Category Archives: Psychedelics

Career brain researchers launch innovative drug development company to advance psychedelic therapies

INTRODUCING TESSELLATE

LAS VEGAS, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Meet Dr. Rochelle and Dr. Dustin Hines, the husband and wife team trailblazing the future of mental health therapeutics from their lab located at The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Both armed with PhD's (University of British Columbia) and extensive post- doctoral training (Tufts University School of Medicine) in neuroscience, Dustin and Rochelle have worked at the interface of academia and industry over their combined 40 plus year careers.

Dustin and Rochelle operate 'The Hines Group Laboratory' at UNLV, a state of the art, fully staffed, pre-clinical research facility, and one of the most advanced and accredited psychedelic research facilities in the world. Rochelle holds a license from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, allowing for the handling of controlled substances for accredited research purposes. With the broad goal of advancing novel therapeutics, Dustin and Rochelle have worked on several industry sponsored research projects, and recently launched 'Tessellate', a next wave pharmaceutical company, to further the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for an array of mental health conditions. Tessellate is working to advance the clinical applicability of psychedelics through rigorous, evidence-based discovery, with the goal of improving the efficacy and personalization of psychedelic therapies, while also mitigating the possible risks stemming from these therapeutics.

6 LIBRARIES IN DEVOLOPMENT INCLUDING 4 SETS OF MODULATORS

Tessellate has developed and rigorously tested multiple lead synthetic psychedelic molecules in the novel chemical space of substituted phenethylamines (PEA). Tessellate's PEA libraries consist of a total of 30 candidates in pre-clinical development for the treatment of major depressive disorder and PTSD. Dustin Hines commented that 'PEA psychedelics, which bear structural similarity to mescaline, are less explored in the psychedelic space and offer several possible advantages including increased specificity for the common target of psychedelics, known as the 5HT2A receptor.'

MODULATION A KEY TO EFFICACY

Tessellate's most valuable I.P. may involve it's unprecedented discoveries and insights into understanding the psychedelic experience, known as the "trip". Based on a deep understanding of the architecture of brain activity that underlies the trip, Tessellate has developed a sequence of four distinct classes of trip modulators, which can be taken during psychedelic administration, as well as before and after a therapeutic session, to 'modulate' both the patient experience as well as the therapeutic outcome. Paul Rosen, President of Tessellate, commented 'we perceive this as game changing technology and essential for the development of the entire psychedelic industry. Modulators address several concerns and anxieties that eligible patients may have regarding these disruptive therapeutic modalities. With one modulator a patient can access an offramp during a trip should they wish to stop. With another modulator a patient can remove the need to stop their current SSRI therapy before initiating psychedelic treatment. With a modulator taken pre trip the patient may enhance the efficacy of their trip, and with a modulator taken post trip the patient may solidify the psychoplastogen effects that psychedelics cause in the days following a trip, which Tessellates research has corroborated are when the long- term therapeutic benefits of psychedelics are most likely to occur'.

Tessellate is currently preparing to initiate Phase One clinical trials on its two current lead candidates, the novel PEA Tsl8 108 and the modulator Tsl8 303, while also continuing to advance preclinical validation of both its novel modulator libraries and additional PEA leads.

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Tessellate Therapeutics[emailprotected]416-728-1295

SOURCE Tessellate

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Meet the Married Couple Trailblazing the Development of Psychedelic Therapies - PR Newswire

A few years ago, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz of Berkeley was a novice to psychedelic substances. But after a life-changing experience as a subject in a Johns Hopkins study of psychedelic experiences in clergy, hes now a leading voice in a growing movement to normalize the use of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms) in the practice of Jewish spirituality.

In 2019, he told J., Someday, I see a space, maybe in the East Bay, where people can have safe and supported psychedelic experiences individually, and then integrate those experiences in a community that is invested in the application of mystical experiences with other people. This is total science fiction because it doesnt exist.

It does now. Or at least, it will for a few days later this month. Kamenetz is seeking applicants to participate in a trial run of what such a space would look like the first Jewish psychedelic cannabis Shabbaton, to take place July 22-24 at Urban Adamah, the Jewish farm in Berkeley.

The Shabbaton is a program of Shefa, the organization Kamenetz founded in the early days of the pandemic to advocate for the use of psychedelics to heal personal and intergenerational trauma in the Jewish people.

Cannabis isnt usually thought of in the same category of psychedelics as LSD or psilocybin, but it does have the benefit of being legal in California.

There are questions of what is a psychedelic, Kamenetz told J. In this instance its a shorthand for not only the substance but the setting.

In psychedelic parlance, the setting refers to the physical and social environment in which an experience takes place.

