tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post220595869139869388..comments2023-10-05T04:44:25.174-05:00Comments on Addiction Inbox: Interview with Cognitive Neuropsychologist Keith LawsDirk Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-39797610092669978542012-04-03T11:53:16.001-05:002012-04-03T11:53:16.001-05:00The UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances ...The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Psychotropic_Substances" rel="nofollow">UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances</a> calls on countries to restrict psilocybin to scientific and medical use, but it does not cover preparations of psychedelic plants and fungi, like magic mushrooms, mescaline cactus, or ayahuasca. It is entirely up to individual countries whether or not to restrict magic mushrooms, whether fresh, dried, or otherwise prepared. <br /><br />The 2005 UK ban on magic mushrooms, which seems to have been an actual ban, was not done with the approval of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Chairman David Nutt had asked the Blair government to give the ACMD a heads up if mushrooms were to be debated, but then the ACMD was only given a couple days notice, not enough time to put together a report.Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-23462558831903095102012-04-03T09:54:44.510-05:002012-04-03T09:54:44.510-05:00I wondered about that, since I've clearly seen...I wondered about that, since I've clearly seen 'shrooms being sold in shops in Amsterdam since the ban.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-22375057922281169972012-04-03T03:32:19.785-05:002012-04-03T03:32:19.785-05:00The 2011 harm assessment was written after the Dut...The 2011 harm assessment was written after the Dutch "ban" on magic mushrooms, which was pushed through by the ruling Christian Democratic Party against the recommendations of the expert drug advisory committee -- this is described in the updated, English-language harm assessment.<br /><br />Commercially-grown psychedelic psilocybin fungi continue to be openly sold in Dutch "smart shops", not "mushrooms" only "truffles", but it's the same thing. So despite all the news, there wasn't truly a ban at all. (Politics: don't expect it to make sense.)<br /><br />An entertaining video about the current psilocybin situation in the Netherlands: <a href="http://www.vice.com/hamiltons-pharmacopeia/hamilton-and-the-philosophers-stone-part-1" rel="nofollow">Hamilton and the Philosopher's Stone</a>Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-45181259591776963932012-04-02T17:42:11.231-05:002012-04-02T17:42:11.231-05:00In the end, The Netherlands decided to ban the sal...In the end, The Netherlands decided to ban the sale of magic mushrooms, nonetheless.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-22652036921447716692012-04-02T16:10:23.111-05:002012-04-02T16:10:23.111-05:00The recent clinical trials of LSD and psilocybin, ...The recent clinical trials of LSD and psilocybin, as well as MDMA, have all been approved by review boards and national governmental authorities (FDA or equivalent), the same as for any clinical trial. This involves an evaluation of the evidence for risk by physicians and scientists unconnected to the studies. <br /><br />Everything has risks, including psychiatric medications, also meditation or hiking in the mountains. When evaluating psychedelics, as with anything, it's important to take an objective view of all the evidence and not be too biased by anecdotal stories, either of harm or benefit or "didn't do snything for me".<br /><br />You might find it relevant to read this 2011 harm assessment of psilocybin mushrooms, commissioned by the Minister of Health of the Netherlands, where psychedelic fungi are legally sold in shops. Spoiler: they note cases of harmful consequences but conclude that these are rare given the amount of use and thus there is no public health reason to ban sale of magic mushrooms. If you search up the authors, none of them appear to be "psychedelic advocates". <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/47478433/Harm-potential-of-magic-mushroom-use-A-review" rel="nofollow">Harm potential of magic mushroom use: A review</a>Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-23112272725322217002012-04-02T10:50:41.900-05:002012-04-02T10:50:41.900-05:00"There will likely be increasing clinical int..."There will likely be increasing clinical interest in psychedelic treatment of addiction and other emotional disorders"<br /><br />-----<br /><br />I am sympathetic to this line of inquiry,but I think psychedelic advocates are kidding themselves about the applicablity of a trip on LSD, MDMA or psylocybin for most alcoholics or addicts. Being shot out of a cannon into an alternative reality is not an unmitigated good--it is terrifying and traumatic for many. Bad trips happen. It would help if advocates would admit this.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-41380860141156928852012-04-02T04:58:36.321-05:002012-04-02T04:58:36.321-05:00There is a clinical trial of magic mushrooms (psil...There is a clinical trial of magic mushrooms (psilocybin) for smoking cessation going on right now at Johns Hopkins. Also, there is a clinical trial of LSD for anxiety in Switzerland. Native Americans have said for generations that psychedelic substances like peyote (mescaline) and ayahuasca (DMT) help with alcoholism and drug dependence. There will likely be increasing clinical interest in psychedelic treatment of addiction and other emotional disorders. <br /><br />The historical reasons for why these medications have been ignored is not really the issue, the question is whether psychedelics can help people now. What are the risks and benefits?Ryannoreply@blogger.com