Researchers have linked cannabis use disorder to depression and bipolar disorder, according to a new study. However, this observational study which used data from Danish individuals, hasn’t established cause and effect. The researchers (and its media parrots) say they have found a nearly two-fold increased risk of depression and a three-fold increased risk of bipolar disorder. They blame “cannabis use disorder.” The researcher wrote, “evidence suggests that use of cannabis may be associated with increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders.” […]
Salem, a city notorious for its 17th century witch trials, is creating a new reputation for itself by ceasing a modern-day witch hunt. As of this month, Salem is ending arrests for psilocybin mushrooms, Psychedelic Spotlight reports. It is now the sixth Massachusetts city to do so, after a 9-0 city council vote supporting the measure. Psilocybin is understood to be perhaps one of the safest drugs out there. Findings published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology shared that only 0.2% of magic mushroom users have sought emergency medical care after use. For those who had a lousy experience, it was a negative psychological (a bad trip) that resolved within 24 hours. In addition, you cannot die from a psilocybin physical overdose. (Comparatively, the World Health Organization reports that 3 million deaths yearly result from the destructive use of alcohol, representing 5.3% of all deaths.)
The passage of the Salem measure comes after the FDA has classified psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” for depression. Salem resident and neuroscientist Miyabe Shields said, “This is a win for science and the neurodivergent community to advance life-saving research on the complex innerworkings of our brains,” Psychedelic Spotlight reports.
As too many people know (according to Columbia University, one in ten Americans have depression), the standard treatment for depression, medicines like SSRIs and SNRIs, only improve symptoms in about 20 out of 100 people, data from the National Library of Medicine shows. Psychedelic options such as psilocybin and ketamine are literal lifesavers for the many folks who do not respond to traditional pharmaceuticals. Additionally, while medicines like SSRIs take several weeks to yield results, psychedelics can reduce depression in a matter of hours. Speaking about the measure, as Psychedelic Spotlight reports, disabled Marine Corp Veteran Michael Botelho, an active organizer with both Bay Staters and New England Veterans for Plant Medicine who served in combat during the Gulf War, shares that: “Through the VA system, I was prescribed over 160 medications, including opiates, to cope with PTSD before finding psilocybin mushrooms. For the first time in nearly 25 years, I have been able to sleep, overcome addiction to opiates, and work again.” Certainly, more New Englanders experiencing depression will feel comfortable using psychedelic treatments now that the risk of arrest is off the table.
Additionally, research shows that psilocybin has an influential role in the harm reduction movement. A study of 44,000 Americans in the U.S. Journal of Psychopharmacology discovered that psilocybin is associated with a 40% reduced risk of suffering opioid addiction. Data from the CDC shows that opioids were involved in 68,630 overdose deaths in 2020 (74.8% of all drug overdose deaths). This powerful property of psilocybin gained the Salem measure a surprising supporter. You don’t have to turn off N.W.A.’s “Fuck The Police,” but know that Lucas Miller, the Chief of Police for the City, endorsed the measure before the city’s final vote. “The indications that psilocybin could be helpful for opiate addiction is something that should not be ignored. We lose about 20 people in Salem a year to opioid overdose,” Miller says, Psychedelic Spotlight reports.
Salem may be the sixth Massachusetts city to end arrests for psilocybin mushrooms, but it won’t be the last.
The grassroots group who deserves credit for successfully implementing the campaign, which was years in the making, Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, has partnered with Somerville, Cambridge, Northampton, Easthampton, and Amherst to pass similar measures. In addition, the organization is currently pushing state legislation, which includes An Act Relative to Plant Medicine, which would legalize home growing and sharing of psilocybin and related plants.
