available, and only one is left for sale, numbered 1/50. We will be
auctioning it on ebay and will announce in next month's email update wehn
the auction will begin.

Hofmann-, Huxley-, and Shulgin-signed prints by Dean Chamberlain--
We have sold all 50 of the original Hofmann-signed light painting prints by
artist Dean Chamberlain, and are pleased to announce that we are now
offering 25 larger versions of this same print (22 x 28 on 30 x 36
heavyweight fine-art archival paper), also signed by Albert Hofmann. We
still have 20 left. This edition of prints was created to help fund
MAPS-sponsored LSD and psilocybin research, as well as to commemorate
Albert's 100th birthday. Prints numbered 1-5 were offered at $4000 each;
6-15 are still available for $5000; 16-20 will be $6000, and 21-25 will be
$7000.
Hofmann/Chamberlain Prints: (http://maps.org/pioneers/hofmann.html)

Also by Dean Chamberlain, we have available signed portraits of Laura
Huxley, profits from which will go to research the use of psychedelics to
ease the dying process, with the cost $1000 each for the first 10 (7
available); and signed portraits of Sasha and Ann Shulgin, profits from
which will go to MDMA-psychotherapy research, with the cost $1000 each for
the first 10 (8 available).
Huxley/Chamberlain Prints: (http://www.maps.org/pioneers/huxley.html)
Huxley/Shulgin Prints: (http://www.maps.org/pioneers/shulgins.html)

Signed Copies of LSD: My Problem Child--
A limited number of hardcopies of LSD-My Problem Child signed by the author
are available through MAPS for $250 each. They will be available in about a
month. To be put on a list to reserve your copy, contact Julia at maps.org.

Please visit our online store to browse our other exciting merchandise
including psychedelic-inspired art by the Huichol, books, clothing, and
more!
MAPS Bookstore: (http://www.maps.org/bookstore)

10. In Memoriam: Carla Higdon, MAPS staffer from 1995-2001

It is with great sadness that we report that Carla Higdon died in her sleep
Sunday night, at age 42. Carla was a courageous woman with a warm and
powerful spirit. She was a loving and compassionate friend. She grew up in
North Carolina and combined her love of art and her love of children to be
an art teacher in the public schools in Charlotte, NC. In 1995, Carla met
Sylvia Thyssen and Rick Doblin who at that time were the only two MAPS
staffers. Carla started volunteering for MAPS and also helped Rick and Lynne
Doblin take care of their babies, as the whole Doblin family grew to love
her. Carla eventually became MAPS' third full-time staff person. In 1998,
she and Sylvia moved the main MAPS office to Sarasota and created a home in
what is now the MAPS house. Carla continued to work for MAPS until 2001.
Carla increasingly felt called to live in California and finally moved
there, where she felt close to her community. It was Carla who first
conceived of honoring the work of women in entheogen research, resulting in
the creation of the Women's Entheogen Fund. She became its first recipient.
Carla's ashes will be spread on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida, where she
loved to walk on the beach.

Thanks for reading.
-Valerie 

-- 
Valerie Mojeiko
Program Director and Clinical Research Associate
MAPS
2105 Robinson Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34232
941-924-6277 phone
941-924-6265 fax
www.maps.org

MAPS-Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Join MAPS: http://www.maps.org/donate