Scientists Criticize Drug War at Psychedelics Event Hosted by Federal Health Agency

May 3, 2021 14:05:23

Last week, a federal health agency begun a speaker series that will be focused on reviewing the science behind psilocybin mushrooms and the therapeutic potential they possess. Experts who aired their views at the inaugural event claimed that federal drug regulations undermined the scientific community’s research objectives and weren’t in line with what the voters wanted.

The event is being hosted by the National Cancer Institute, under the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). The institute notes that it has some clinical trials looking into the use of psilocybin as a treatment of cancer-related depression, with others exploring the psychedelic’s potential application as a treatment of various psychiatric disorders. This, the institution adds, is despite the fact that federal laws classify the substance as a Schedule 1 substance.

The National Cancer Institute also revealed that it was organizing a Psilocybin Research speaker series, which begin  occur over the coming weeks.

The series has two main objectives: first, to provide evidence-based and time-sensitive scientific information of this substance, using expert speakers from the government, academia and scientific communities; and second, to identify research opportunities and gaps as well as evaluating the current state of the science.

The initial event featured Johns Hopkins University and UCLA professors leading various presentations, among them one on psilocybin use in end-of-life care.

UCLA’s Dr. Charles Grob discussed the need for better funding for psychedelic research as well as increased diversity among those who took part in the studies. Grob also stated that while measures of decriminalization continued being approved in various states across the country, it was still important that public education programs be introduced. These programs would focus on the safe use of psychedelics in states that decided to loosen criminal penalties or approve decriminalization laws.

Another professor, Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Roland Griffiths, noted that the Schedule 1 classification of psilocybin made both preclinical and clinical research much more difficult to conduct. He explained that to work with a Schedule 1 compound, researchers had to obtain a DEA license and jump through various hoops, which may have discouraged some.

Psychedelic substances are gaining more attention around the country as a national movement calling for an end to the criminalization of substances that show considerable therapeutic potential grows.

Among the latest iterations of the national psychedelics reform movement, which has grown significantly since 2019 when Denver decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms, are those taking place in Washington D.C., Ann ArborSanta Cruz and Oakland, which have decriminalized the possession of fungi and plant-based psychedelics.

The fact that federal agencies in the United States are beginning to take a keen look at psychedelics is a possible source of encouragement to sector players such as Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (OTCQB: CLXPF) because it offers hope that a change in federal policy will one day be made, and regulatory impediments will be eased.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (OTCQB: CLXPF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN

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