The world of psychedelic science is constantly evolving, offering new avenues to explore the potential of natural substances. Among the latest developments are the practices of microdosing Amanita mushrooms and the introduction of Muscimol gummies, which provide a convenient way to engage in microdosing. These innovative gummies have captured the interest of individuals seeking to experience the distinctive benefits of Amanita Muscaria mushrooms. If you’re interested to learn how to microdose Amanita Muscaria, or want to try the new Muscimol gummies, read on to satisfy your curiosity.
Microdosing, the practice of consuming small, sub-perceptual amounts of psychedelic substances, has surged in popularity over the past decade. It has proven to be rewarding for individuals in stressful jobs as well as those seeking spiritual growth and overall well-being. By offering benefits without disrupting the daily routine, microdosing has grown in popularity. The concept revolves around taking a minuscule dose, significantly smaller than a typical recreational dose, with the intention of enhancing cognition, creativity, and emotional well-being, all while avoiding the overwhelming effects associated with a full psychedelic trip.
While substances such as LSD and psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) have traditionally been the primary focus of microdosing, there is a growing interest in Amanita muscaria mushrooms due to their spiritual and historical significance. Now, with the availability of Muscimol gummies, you have the opportunity to explore microdosing Amanita muscaria for yourself!
Take advantage of our exclusive ‘Deal of the Day‘ and get 10 gummies with 2.5 mg of Muscimol each, for only $8 using the cannadelics coupon code. Stock up on these comfortable and convenient products today!
Microdose Amanita Mushrooms: The Game-changing Role of Muscimol Gummies
Muscimol, Ibotenic Acid and Amanita Mushroom
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric, is a mushroom native to many areas in the Northern Hemisphere. It is recognizable by its distinctive bright red cap with white spots. Unlike psilocybin mushrooms, which is a controlled substance, Amanita muscaria contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are legal psychoactive compounds.
Muscimol is the primary psychoactive compound found in Amanita muscaria mushrooms. It is responsible for the unique effects experienced when consuming these mushrooms. As a GABA receptor agonist, muscimol interacts with the brain’s neurotransmitters, leading to potential relaxation, calming effects, and altered states of consciousness. However, it’s important to note that the effects of psychoactive compounds can vary among individuals.
Muscimol, the primary psychoactive compound in Amanita Muscaria mushrooms
Ibotenic acid is a powerful neurotoxin that can cause a range of effects, from mild agitation to seizures or even death in high doses. However, when dried or heated, ibotenic acid is converted into muscimol, and that’s why the process of preparing Amanita edibles usually involves drying, heating and only then consuming.
Microdose Amanita Muscaria
While the Amanita muscaria does not contain psilocybin, the compound typically associated with the benefits of microdosing, it contain muscimol which makes it very attractive. It’s important to note that there is far less research on microdosing Amanita muscaria when compared to psilocybin or LSD. However, as this product have been used for hundreds of years, and perhaps even more, it is safe to believe that microdose Amanita Muscaria will soon become a common practice, among the followers of the many ways for self-discovery and enlightment.
Potential Benefits & Risks
While research is only in its early stages, historical usages and anecdotal reports from individuals who have tried to microdose Amanita muscaria often mention improved mood, increased energy, and heightened creative thinking. Some users have reported a reduction in their symptoms of depression and anxiety, while others have noticed improved focus and cognitive function.
Due to the sedative effects of muscimol, some users find Amanita muscaria helpful in managing insomnia or other sleep disorders. The muscimol may also interact with GABA receptors in the brain, which can lead to feelings of relaxation and calmness.
The consumption of Amanita muscaria is not without risks. The mushroom’s psychoactive compounds, particularly ibotenic acid, can cause adverse effects ranging from mild symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and incoordination, to more severe ones such as hallucinations, agitation, and seizures. However, it’s worth noting that when ibotenic acid is dried or heated, it converts into Muscimol, which is considered to have milder effects on the body.
Moreover, as with any product we use, whether it’s sugar, tobacco, coffee, smartphones, TV, or drugs, there is a potential risk of developing tolerance or dependency when its use is abused. It is important to approach the consumption of any substance with moderation and mindfulness.