The event will begin Friday night with Shabbat candle lighting and a breath work ceremony to ease people in, Kamenetz said. Working with breath can be psychedelic itself, mood and mind altering.

The participants up to 25 of them will then spend the rest of Shabbat together on Saturday. After Shabbat ends on Saturday evening, they will begin a cannabis ceremony that will last five to six hours. Its BYO weed, but Kamenetz and his collaborators who include experienced facilitators from the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness are offering suggestions of strains available from your local dispensary.

Were being thoughtful about this. Its not like just smoking a joint on your couch and watching TV, Kamenetz said. And afterward, on Sunday, people will start talking in groups about what they encountered and experienced. Were hoping that the Jewishness of the setting and the programming will have some impact or shift on peoples desire to make their psychedelic experience or life more Jewishly rich.

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Berkeley's psychedelic rebbe is ready for the first Jewish cannabis retreat - The Jewish News of Northern California

CaaMTech will help carry on Dr. Alexander Shulgin's legacy by developing ASRI's novel compounds

Press Release - Jul 6, 2022 10:00 PDT

LAFAYETTE, Calif., July 6, 2022 (Newswire.com) - CaaMTech, Inc. and theAlexander Shulgin Research Institute, Inc. (ASRI) jointly announced an agreement today to carry out structural and chemical analyses of previously unreported compounds designed and synthesized by the late Dr. Alexander Shulgin.

ASRI is a psychedelics discovery, development, and educational organization dedicated to continuing and extending the work of Dr. Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin.Known as "the Godfather of psychedelics," Dr. Shulgin was a biochemist and pharmacologist known for his documented synthesis - and personal testing - of hundreds of novel psychoactive compounds. Alongside his wife Ann, Dr. Shulgin published "PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story" in 1991 and "TiHKAL: The Continuation" in 1997 (Phenethylamines andTryptamines I Have Known and Loved, respectively) documenting his synthesis and testing of novel psychedelics. Dr. Shulgin's groundbreaking research into novel psychoactive compounds was foundational to psychedelic chemistry and the CaamTech-ASRI research collaboration is a continuation of that legacy.

Several hundred compounds, collectively known as theShulgin Vault, were created by Dr. Shulgin at his famed laboratory in Lafayette, California. Many of these compounds have not yet been characterized and some may have therapeutic value, although their effects remain unknown. As a first step, compounds will be transferred to CaaMTech to be crystallized and analyzed using X-ray crystallography to determine their crystal structures.

"We are excited to discover what surprises Dr. Shulgin has left behind for us," said Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, President and Co-Founder of ASRI. "We anticipate that some of these compounds will eventually be evaluated in humans for possible therapeutic benefits, while others may be useful as tools to deepen our understanding of neuropharmacology, brain function, and consciousness itself."

Dr. Shulgin was able to design, synthesize, and test hundreds of compounds in his lab in Lafayette, California, but he did not have the benefit of modern equipment, such as X-ray diffractometers. Since that time, X-ray crystallography has become the gold standard of chemical characterization. Compounds supplied by ASRI to CaaMTech under the agreement will be transferred to the Manke Lab at UMass Dartmouth where they will be purified to yield single crystals.The compounds will then undergo X-ray powder diffraction analysis to determine their crystal structures so that future research can be conducted with rigorously pure, well-characterized molecules.

"It is an honor for us to carry on Dr. Alexander Shulgin's legacy," said Dr. Andrew Chadeayne, CEO of CaaMTech. "The current state of this industry is possible only because we're standing on the shoulders of giants such as Alexander Shulgin."

About CaaMTechCaaMTech is the foremost drug discovery and lead optimization company focused on engineering psychedelic drugs that meet the standards of modern medicine. CaaMTech is improving the health and happiness of humankind by creating and optimizing psychedelic compounds and formulations through rigorous science and continuous innovation.

About ASRIASRI is a world center for conducting scientific research into the chemistry and pharmacology of psychedelic drugs. Research activities involvede novochemical synthesis, natural product isolation, and basic chemical and pharmacological testing of newly discovered substances.

Media ContactDavis Wuolle, CaaMTechdavis@caam.tech+1.510.747.9001

Source: CaaMTech, Inc.

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CaaMTech Collaborates With the Alexander Shulgin Research Institute to Study Shulgin Compounds - Newswire

Vancouver, B.C., July 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Origin Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (CSE:ORIG) (the Company or Origin Therapeutics), an actively managed, psychedelics industry-focused investment issuer, is pleased to announce that it has added Clairvoyant Therapeutics (Clairvoyant) to its portfolio.

