“There really has been an exponential increase of media interest in what’s happening. I think that’s the result of new research, (and) the result of some major international conferences that are really establishing the field of psychedelic science and medicine.” Brad Burge of MAPS.

It seems we’re finally at a turning point in The War on Drugs. All it took was a few decades of indoctrination, mass-incarceration, astronomical price tags and straight-up horrific body counts. Yet, society’s transition into a deeper understanding of these substances has been far from smooth. Yes, the people have clearly spoken on the subject of marijuana, and nearly half of all U.S. states have taken notice, putting some sort of marijuana-friendly law on the books. However, when it comes to Mary Jane’s more potent psychedelic cousins, the conversation is quite a bit more nuanced and controversial. Thankfully, for the first time in decades, the dialogue surrounding psychedelics is evolving. For that, we have organizations like MAPS to thank.

As your eyeballs wiggle their way through these words, MAPS (The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) is in the process of conducting a whole host of FDA-sanctioned studies using psychedelic substances on real-live human beings. The therapeutic use of MDMA, for example, has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for PTSD. A slow-clap-worthy 83 percent of participants were, in fact, totally PTSD free at their two month follow-up exams.

While these developments are genuinely encouraging, the bleak fact of the matter is that psychedelic therapies are still a long way from legal, meaning very few of those in need are actually receiving these potentially highly potent treatments.

To dig further into this, I spoke with Brad Burge of MAPS along with three-tour Army Ranger veteran and psychedelic success story, Tim Amoroso.

Click these magical blue words to be transported to MAPS’ exponentially growing Twitter and Facebook pages!

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