As we have discussed, proper preparation of Amanita muscaria is crucial due to the presence of ibotenic acid. The mushrooms should be dried, heated, or both to safely convert ibotenic acid into muscimol. Traditionally, the mushrooms are dried in the sun or over a fire, but nowadays, you can also use methods like drying in an oven at a minimal temperature with an open door or placing them near a heat source. However, it is important to avoid excessive heat, as even when making tea, the water should not exceed 170 degrees Fahrenheit (77 degrees Celsius). Once dried, the mushrooms can be consumed as they are, brewed into a tea, or used to prepare a tincture.
Microdosing typically entails ingesting a minute quantity of the mushroom, commonly in the form of a powdered substance enclosed in capsules. As is the case with any consumption, it is vital to commence with a low dose to gauge individual tolerance, gradually augmenting it if needed. Following the fundamental principle of ‘Start Low and Grow Slow‘ is advised for all substances, including when you microdose with Muscimol gummies.
As interest in Amanita muscaria grows, so too does the range of products available. Here’s a brief overview of some of the most common Amanita products:
Amanita Mushroom Caps: Dried mushroom caps are one of the most traditional forms of Amanita muscaria available. They can be consumed as is or used to make tea.
Amanita Powder: This product offers a finely ground version of the mushroom, which can be encapsulated for easy consumption or added to food and drink.
Amanita Tincture: A tincture is a liquid extract of the mushroom, often made with alcohol. Tinctures can be a convenient way to consume Amanita muscaria, as they can be easily measured and administered.
High-Potency Amanita Gummies: Usually with 500mg per gummy or more. Use it if yu are looking for a strong product and already have some experience with Muscimol.
Amanita Chocolate: An edible made from mixing Amanita extract with Chocolate, blending the flavors of cocoa with the potential benefits of Amanita muscaria.
Muscimol Isolate: This is a purified form of the muscimol. It provides a way to consume the active compound without the other components of the mushroom, or serve as the raw material for many products.
Each product provides a unique way to engage with Amanita muscaria, and the best choice depends on individual preferences and needs.
To those interested in exploring the potential benefits of muscimol in a very convenient format, we’re offering a special discount on the new Muscimol Gummies. Each gummy contains 2.5 mg of muscimol, carefully extracted from Amanita muscaria. Using our Deal of the Day, you can get a 20% discount and get a pack of 10 gummies for just $8 by using the Cannadelics coupon code. You can use this coupon as many times as needed and stock-up on this great edible.
This is a great opportunity for both newcomers and regular customers to save on this popular product.
TIP: Use the Cannadelics coupon code for an additional 20% discount.
Microdose Amanita muscaria is an emerging practice that has been adopted by some within the psychedelic community. With anecdotal reports suggesting a range of potential benefits, from improved mood and cognition to better sleep, the new Muscimol gummies makes microdosing easier than ever.
Before you go, don’t forget to take advantage of our Deal of the Day and join our weekly newsletter, the Cannadelics Sunday Edition, going out every sunday at 11am EST.
Our newsletter, is the best way to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scientific research, and special offers on our range of legal Cannabis and Psychedelic products. It’s also an excellent resource for those interested in deepening their understanding of the wider world of psychedelic science, covering topics from the latest research findings to interviews with leading experts in the field.
Is the cannabis recession here? According to a new study exclusive to Forbes, cannabis industry employment has declined, a first in history. The 2% reduction comes after six years of double-digit growth. It can hardly be considered a sign of a cannabis recession. However, broader economic trends point to a recession, even a depression, on the horizon. And the cannabis industry will not be immune to it. In fact, we may already be witnessing signs of the cannabis recession. Is the […]
An economic winter is coming, but don’t worry; we’ve compiled ten ways cannabis can revive a depressed economy. When many people hear “cannabis,” they may think of it as a recreational activity or a medical necessity. And it is. But it’s more than that. So while politicians will inevitably announce “stimulus” and bailouts, the real solution will come from entrepreneurs in a free market. And since Canada has already legalized cannabis, that’s one hurdle out of the way. Next, cut […]
A new study from researchers at The Ohio State University found that, when it comes to a psychedelic experience, the more mystical the better.