Clairvoyant is a Canadian biotech company developing psychedelic drug therapy with a focus on treatments for addiction and the clinical validation of psilocybin in the E.U., the U.K., and Canada. It is proceeding with a Health Canada-approved Phase 2 clinical trial for the clinical validation of psilocybin for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This randomized, controlled, clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 25mg synthetic psilocybin capsule versus placebo, delivered in conjunction with Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET).

Fifteen clinical trial sites are planned for Clairvoyants Phase 2 clinical trial. The first site in Canada was initiated in June. Regulatory submissions have also been submitted in the E.U. for Clairvoyant to initiate clinical trial sites.

Psychedelic medicine delivered in conjunction with therapy has been demonstrated by compelling clinical research to have potentially profound positive effects on those suffering from substance use disorders, said Alexander Somjen, CEO of Origin Therapeutics. Clairvoyant has a unique speed-to-market strategy for psilocybin therapy and an experienced drug development team. We believe that Clairvoyant makes an excellent addition to our portfolio.

According to the World Health Organization, 283 million1 people aged 15 years and older live with AUD, accounting for 5.1% of the global adult population. Alcohol dependence, the most severe form of AUD, affects 2.6% of the worlds adults, or 144 million people. The economic, healthcare, and social costs associated with alcohol in Canada alone in 2014 were estimated at $14.6B.2 Alcohol use disorder is a serious medical condition for which novel therapies are urgently needed.

We are in the midst of a substance abuse crisis, and psychedelic therapies have the potential to provide patients with a new therapeutic intervention rather than having those patients be limited to options that often do not work or that may have unpleasant side effects, said Damian Kettlewell, CEO of Clairvoyant. We are pleased to be working with the Origin Therapeutics team to drive our vision forward.

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About Clairvoyant Therapeutics

Clairvoyant Therapeutics is a Canadian biotechnology company changing the face of psychedelic therapy with a speed-to-market clinical strategy designed to enable psilocybin therapy in the E.U., the U.K., and Canada to treat patients living with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) beginning in 2026. The companys exceptional team, with a proven clinical track record and deep drug development experience, has made Clairvoyant the most advanced company globally developing psilocybin therapy for the treatment of AUD. Clairvoyant is committed to meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose and is a pending B Corporation Certification. Clairvoyant is a member of Life Science BC and Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).

Learn more at http://www.clairvoyantrx.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Origin Therapeutics

Origin Therapeutics Holdings Inc (CSE:ORIG) (the Company or Origin Therapeutics) is an actively managed investment issuer focused on making equity investments in psychedelics industry-related companies to provide investors with diverse exposure to the sector. The Company, led by a team of industry experts, leverages its management expertise, professional network, and due diligence process to identify and invest in leading and emerging companies focused on the emerging psychedelics sector.

Learn more at http://www.originpsychedelics.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

For Further Information:

Alexander SomjenChief Executive Officer and DirectorOrigin Therapeutics Holdings Inc

http://www.originpsychedelics.cominfo@originpsychedelics.com

For media inquiries, please contact: Brittany@Exvera.com

Cautionary Note

All information contained in this news release with respect to Clairvoyant was supplied by Clairvoyant for inclusion herein, and Origin Therapeutics directors and officers have relied on Clairvoyant for such information.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the closing of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, the filing of the Prospectus and the obtaining of receipts for the Prospectus. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Companys plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) risks inherent in the Companys business in general; (iii) that the proceeds of the Offering may need to be used for purposes other than as set out in this news release and other factors beyond the control of the Company. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward- looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

1 World Health Organization. Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030 to strengthen implementation of the Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. First Draft. June 2021 2 BC Centre for Substance Abuse. Provincial Guideline for the Clinical Management of High-Risk Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder December 2019

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Origin Therapeutics adds Clairvoyant Therapeutics to its Portfolio - GlobeNewswire

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy & Medicine - Psychedelics.com

We are hard at work developing a new brand suitable to deliver the best content from psychedelics experts around the world.

We believe in a future in which humanity has found ethical, sustainable and safe ways to tap into the potential for healing and growth that psychedelic medicine offers.

Our mission is to be a consumer-friendly access point to psychedelics. If youre an industry professional, researcher, content creator, investor or have an interest in what were doing, wed love to talk.

We're seeking experts in the study of DMT, Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Phenethylamines, Psilocybin, as well as mental and behavioral health conditions with evidenced or potential treatment efficacy through psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Additional calls will also be forwarded and returned by a quality treatment center within the USA.

Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) for your visit will be answered by a licensed drug and alcohol rehab facility, a paid advertiser on Psychedelics.com.

All calls are private and confidential.

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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy & Medicine - Psychedelics.com

When Simone Surgeoner returned to Melbourne after living in the United States for six years, she felt like her life had fallen apart.

