Psychedelics: New Frontiers in Alternative Medicine
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vol. 5 no. 5 cannabissciencetech.com
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feature
The Path to Legalized,
Accessible Psilocybin Therapy
B Y L A R R Y B E R E S F O R D
S
MALL-SCALE PUBLISHED STUDIES have
shown dramatic results for psilocybin as a treat-
ment for the depression and demoralization ex-
perienced by people confronting a terminal or
life-threatening illness, among other mental health appli-
cations. Numerous parties are asking how this psychedelic
substance could become recognized, permitted, and wide-
ly accessible for treatment uses beyond its current, limited
research context. But the legal barriers, primarily at the US
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), contin-
ue to impede these wider applications.
Research teams at New York University (NYU) Lan-
gone Health (New York, New York), Johns Hopkins Med-
ical Center (Baltimore, Maryland), and elsewhere contin-
ue to advance our scientific understanding of psilocybin,
a psychedelic drug derived from so-called "magic" mush-
rooms, for the treatment of spiritual and existential
suffering and trauma. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical com-
panies wait in the wings, in anticipation of its legalization
within the next few years.
But what would legalization and widespread availabili-
ty of psilocybin therapy look like? Sunil Aggarwal, MD, a
palliative care physician and cofounder of the Advanced
Integrative Medical Science Institute (AIMS) in Seat-
tle, Washington, wants to find out. AIMS provides what
it calls "entheogen"-assisted psychotherapy with psy-
choactive substances that have historically been used for
culturally sanctioned mystical or visionar y experiences.
Dr. Aggarwal already offers ketamine-assisted therapy, us-
ing that legally available psychedelic and Federal Drug Ad-
ministration (FDA)-approved anesthetic, which has shown
powerful results against depression, suicidal ideation, and psy-
cho-spiritual distress. Its effects are said to resemble a near
death experience. "I've been using ketamine-assisted therapy Image
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