The analysis, based on “a machine learning analysis of data from nearly 1,000 respondents to a survey about their previous non-clinical experiences with psychedelic drugs,” indicated that “individuals who scored the highest on questionnaires assessing the mystical and insightful nature of their experiences consistently reported improvements in their anxiety and depression symptoms,” and that “a challenging experience while on these substances, one that feels frightening or destabilizing, can have beneficial results, especially in the context of mystical and insightful experiences,” according to Neuroscience News.
“Sometimes the challenge arises because it’s an intensely mystical and insightful experience that can, in and of itself, be challenging,” said Alan Davis, assistant professor and director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education in The Ohio State University College of Social Work, and the lead author on the study.
“In the clinical research setting, folks are doing everything they can to create a safe and supportive environment. But when challenges do come up, it’s important to better understand that challenging experiences can actually be related to positive outcomes.”
The world of psychedelic research has flowered in recent years, as academia has unearthed compelling new findings about how such drugs could treat mental health and other disorders.
Earlier this month, the University of California, Davis announced the launch of the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, which will be dedicated to advancing “basic knowledge about the mechanisms of psychedelics and translate it into safe and effective treatments for diseases such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.”
The university said that while “other psychedelic science centers have been formed across the country with gifts from philanthropists, the UC Davis institute is notable for also being supported by substantial university funds.”
“Psychedelics have a lot of therapeutic potential, but we can do better,” said David E. Olson, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis, who will serve as the founding director of the new institute.
“Psychedelics have a unique ability to produce long-lasting changes in the brain that are relevant to treating numerous conditions,” added Olson. “If we can harness those beneficial properties while engineering molecules that are safer and more scalable, we can help a lot of people.”
Last week, Olson’s team at UC Davis published a paper that said “location is the key for psychedelic drugs that could treat mental illness by rapidly rebuilding connections between nerve cells.”
The school said that “researchers at the [university] show that engaging serotonin 2A receptors inside neurons promotes growth of new connections but engaging the same receptor on the surface of nerve cells does not.”
“The findings will help guide efforts to discover new drugs for depression, PTSD and other disorders,” said Olson. “Drugs such as LSD, MDMA and psilocybin show great promise for treating a wide range of mental disorders that are characterized by a loss of neural connections. In laboratory studies, a single dose of these drugs can cause rapid growth of new dendrites — branches — from nerve cells, and formation of new spines on those dendrites.”
The study from the researchers at The Ohio State University “is the first to characterize subtypes of the subjective psychedelic experience and link them to mental health outcomes,” according to Neuroscience News.
A desire that partly led to trying DMT for the first time. The other reason was that I was chronically depressed. Outer space seemed like a great place to explore since it was outside of the space I currently occupied. Unbound from the earth I would fly through neon trailing shapes and patterns. Exploring new mechanisms for existence. A fragmented man’s search for the meaning behind all of the darker things in and around. What is the purpose for all this poison?
The first time I participated in a group ceremony I was asked to set an intention and then during the journey I was asked to remember who I was. I found that to be a curious question. How would I remember something like that? A better question would have been, who do you want to become? Also, the plastic shaman in the designer Nike SBs had hijacked my chosen intention. Who does he want me to remember? That is what I thought while in a liquid psychic state. There was a power and influence that this guy radiated that exceeded his material gains. I continued further down the ceremony road, perhaps this confident designer shaman unlocked some greater meaning to existence by flooding his system with remerging ancient spirit medicines. Widely used by an apex species that existed in a grand and forgotten epoch.
He did not.