I was in a really, really dark place and I just couldnt get myself out of it, the 49-year-old therapist said.

It felt like all the colours had been washed out of life I just had no motivation.

Ms Surgeoner had never taken any illicit drugs, but she was curious about whether taking tiny doses of psilocybin mushrooms otherwise known asmagic mushrooms could help her clear the fog.

So, she started taking 120 milligrams roughly 10 per cent of a standard recreational dose of the hallucinogena couple of times a week, an approach known as microdosing.

The dose was too small to trigger kaleidoscopic visuals or profound visions, but it was just enough to feel like the sun was shining again, Ms Surgeoner said.

It gave me back days where I just went, Oh, this is what it feels like to be happy and normal again,' she said.

"It gave me the strength to get through those dark periods."

Ms Surgeoner is among a growing number of people who aremicrodosing psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and LSD, to easeanxiety and depression, improvewellbeing, and boostcreativity and focus.

While no-one knows how many people microdose in Australia or overseas, online discussion groups suggestthe trend is picking up.

One Reddit microdosing community has grown to over 200,000 members since launching in 2013, and aFacebook group called "Psilocybin Microdosing 101" has gathered 14,000 members in two years.

Once the drugs of choice among hippies, music festival-goers and Silicon Valley workers, psychedelics have alsocaught the eye of researchers in recent years as potential treatments for mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

In March last year, the federal government committed$15 million to supportclinical research that will investigate whether psychedelics can treat debilitating conditions likepost-traumatic stress disorder, depression, addiction, and eating disorders.

"Psychedelics have gone through this very interesting transition in the last few years from being something that is fairly taboo to something that people seem genuinely interested in, said Vince Polito, a cognitive psychologist at Macquarie University.

Despite this wave of interest, psychedelicsremain prohibited (Schedule 9)substancesin Australia. Last year, the Therapeutic GoodsAdministration (TGA) rejected a call to downscale psilocybin (and MDMA, or ecstasy)to controlled substances.

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While taking anLSD tab or taking a couple of grams of magic mushrooms triggers intense hallucinations and shifts in consciousness, taking a microdosetypically10 to 20 per cent of a standard or recreational dose often has a much subtler effect.

Jay (not their real name), a 25-year-old disability worker, said that for him, microdosing LSD is more likea "personal enhancer" than a full-blowntrip.

He said taking small doses of the drug hadhelped him overcome his social anxiety and become more confident.

"[Microdosing]helpsme connect with people on a social level, on an emotional level," said Jay, who is based in Sydney.

"Whereas [a full recreational dose] almost muddles up my internals a little bit I won't be able to talk, I won't be able to string my sentences together properly."

A handful of recent studies reveal people are drawn to microdosing for a variety of reasons.

A 2019 survey of more than 1.000 people found that the most common reasons totry microdosing are to enhance performance andimprove mood.

Another survey of over 400 microdosersrevealed that more than half took minuscule doses of psychedelics to help them cope with depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

The same study found that others microdose to find relief from physical ailments, including migraines, chronic pain, and cluster headaches.

Some people may turn to microdosing because they don't trust conventional treatmentslike antidepressant medications,or feel that they aren't effective, said Stephen Bright, a psychologist at Edith Cowan University.

"There is some bad public sentiment towards 'big pharma' and antidepressant drugs," Dr Bright said.

"People may have already tried an antidepressant drug and found that it wasn't particularly effective."

Another drawcard of microdosing is that it could be seen as more socially acceptable than taking a full-blown psychedelic trip, Dr Bright said.

"It almost feels like it's a way of trying to makepsychedelics fit within our current society."

Early results from trials on the therapeutic potential of large doses (macrodosing) of psychedelics have been promising.

So what about microdosing?Can tiny doses ofpsychedelics really lift depression, reduce anxiety and make you more creative and productive? The evidence we have so far is a mixed bag.

In May this year, Dr Polito co-authored a review of every single microdosing study that had been published between 1955 and 2021.

Dr Polito assessed the effects reported in the studies across various categories, from mood and mental health to creativityand cognition.

Several studies in the review suggested that microdosing psychedelics could indeed spark up your mood and reduce anxiety.

Another2019study on over 1,000 microdosers found that participants reported better moods, increased energy, and improved work performance.

And a 2021 studyonover 8,000participantsrevealed that among those with mental health concerns, microdosers said they experienced lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than their non-microdosing counterparts.

But while the results seem glowing on the surface, it's important to take them with a grain of salt, Dr Polito said.

"Most of the studies that have looked at mood and mental health show that people who microdose do report benefits and sometimes quite striking benefits," Dr Polito said.

