Mainstreaming Psychedelics: From FDA to Harvard to Burning Man

Google Tech Talk
November 17, 2009

ABSTRACT

Presented by Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Executive Director MAPS.

We're now in the midst of a worldwide renaissance in psychedelic research, after decades of political suppression. Scientists from around the world will present their new findings at the largest psychedelic conference to take place in the US in 17 years, on April 15-18, 2010, in San Jose, CA (http://www.maps.org/conference/ ). Even media reports, which usually mention in passing the widespread use of psychedelics by the counterculture in the 1960s, are more hopeful than alarming. In this talk, we'll review the factors which led to the backlash and the lessons to be learned, discuss how the FDA opened the door to research around the world, how the ghost of Timothy Leary was buried at Harvard, and how Burning Man struggles to respond to people who have difficult psychedelic experiences. We'll conclude by explaining how non-profit drug development, initially of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for postraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can transform psychedelics into FDA-approved prescription medicines and can lay the groundwork for the successful, long-term integration of psychedelics into the mainstream of medicine, religion, art, creativity, and celebration.

Rick founded MAPS in 1986. His dissertation [http://www.maps.org/dissertation/] (Public Policy, Harvards Kennedy School of Government) was on "The Regulation of the Medical Use of Psychedelics and Marijuana," and his masters thesis [http://www.maps.org/docs/doblin-mt.html] (Harvard) focused on the attitudes and experiences of oncologists concerning the medical use of marijuana. His undergraduate thesis [http://www.maps.org/research/cluster/psilo-lsd/goodfriday.pdf] (New College of Florida) was a twenty-five year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment [http://www.maps.org/books/pahnke/index.html], which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He has also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Tim Learys Concord Prison experiment [http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v09n4/09410con.html].

Rick studied with Stan Grof, M.D., and was in the first group to become certified as holotropic breathwork practitioners. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise "healthy" people, and to also become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He resides in Boston with his wife and three children.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• google
• tech
• talk
• psychedelics

[terminaldeity]

Psychadelics have had a profound positive effect on my life, as well. Great lecture. I think we need more intelligent discourse on the subject.

[otacon451]

ha ha ive never seen that disclaimer before a tech talk video before .. thats exactly the sort of dishonesty that has perpetuated this situation for so long

[zildjiandrummer1]

man all of this psychedelic research just makes me excited for the future. i'd say in about 20 or so years psychedelics will be well-respected in the medical community

[ParadoxEternal]

He`s probably had so much dick up hiss ass, he can`t tell the difference from fucking his mind.

[spellbreakr]

@terminaldeity

I totally agree.

[Jordainio]

@NativeSonPublishers hmmm. I think I could agree with that. But you say thriteenth step, shouldn't these substances just be regulated and sold purely, but highly taxed and highly age restricted? No disrespect

[NativeSonPublishers]

I have seen serious problems from the non-ritualized use of mushrooms and acid. I believe these substances connect the subconscious to the wrong spirits, and should not be played with. In our Ceremony, centuries old, we are healed by Peyote, from many ailments, including alcoholism and addiction. That is what my book is about; soon available reviewed by a Harvard Psychiatrist. It is miraculous! The Thirteenth Step.

[MDProdTV]

It's astounding to see this research being continued under governement authorised supervision...research done in the sixties indicated that there was potentially significant benefits of medically supervised psychedelic therapy ..one of the more interesting studies involved hardened criminals..the re-offending rate for those participants was statisically lower than the general population...Im also amazed to see this lecture was sponsored by Google Tech!! Can I get a job there??

[shanemacc]

most "normal" people i know get thier panties in a bunch if i talk about MJ... just the topic of psychedelics make them squirm in their seat.

[DarthNorris84]

@TheNaramatu I generally do have a vocabulary, but when I'm stoned on youtube I tend to swear. If I had taken lsd in the past month maybe I'd have more to say, but it's been so long since I've tripped that I really don't have anything more to say than if you take acid, your going to have deep, profound revelations about your life.Good or bad, it's still truth.I mean the only bad trip I've ever had was from repressed emotions. It can be scary to come face to face with what youve been running from

[GalacticJoy]

"I actually got college credit for suing the DEA" Very productive.

[TheNaramatu]

@DarthNorris84 It's important to find a vocabulary so you can have a talk with someone about this someday. Problem is you can't even have a conversation without people coming completely undone it seems. LSD is a drug which may cause insanity in those who have never taken it. MAPS is awesome and Rick Doblin is a champ. These are miracles, not drugs, drugs make you nod out or grind your teeth out of your gums, they don't put your brain in front of you to see how it reacts to thoughts and persona