He did however think he did. He might have struck an agreement with a dimensional entity that had hitched a ride or he may have just flipped so many switches that a latent gene for madness hit 2nd gear. No longer was this Nike SB-wearing former-coke-dealer a human, he had become some elder nihilist god. I remember he tried playing the video game Skyrim. He would throw the controller screaming how the universe that he was from didn’t have so many bugs. Strange things happened all around this odd ceremony group. Which was even more curious. The depression didn’t go away from the ceremonies. It transformed into something, a presence, or a disassociated body. It channeled itself into interpreted stories. Lost and sad souls weaving absurd stories and when some obstacle would present in the real world, an edit would accommodate. A new myth would emerge, a construct of avoidance. Every obstacle became fictional props for a stage.
Social media is a substance without a body.
It’s source of power drawn from our critical chemical responses that evolved in an untamed world. We reached this moment because we evolved with each other, a communal composition.
A kaleidoscope of feeling, sensation and response.
If written language is the first man authored matrix then maybe the internet is the last. Bodiless connecting with imaginary tribes is burning out the pathways for bonding.
With endless myths, spectacle and reactions, a million constructs deploy for every obstacle we’d like to avoid. The resiliency of family and tribe is unknown. Forgotten like the power inside of plants and fungi that remind us of who we are when we are together.
Not who we were.
Wings of silicon covered in tar and our feet skimming solid ground. Tech lord shamans in Nike SBs who low key read Twilight and thought they were gods. I wonder if the pharaohs that drank fermented belladonna dreamed of vampires too.
Until about a year and a half ago, I always said that I didn’t like “loud” music. I didn’t mind if the volume was turned up, but too much noise made me uneasy; I preferred lullaby baby music at all times of the day, or songs about fuckin’ bitches and getting money because who doesn’t like being brainwashed? And then I heard Soul Glo.
I’m not entirely sure what it was about them that made me change my mind—perhaps the fact that they’re Black, but then again, the drummer TJ is white, so that couldn’t be it. Maybe it was because they allow the listener enough time to breathe before another auditory flogging. (I’m listening to Diaspora Problems now, and no, that can’t be it either; the entire album scares me.) More likely, it’s just because they’re really talented, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to chat with them.
Before we get to the good stuff, let me introduce the band: There’s TJ, whom you already met. GG, the guitarist, and Pierce on vocals.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
High Times: How’d you guys meet?
TJ: I met GG a while ago. I met GG, like, over a decade ago.
GG: I met TJ at a show in New York City at 538 Johnson. And I met Pierce through band stuff. Pierce actually booked my old band’s old show in Philadelphia.
Pierce: People had been coming in, coming out. And essentially, both TJ’s time and GG’s time just came to be in the band. I’ve been in this band from the beginning, but everybody else has joined.
HT: So how does a song start for you guys? What’s that look like, going into the studio?
Pierce: It really depends. Somebody usually comes with an idea. The idea might be a full song already ready to go. Or it might just require a few little flavorings from each of us. Or one of us will only have a couple riffs, and then we kinda just play things, play the ideas over and over, talk about how we want them to sound. Or, sometimes for the digital shit, GG’ll just be making beats and sometimes I’m there and I have ideas that GG will then translate into songs.
HT: Do you go in with a theme?
GG: Musically, nah. I don’t think so.
TJ: Kinda just happens a lot of the time.
Pierce: There was times where we’d ask each other, What do we want this next shit to sound like? One album I was like, I want this shit to sound like pain. And I feel like it did.
HT: I feel like there’s some comedy to the music videos. How do you feel that plays into the music itself?
TJ: I was just the subject of the music video. The music video was really a Pierce idea. I mean it is all sort of playing up minor themes in the existence of this band. Was my experience of joining the band as the drummer literally being flagellated on a rope? No. But it was painful. I got a call and it was like, do you want to play this fest with us in a week, and I was like sure. And then we practiced the set every day for a week, and I was like, I feel like I could sort of play this. And then I just had to do it. It beat me into shape, in a sense.