"However, the majority of that research does come from self-report studies."

Unlike lab studies which are carried out in a controlled setting and often compare a drug's effects with a placebo self-report studies involve asking participants about their experiences through questionnaires, surveys or polls.

A benefit of this approachis that itoffers a cheap, straightforward way to collect data from a lot of people, particularly for research onillegal substances, whichare difficult to access due to regulatoryhurdles.

But these kinds of studiescome with their limitations, Dr Polito said.

"Typically, people that would be attracted to a study like that are people who are fans of microdosing so there's certainly a selection bias."

Dr Polito said another problem with self-report studies is there's no way of knowing for sure what, or how much, people are taking.

"[Self-report] studies rely on people's honesty in reporting what they've taken, how much they've taken. Even if someone is being very honest, they may not always know," Dr Polito said.

"Two people might say that they're taking half a gram of psilocybin mushrooms, but the actual psilocybin content of those mushrooms might be very, very different."

The controlled lab studies in Dr Polito's review of existing researchpainted a less promising picture.

Three studies found no noticeable changes in depression symptoms on the day participants took their dose, while fourfound that microdosing seemed to increase anxiety and stress levels.

"There is a fairly consistent minority of people who say that it doesn't make their mood improve it actually makes them more scatterbrained and emotional."

Other studies have shown there could be other forces at play.A 2021 placebo-controlled study onnearly 200 participants the largest study of its kind on psychedelics found participants did indeed noticea mental and emotional boost after takingmicrodoses of LSD for four weeks.

But those who received a placebo also noticed an improvement in their mental health, suggestingthat even the thought of taking a small dose of LSDwasas good as the real thing, a phenomenon known as the placebo effect.

"If people believe that it's going to reduce their anxiety, improve their depression, assist them in being more task-orientated and concentrate, they're likely to get that effect regardless of whether the drug gives them that effect," Dr Bright said.

"The placebo effect is extremely powerful."

So, does that hose down microdosing for good? Not necessarily, Dr Polito said.

He pointed out that it's important to remember that most lab studies have so far only assessed microdosing over a few weeks, whereas real-life microdosers often take psychedelics formonths.

"It may not be surprising that changes weren't found in those lab studies," Dr Polito said.

"If you gave someone three to six doses of a traditional antidepressant, you also wouldn't see much difference.

"It's only after someone has been taking those medications for six or 12 weeks that you see a difference."

Dr Bright agreesit's too early to tell if microdosing works or not, as most controlled studies have only been conducted on a small number of people.

"Before we can talk about whether [microdosing] is effective or not, there needs to be large clinical trials similar to those that we've already seen in the macrodosing space," Dr Bright said.

"Following on from that, if it does work we need to understand why it works."

Large, long-term studies would also reveal whether microdosing is safe enough to become the new therapeutic kid on the block.

Although microdosers may be less likely to have a bad trip, even a small dose of a hallucinogenic substance still has the potential to trigger psychotic episodes or other mental health issues, particularly for people with a history of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Anotherconcern is that takingpsychedelicsregularly over long periods could lead to heart issues.

A handful of studies have shown that psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD and MDMA, activate a receptor called5-HT2B, which plays a role in heart structure and function.

The activation of this receptor over long periods has been linked to valvular heart disease in high-dose MDMA users, but we don't knowwhether microdosing carries the same risk, Dr Polito said.

"That is a question that hasn't been answered yet.We really would need to do very long-term studies."

Dr Polito and his team arecurrently conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled studythat will explore how microdosing psilocybin impacts the brain.

The researchers are aiming to recruit about 80 people to take part in two double-blind placebo-controlled lab sessions that will investigate whether reported effects, such as performance enhancement and improved mental health, can be confirmed in brain scans and blood biomarkers.

"We're really trying to get at this question of whether there is really a pharmacological effect, or whether this is mainly based on placebo expectations," Dr Polito said.

"If we find differences in neural activity between those two visits, that will be pretty good evidence that there are some physiological changes and that it's not just people's expectations."

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Can microdosing psychedelics improve your mental health? Here's what the science says - ABC News

Participants in The Mind Army's first Vision Treks psychedelic retreat hike the Eureka Sand Dunes in ... [+] Death Valley National Park.

Psychedelics are represented in the media, on the stock market, and in academic journals, but theres a tie-dye elephant in the room: theyre still illegal. An organization that believes every human should have the right to use psychedelics wants to change that.

The Mind Army is a non-profit organization working to move the needle on the legalization of psychedelics with lobbying, social pressure, and celebrity influence. With the mission of fighting for the right to pursue happiness, it is currently petitioning the Drug Enforcement Agency to deschedule ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid that has been shown to help interrupt addiction. The Mind Army believes it has been incorrectly scheduled because the plant-derived psychedelic has been proven to be non-addictive.

