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“Hugely encouraging” ketamine study

Awakn Life Sciences Completes World’s First Ketamine Study For A Range Of Behavioral Addictions

Collectively, over a billion people struggle with Gambling Disorder, Internet Gaming Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder, and Compulsive Sexual Behaviour.

Researchers at Awakn Life Sciences (AWKN) completed the world’s first ketamine study for these behavioural addictions. The results were “hugely encouraging,” according to the CEO. 

While actual data is yet to be released, the promising early findings “merit a larger study and further exploration,” which the company is now pursuing.

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3 animals you never knew were psychedelic…

Psychedelic Fauna for Psychonaut Hunters: A Mini-Review

We bet you never knew that these animals could make you trip:

  • Ants: Red harvester ants have been used as a “ritual intoxicant” by at least 7 indigenous Californian groups. Boys and men would swallow hundreds of live ants to induce visions of “dream helpers” to gain shamanic powers. Read more about the ritual here.
  • Sea sponges (yes they are animals): Some species of sea sponges contain two derivatives of DMT: 5-Bromo-DMT and 5,6-dibromo-DMT. 5-Bromo-DMT has been found to have a sedative and antidepressant effect in animal studies.
  • Fish: Many fish are known to be psychedelic. A species called Sarpa salpa can produce vivid auditory and visual hallucinations for 36 hours when ingested. 

The more you know!

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Legal psilocybin therapy comes to Quebec

Numinus Wellness Receives Health Canada Special Access Program Applicant Approval to Provide Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Treatment

After several unsuccessful depression treatments, a patient in Quebec will finally get to try psilocybin therapy through the Special Access Program (SAP), marking the first legal psilocybin treatment in the province.

Numinus Wellness (NUMI) received Health Canada approval to administer the treatment at its Montreal clinic. It will be the company’s first treatment outside of a clinical trial setting.

Hopefully we’ll start seeing more wins like this thanks to TheraPsil, a non-profit that launched an initiative to make it easier for patients to access psilocybin through the SAP. 

The initiative, called Project Solace, will secure a safe supply of psilocybin from HAVN Life (HAVN) and other licensed dealers and collect data on treatment outcomes to support policy change. 

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Mushroom case ruling sparks controversy

Supreme Court says MRU student’s magic mushroom assault defence was valid

In some highly controversial news, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that voluntary extreme intoxication is a valid defence for violent crimes.

The court ruled in favour of a student who attacked his professor while high on magic mushrooms and alcohol in 2018. They noted that he was in a state of “automatism” in which he was incapable of consciously controlling his behaviours, and therefore isn’t accountable.

“In Canada, two elements of fundamental justice are required for a person to be found guilty of a crime. They are a guilty action; and a guilty mind. Neither element is present when a person is in a state of automatism,” stated the court in a brief of the ruling.

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Managing pain with MDMA

Global Wellness Readies for First Clinical Trial

Could your next surgery involve MDMA?

Shanti Therapeutics of Global Wellness Strategies (GWS) is preparing for a study to see if MDMA has an impact on pain tolerance in healthy volunteers.

The goal is to treat and prevent perioperative pain, or pain associated with surgery.

Managing pain immediately after surgery can help prevent chronic pain and the mental health issues that often follow.

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LSD reduces anxiety for 4 months

MindMed Collaborators Announce Positive Topline Data from Phase 2 Trial Evaluating LSD in Anxiety Disorders

MindMed’s collaborators at University Hospital Basel studied the effect of two high doses of LSD (200μg) on patients with anxiety disorders.

They found that 65% of subjects had significant reductions in anxiety scores for 16 weeks after the treatments.

Like many other studies have found, mystical experiences were significantly correlated with long-term therapeutic benefits.

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Science-backed psychedelic experiences

Leveraging over 20 years of psychedelic research, Beckley Foundation is launching a psilocybin-focused holistic wellbeing company called Beckley Retreats.

Starting this September, Beckley Retreats will offer a self-development program that includes:

  • 4 weeks of virtual preparation
  • A 5-day retreat in Jamaica with 2 psilocybin ceremonies and tons of holistic healing practices
  • 6 weeks of virtual integration to encourage new habits and thought patterns

Led by certified psychotherapists and doctors, the retreat combines Indigenous wisdom with modern science to create an unparalleled experience.

Learn more and reserve your spot here.

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Equity initiatives for PTSD treatment

MAPS Completes Enrollment, as Planned, for the Confirmatory Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

MAPS announced that its Phase 3 MDMA trial for PTSD is now fully enrolled at 13 sites across the United States and Israel.

The organization took equity initiatives to ensure that BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals are represented in the study, as these individuals are more likely to have PTSD (yet less likely to be diagnosed or have reasonable access to treatment).

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Customized microdosing kits

Red Light Holland Files International Patent Application for ‘Find Your Dose’ Customization of Microdosing Kits Based on Biometric and Movement Data

Red Light Holland (TRIP) recently filed an international patent application for its “Find Your Dose” custom microdosing kits.

The kits help individuals get the most out of microdosing by providing personalized protocols based on biometric and movement data. 

This week, the company successfully imported 200 microdosing kits into Canada from the Netherlands with hopes that patients will be able to try microdosing through the Special Access Program.

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