Photo by Christopher Postlewaite
HT: What role does cannabis play in your music?
GG: Jesus Christ.
(Laughter)
TJ: WellI mean, you heard the beginning of the album, right? I’ve been smoking weed every day for, like, over a decade so it has a role to play in virtually everything I do.
Pierce: The way other people drink coffee, I think, is how I smoke weed. The way other people smoke cigarettes is how I smoke weed. It really has helped me manage my anxiety and depression in a way that I needed for many years before I really discovered it. Smoking weed as a teen for the first time, I just didn’t know I could feel, like, good. I didn’t know I could not have a constant monologue that’s totally driven by anxiety. And that’s just really underrated for somebody like me. Obviously, I want to be a more well-rounded person, so I have to find other things in life that do that for me as well; and also weed helped me to realize that. They’re all, as GZA said, planets revolving around the same sun. The music, weed, and everything else that I love are the things that keep me tethered to this mortal coil.
GG: I was smoking weed as a baby.
HT: As a baby?!
GG: To join this band, one of the requirements, well not a requirement, but I was asked before I joined this band: Do you smoke weed? And I said, every day. Now I don’t do that every day anymore, because of a certain situation that I was a part of, but I did smoke weed last night and that shit was crazy.
HT: Do you smoke together, like in the studio?
Pierce: We used to a lot, like a lot a lot.
HT: What caused the change?
GG: For me, I got arrested. So it just fucked me up a little bit and I can’t do it all the time, because I get super anxious now.
HT: How do you feel about mass incarceration in relation to cannabis?
GG: It’s bullshit, off top.
TJ: Especially when you have places that are rolling out legalization. That’s ridiculous. How can you get locked up for some shit that’s not even illegal anymore?
Pierce: It’s like the emancipation proclamation came out and niggas was still slaves because no one told them. It’s like niggas will really just steal your life away, and not tell you.
Photo by Alyssa Rorke
HT: Why do you make music?
Pierce: I don’t really feel like I’m that good at too much other shit, for real. So when this stuck for me as a kid, it stuck. I mean, the easy answer is because I can’t skate.
GG: My dad is a percussionist and he gave me some drums because he thought it was a good idea and ha ha. He probably kicked himself in the ass several times for doing that because of how I developed as an individual. It’s just something that I stuck with. Somebody left a guitar at my crib and I just picked it up, and I taught myself how to play it as a bass, then I was like, Yo bro, there’s two more strings on it. Then I started teaching myself guitar shortly afterward. I don’t know, I just felt like I should keep doing it because it made me feel good as I progressed with the instrument. And over time I just kept meeting cooler and cooler people, which made me feel a sense of belonging.
TJ: My dad got me into punk. It’s just something I’ve always been interested in and it’s something people have been encouraging me to do.
HT: Hmm. Do you come from a wealthy family? Punk music seems like something only wealthy parents would introduce to their kids. I don’t know why I feel like that.
TJ: Not broke, but not wealthy particularly. I think it’s just because my dad’s young, comparatively, to other people my age. [He’s] still in [his] mid-50s now and I’m going to be 30 next month. He was just into cool shit and it helped me. He just had this giant pile of CDs. It was either that or go to the library. I would just take shit from the library and burn it. My mom worked at a library.
Pierce: I was also burning a lot of CDs, for sure. I was just talking last night to somebody about how I listened to Metallica for the first time on a burned CD that they made for me. It was Metallica’s Ride the Lightning on one side, then Arch Enemy’s Doomsday [Machine] on the other side. I was already listening to a lot of rock music during that time… I was in middle school, so I was probably like 12, 13. My dad was really into music also, but he was into jazz fusion mostly, and a lot of weird pop. He doesn’t really listen to metal or anything at all; that was more so my own personality. But I feel like he definitely got me on the path of listening to very, very energetic and busy music. He worked for the Census Bureau; my mom was in the military, so we were, like, middle class. We could go on vacation, not every year. And it was always through timeshares.