The organization is supported by a team of legal advisors with considerable experience in drug reform. It is taking a unique approach to rallying support for its cause: founders Zappy Zapolin, Kaia Roman, and Atom Smith are inviting influential people on curated vision trek retreats into nature.

Organized by Vision Treks, The Mind Armys three-night retreats combine the power of psychedelics with the power of nature, giving participants the opportunity to go within while spending time in some of the most stunning landscapes in the United States. The goal is to leave participants feeling more energized, focused, and aligned once they head back to realityand excited about the potential that psychedelics offer, not just for mental health, but for overall life improvement.

The group explores the Eureka Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in the United States.

We want to show that its important for people from all walks of life to spend time in nature and engage with psychedelics for the purpose of healing, even if all they can fit into their schedule is a short trip, said Zapolin about the curated trips. And in turn, the people who come on our retreats will have first-hand experience as to why these medicines should be accessible for everyone.

Attendees have the option to partake in the use of legal psychedelics and plant medicines including rap (pronounced ha-peh; a powdered shamanic snuff containing tobacco), cannabis, and oral ketamine, which is offered in a group setting after obtaining a prescription from a doctor.

This past spring with support from sponsors and the Vision Treks team, the organization took a film crew and nearly a dozen people including scientists, CEOs, founders, artists, professional athletes, and writersthis one includedfrom across North America on an inaugural three-night retreat to Californias Death Valley. Most had never met each other before.

While hiking the areas otherworldly desert landscape, connections were fostered among the unlikely group, which included engineer and creative scientist Dr. Kate Stone, PRSVR founder Margaret Williamson, Superbowl champion Taurean Nixon, HAVN chief psychedelic officer Dr. Ivan Casselman, KPure Naturals founder Karen Hoekstra, author and journalist Nicolle Hodges, The Mind Armys lead attorney Courtney Barnes, Beond founder Talia Eisenberg, martial artist Eric Ng, and creative producer Neely Shearer.

Participants slept in a large canvas teepee at the base of the Eureka Dunes.

I loved the conversations that I had. It was truly an amazing feeling to cut through the B.S. and pleasantries and have meaningful conversations with so many individuals, said Williamson, who admitted she felt a little nervous when the trip began, but headed home feeling peaceful, assured, and happy.

The group met in Los Angeles before heading to Death Valley National Park, spending two nights camping at the base of the Eureka Dunes. During several hikes, including a chilly sunrise hike to the tallest dune and an hours-long, seemingly endless trudge that circled the entirety of the dunes, participants alternated between solitary moments and sharing insights (and laughs) with others in the group.

Sitting at the bottom of that sand valley, I came to the understanding that I would have to get up and climb my way up and out, and that no matter how long I stayed in place, I would never be able to see what was on the other side of that dune unless I was willing to put in the work, said Williamson of her experience in the dunes.

A Vision Treks participant makes their way to the top of an enormous sand dune.

Backdropped by the Last Chance Mountains, the views were magnificent without the use of any mind-altering substances.

Everything rippled with life. Everything sang a song I could hear in the silence, said Hodges about her time in the desert. The dunes became naked bodies entangled and breathing as one.

The third and final night of the retreat was spent in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the group finished the trip off with a guided ketamine meditation.

On this trip I not only found myself, freed my inner kid, released past traumas, found renewed confidence, and sparked clarity on new life, said former Denver Bronco Nixon after the trip. I also connected with my soul tribe.

Superbowl champion Taurean 'T-Nix' Nixon takes in the views of the Alabama Hills and the Sierra ... [+] Nevada mountains.

While the inaugural Vision Treks retreat took place in California and brought a group of strangers together, future trips are being planned in other states, including Oregon, where psilocybin could potentially be offered as part of the experience, and for existing groups including corporate teams and other non-profit organizations.

Vision Treks is all about getting The Mind Armys message and mission out there, said Zapolin of the initiative. We want to show as many people as possible that they have the right to go inside their own mind for answers and healing.

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Inside Vision Treks: The Mind Armys Psychedelic Retreat Takes Strangers Into The Desert - Forbes

A GOP congressman wants to explore the therapeutic potential of psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA as alternatives to opioids for military service members, filing an amendment on Thursday that would promote research into the substances through an annual defense bill.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who has been vocal about his support for marijuana legalization and interest in psychedelics reform, is seeking to attach the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It would build upon another cannabis-focused amendment that was already approved by the House Armed Services Committee last week.

