
So far, 2019 has been a dynamic ride for psilocybin: decriminalization in Denver and Oakland has primed democratic efforts, Chicago confused the masses with a premature announcement, the founding of psychedelic research centers in the UK and America have ignited scientific interest, investors seem ready to fund the next wave of psychedelic acceptance and normalization, and even climate activists are advocating for psychedelic protests.
I have a tentative belief that this may be a revolution of understanding that has the power to adjust public opinion and legislation at large. These substances that grow from the natural earth have no reason to be dictated by non-natural law. We as a community have the onus to keep the momentum behind us in all regards; by voting, donating, pontificating and speaking, ensure your voice is heard in the battle for psilocybin acceptance.
Recent Psilocybin Talking Points
As a guide to your psilocybin discussions, here are a few advances that have been made in the field in the last few months:
- Psilocybin has been demonstrated to increase the effectiveness and depth of meditation. Over a 5-day retreat; openness, optimism and emotional consideration increased only among those administered psilocybin. These benefits persisted for at least 4 months after treatment
- An analysis of related studies demonstrated that psilocybin may be an effective therapy against the depression and anxiety felt by cancer patients during their treatment. In general, psilocybin therapy was well tolerated and of general benefit.
- Rick Doblin, the founder of MAPS, has increased pressure to incorporate psychedelic experiences in the arsenal of behavioural psychologists. While psilocybin takes the back-seat in this pursuit, acceptance of MDMA therapy bolsters therapies surrounding ‘illicit drugs’.
- In Canada, a frontier force of investors called FieldTrip Health are not limiting their vision by borders. They are funding a fully equipped research center in Jamaica, unrestrained by conventional rules, to expand the understanding of psilocybin.
- Of particular note: you don’t need mushrooms, or even fungi, to produce psilocybin. Researchers have developed a method to produce psilocybin in the bacteria that live in your toilet.
- A study out of the Netherlands demonstrated the validity of microdosing psychedelics: “This study demonstrates that self-rated effectiveness of microdosing with psychedelics to alleviate symptoms of a range of mental or physiological diagnoses is higher compared to conventionally offered treatment options, and lower than regular (‘full’) psychedelic doses.”
- Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and his team explored the emotional component of psychedelics. In an attempt to break the psilocybin experience into discrete parts, he evaluated the emotional aspect of psychedelic experiences. Through a small sample size of 75 participants, he attributes emotional, mystical, challenging experiences with a persistence of improvements in wellbeing.
Psilocybin Deep Dive
For a deeper dive into the context and scope of psilocybin, consider reading these thought-provoking articles:
- Synthetic Psychedelics May Soon Replace Your Shrooms
- Drug Research Ignores Stable or Pleasurable Use—And That’s a Problem
- REBUS (Relaxed beliefs under psychedelics)and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics
- Psilocybin Is Headed for the Mainstream — It’s Bringing the Problems of Big Pharma With It
- People Are Hungry for Shroom Legalization, and the Money to Fund It Is Growing
- Psychedelic Medicine Is Coming. The Law Isn’t Ready
- The ultimate Psychedelics research review
Stay educated and don’t stay silent. We at Psillow are always ready to answer your questions and provide a platform for you to empower your psilocybin experiences.