HT: How would you say class influences music and the bands that come out? Do you think if they come from wealthy parents, they have a better shot at success?
Pierce: Yeah, I think it can definitely make a difference. Like, my parents paid for me to have lessons for a good seven years. And that honestly led to me having a mentor who changed my life and the way I look at music and everything. And GG very decidedly did not have that experience. So I feel like it doesn’t matter, but it also can just help when it’s there.
GG: I feel like it’s dependent on your interests. The resources can definitely help, but if you fuck with what you’re doing, then you’re gonna do it well.
HT: How do you feel about the categorization of Black art? Like Afropunk, for example. Or going to a bookstore and seeing the African American section.
Pierce: Well,Afropunk is a damn-near meaningless term. I feel like the conversation that we would need to have about Afropunk, and just that term, and the festival around it, is longer than ten minutes will allow. [That term] doesn’t really represent anything that it originally was meant to. I don’t know, that’s just what I have to say.
Photo by Christopher Postlewaite
HT: Afterlife. Does it exist?
TJ: I feel like when you die, you’re done. I think this is all we got.
Pierce: I feel like the afterlife could exist, like energy is never destroyed, it’s only transferred type-beat. Heaven to me is kind of a selfish idea. We’re already given the chance of heaven here, and we’re fucking it up. But I do think hell is real.
TJ: Damn.
(Uncomfortable laughter)
Pierce: I think reincarnation is real. It could be real. You go back into the soil, come out a whole new nigga.
HT: If I like you guys, who else should I listen to?
Pierce: That shit will change your life. Spellling. Meshuggah. Cloud Rat. El Alfa. Tokischa. Tupac. Dance With the Devil by Immortal Technique. I was by myself in the middle of the night when I heard that song for the first time. I heard that shit and I just looked at the computer screen and stared in silence after that shit played. Like what the fuck did I just hear?!
HT: What do you think the future of music looks like?
TJ: They’re just gonna start running software to generate jingles and shit. It’s gonna be an AI world.
GG: We’re gonna be able to Airdrop with our minds.
Pierce: I think everything will be… Like, genres will become much more merged together, and I think Black music will simply be a single genre that artists just do different traditions simultaneously within the same song.
HT: Will white people be able to make Black music?
Regulators in Australia this week announced that qualified psychiatrists will be able to prescribe “medicines containing the psychedelic substances psilocybin and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) … for the treatment of certain mental health conditions” later this year.
Under newly permitted uses, those substances “will be listed as Schedule 8 (Controlled Drugs) medicines in the Poisons Standard,” but they will “remain in Schedule 9 (Prohibited Substances) which largely restricts their supply to clinical trials” for all other uses.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian regulatory arm overseeing medicine and therapy in the country, said on Friday that the reclassification of the substances will take effect on July 1.
“Prescribing will be limited to psychiatrists, given their specialised qualifications and expertise to diagnose and treat patients with serious mental health conditions, with therapies that are not yet well established. To prescribe, psychiatrists will need to be approved under the Authorised Prescriber Scheme by the TGA following approval by a human research ethics committee. The Authorised Prescriber Scheme allows prescribing permissions to be granted under strict controls that ensure the safety of patients,” the announcement said.
The administration said that it will “permit the prescribing of MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression,” which it regards as “the only conditions where there is currently sufficient evidence for potential benefits in certain patients.”
“The decision acknowledges the current lack of options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental illnesses. It means that psilocybin and MDMA can be used therapeutically in a controlled medical setting. However, patients may be vulnerable during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, requiring controls to protect these patients,” the administration said in the announcement on Friday.