The existing provision from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) calls for a Department of Defense (DOD)-led study into the efficacy of cannabis as an opioid alternative. Gaetz is requesting to broaden that language to also cover psilocybin and MDMA.

The new amendment would expand the study by including MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and psilocybin mushrooms in the study on alternatives to prescription opioids in the treatment of members of the Armed Forces on terminal leave preceding separation, retirement, or release from active duty, according to a summary posted by the House Rules Committee.

The original cannabis amendment thats already attached to NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023 also specifies who would be eligible to participate in the marijuana study. It would be limited to service members with post-traumatic stress disorder, a traumatic brain injury or any other condition involving severe pain.

Gaetzs proposal must be made in order in the Rules Committee before potentially receiving House floor consideration. That panel will decide which submitted amendments can be cleared at an upcoming meeting that has not yet been scheduled.

In 2019, Gaetz also cosponsored an appropriations amendment led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) that sought to remove an existing rider that advocates say inhibits research into the therapeutic potential of Schedule I drugs, including psychedelics and marijuana. The amendment was defeated on the floor on two occasions, and the longstanding prohibitive language is once again included in the relevant funding bill this yearthough it remains to be seen if reform-minded lawmakers will file another amendment to remove it this time.

The Armed Services Committee, meanwhile, also recently approved a separate amendment to NDAA from Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD). The measure concerns cannabis sentencing standards under military code, mandating that the Military Justice Review Panel develop recommendations specifying appropriate sentencing ranges for offenses involving the use and possession of marijuana.

Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) also proposed an amendment to the defense bill on Thursday that would protect financial institutions that work with state-legal cannabis businesses from being penalized by federal regulators. Its the congressmans latest attempt to get the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act enacted this year, following a recent agreement by leadership to exclude it from separate manufacturing legislation.

Perlmutter attempted to get the cannabis banking language attached to the last version of NDAA, but it was not ultimately included in the final package.

With respect to psychedelics policy, the House Appropriations Committee recently released a report for a 2023 Fiscal Year spending bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CSJ) that calls for a federal review of psilocybin policy. Specifically, it asks for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis on barriers to state, local and tribal programs for the psychedelic under federal prohibition.

Relatedly, officials at two agencies within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have acknowledged in a letter to two U.S. senators that federal prohibition makes it harder to study the benefits of psychedelics, requiring researchers to jump through additional regulatory hoops.

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GOP Congressman's Amendment Would Direct Military To Study Psilocybin And MDMA Benefits For Service Members - Marijuana Moment

In southern B.C, there's a new 20,000 square foot production facility where one particular product is generating a lot of buzz.

Psilocybin better known as magic mushrooms are grown here legally in a high-tech lab, where cultivators are hoping to contribute to medical research that suggests these mushrooms could have huge medical benefits.

Theres lots of clinical studies happening right now showing the potential of these mushrooms, Todd Henderson told CTV National News.

Henderson is head cultivator for a company called Optimi Health. It's one of a handful of Canadian businesses now federally approved to produce, manufacture and export psychedelic mushrooms.

Although theres only a few of these businesses right now, more and more companies are racing to position themselves as certified suppliers of psilocybin.

The push comes as scientists are increasingly exploring its therapeutic benefits, including for treatment of depression, substance use and end-of-life distress.

Were going to be able to provide that safe supply, so the researchers can actually then study deeper to see well, lets see where this goes, Bill Ciprick, CEO of Optimi Health, told CTV National News.

One study published in February found that psilocybin therapy was associated with relief of symptoms in adults suffering from major depressive disorder for up to a year.

Right now, there are no approved therapeutic products that contain psilocybin, in Canada or elsewhere, according to Health Canada. But in January 2022, Health Canada adjusted their Special Access Program (SAP) to allow physicians to request psilocybin for use in psychotherapy or with other treatment plans, making it easier for doctors to access the restricted drug.

And in April, the first patients in Canada were able to receive psilocybin treatment through SAP for end-of-life anxiety.

Thomas Hartle, one of those patients who received access due to his terminal colon cancer diagnosis, told CTV News in May that having access to this treatment made a huge difference in his quality of life.

"The improvement in my mental health is so night and day that it would be difficult to say all of the things that it does for me," he said.

"I still have cancer. I still have difficulty with what it physically does, but there are days when I don't even think about it. What would you do to have a day where you just feel normal?

These consciousness-altering substances are used in a controlled, clinical setting as part of psychotherapy.

Psilocybin, which is the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, enters the body through the same receptors as serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter, carrying messages through the body and acts as a mood stabilizer. People with depression often have low levels of serotonin, and psychedelics such as psilocybin have been found to cause an increase in connectivity of the brain, allowing those messages to be sent more readily than before.

Some studies have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting can make significant, long-lasting differences for those with treatment-resistant depressive disorders.

Ciprick said that magic mushrooms provide more options for doctors looking at how to treat a patient.

What psilocybin offers is a different opportunity to physicians, he said. They need lots of tools in their toolbox, and this gives them another one.

While Optimi also grows non-regulated mushrooms, its main focus is growing the psychedelic variety for medical use and research.

Anyone who is looking to develop a medicine that is going to help people that is who we are growing for, Henderson said.

The company already has an agreement with the IMPACT clinical trial accelerator program within the University of Calgary to clinically test their psilocybin products and the potential health benefits.

And in late June, the company announced that they had partnered with a Calgary-based clinic group to supply them with magic mushrooms for psychedelic-assisted therapies, provided the patients are approved through SAP.

About 2,000 kilograms of dried psilocybin can be produced every month.

While the company is currently working with Canadian researchers, the goal is to eventually share their magic mushrooms globally.

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Magic mushrooms: BC production facility one of a handful licensed to grow - CTV News

New studies attempt to integrate unreal experiences with reality.

Transcendent, mystical, and out-of-body experiences are becoming a mainstream conversation not just in pop culture, but also in the field of psychological research. While more and more studies are cropping up to try to determine the causes and nature of these experiences, it can still feel unnerving to actually go through one.

Luckily, there has been a resurgence of literature on these seemingly fringe areas of human perception specifically psychedelic, mystical, and ghostly episodes. Heres some information on each to make you feel less alone and less frightened in case you encounter one in the future.

#1. Psychedelic experiences

Psychedelic experiences and psychedelic therapy have shown early promise in the treatment of otherwise intractable conditions such as major depression, existential anxiety, addiction, and PTSD.

Not just that, psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca that have been used in shamanic cultures for centuries have been known to induce feelings of deep interconnectedness, joy, love, and awe relieving people of the distressing effects of neuroticism and negative emotions.

In some cases, these psychedelics have caused long-term positive personality changes.

However, since there is a lot that we dont understand about these substances, it is important to be mindful of the following factors, should you choose to have such an experience. Here are a few recommendations given by psychologist and psychedelia researcher, Sam Gandy:

#2. Mystical experiences

According to a recent study, mystical experiences, such as feeling like you are part of a higher force and/or temporarily losing touch with time and space (not induced by drugs), can be indicative of healthy psychological functioning even though it is often thought to be associated with psychological illness.

Such a mystical experience characterized by feelings of joy, happiness, unconditional love, collective consciousness and divine predetermination is actually connected to spiritual intelligence that includes a set of adaptive abilities such as:

Psychologists Daiga Katrna Bitna and Kristne Mrtinsone of Rga Stradi University in Riga, Latvia have the following advice for anyone who might be struggling to come to terms with a mystical experience:

The most practical advice for a person who has experienced a mystical experience is, at least initially, to understand that this experience may be part of spiritual development or that it may be a symptom of pathology, they explain. It is important to accept both views at the same time with an open view and the fact that they can both coexist. Don't choose between either but try to understand how it is and how I should react to what I am experiencing.

#3. Ghostly experiences

A ghostly episode or a haunting is probably the most controversial of the three paranormal experiences discussed in this article and is often the toughest to come to terms with. It is important to understand that even these experiences come under the purview of psychological research and, more importantly, are real.

Firstly, if you have had a ghostly experience or an anomalous experience, chances are you are high on the trait of transliminality a concept that represents a thin boundary between the conscious self and unconscious self, as well as the outside environment, according to psychologist Brian Laythe.

Information from any of these sources tends to pass more easily within a person high in transliminality, informs Laythe. The state and trait nature of transliminality share relationships with creativity, imagination, fantasy traits, disassociation, and temporal lobe lability.

According to Laythe, whether or not people choose to interpret anomalous experiences as paranormal, they do not have to feel alone or crazy for having gone through them due to the following reasons:

Laythe points out that ghostly episodes, shamanic experiences, and general high strangeness have been well documented throughout history. Furthermore, over 100 years of modern empirical psychology show they are not going away despite changes in society's zeitgeist.

In these sorts of experiences, knowing that your experience is actually not uncommon, and has some predictable components is often helpful, he concludes.

Conclusion: There is much to be discovered and explained by psychology and research, especially when it comes to such extraordinary experiences. If you or a loved one has had one of these experiences, it is important to know that they are far more common than you think and do not necessarily point to a pathology. In the case of psychedelics, they may even serve as a beneficial course of treatment.

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3 Paranormal Experiences That Have Caught The Attention Of Mental Health Researchers - Forbes