“The decision follows applications made to the TGA to reclassify the substances in the Poisons Standard, extensive public consultation, a report from an expert panel, and advice received from the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling,” the regulatory agency continued. “There are currently no approved products containing psilocybin or MDMA that the TGA has evaluated for quality, safety and efficacy. However, this amendment will allow authorised psychiatrists to access and legally supply a specified ’unapproved’ medicine containing these substances to patients under their care for these specific uses.”
The administration said that the changes in classification for the substances “were made by a senior medical officer at the TGA who has been delegated by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care to exercise their authority to make decisions about the scheduling of medicines in the Poisons Standard.”
“The decision maker recognised there is a need for access to new therapies for treatment-resistant conditions such as treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychotherapy involving psilocybin and MDMA has shown to be potentially beneficial in the treatment of these conditions,” the administration explained. “However, as with all medicines, there are risks with psilocybin and MDMA. Although these substances are themselves relatively safe when administered in the doses used in conjunction with psychotherapy and in a medically controlled environment, patients are in an altered state of consciousness when undergoing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. It was decided that by limiting prescribing to authorised psychiatrists and for TRD or PTSD the benefits for patients and public health will be greater than the risks.”
The Australia Parliamentary Budget Office released a report detailing a pair of potential cannabis legalization plans and laying the groundwork for a regulated retail marijuana market.
The University of California, Davis announced this week that it is launching a new institute that aims to “advance basic knowledge about the mechanisms of psychedelics and translate it into safe and effective treatments for diseases such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.”
Called “the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics,” it will “bring together scientists across a range of disciplines and partner with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that key discoveries lead to new medicines for patients,” the university said in the announcement, adding that the institute “was specifically designed to facilitate collaborations across campus.”
The institute “will be funded in part by a contribution of approximately $5 million from the deans of the College of Letters and Science and the School of Medicine, the vice chancellor for Research, and the Office of the Provost,” the school said, noting that the funding distinguishes it from other centers involved in the same field of study.
“While other psychedelic science centers have been formed across the country with gifts from philanthropists, the UC Davis institute is notable for also being supported by substantial university funds,” the university said.
The university said that another “unique feature of the UC Davis institute will be its focus on chemistry and the development of novel neurotherapeutics.”
David E. Olson, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis, has been tapped to serve as the founding director of the new institute.
“Psychedelics have a lot of therapeutic potential, but we can do better,” said Olson, whose group published a paper three years ago “describing the first nonhallucinogenic analogue of a psychedelic compound capable of promoting neuroplasticity and producing antidepressant and anti-addictive effects in preclinical models,” according to the university.
In Olson’s view, the university said, “novel molecules tailored to specific disease indications could offer substantial benefits and open doors to partnerships with industry by solving many issues currently faced by traditional psychedelics related to safety, scalability and intellectual property.”
“Psychedelics have a unique ability to produce long-lasting changes in the brain that are relevant to treating numerous conditions,” said Olson. “If we can harness those beneficial properties while engineering molecules that are safer and more scalable, we can help a lot of people.”
John A. Gray, an associate professor in the Department of Neurology, will serve as associate director. Olson and Gray authored a study in 2018 “demonstrating that psychedelics promote neuroplasticity — the growth of new neurons and formation of neural connections,” the university said in the announcement this week.
“Neuronal atrophy is a key factor underlying many diseases, and the ability of psychedelics to promote the growth of neurons and new connections in the brain could have broad therapeutic implications,” Gray said.
The university stated that the institute “will leverage the extraordinary breadth of expertise in the neuroscience community at UC Davis, which includes nearly 300 faculty members in centers, institutes and departments across the Davis and Sacramento campuses,” and that researchers “will be able to work on every aspect of psychedelic science, from molecules and cells through to human clinical trials.”
“Combining the considerable expertise of UC Davis’ pioneering basic research teams, world-class neuroscientists and our nationally recognized medical center is a formula for success that we trust will result in groundbreaking discoveries that will help patients regionally and worldwide,” Susan Murin, dean of the School of Medicine, said in the announcement this week.
