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Melissa Hutsell is an award-winning freelance journalist with a deep rooted passion for both community and international journalism. She was born and raised in Northern California, and has lived, studied, worked, and traveled in more 20 different countries. Melissa holds a Master's degree in Global Journalism from City University London, as well as degrees in Journalism and Globalization from Humboldt State University. Though she covers various topics as both a writer and editor, she specializes in business and cannabis journalism.
Hallucinogens: The New Medical Marijuana?
Many are turning to psychedelics to fight their addictions or illnesses.
Using one drug to help curb the effects of another is nothing new (think methadone and heroin/medical marijuana and pharmaceuticals). Hallucinogenic drugs, however, are becoming more relevant in the field of health and science. Magic mushrooms, MDMA, LSD and Ibogaine are among some of the substances making a comeback. Researchers are looking to these drugs for their potential benefits on various illnesses, such as PTSD, drug addiction and depression.
MDMA, for example, is shown to be an effective treatment for PTSD, reports the article, especially for veterans. In a study conducted by he Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), 67% of participants who used MDMA to treat PSTD no longer met criteria for the disorder after one year.
Of course, prohibitionists (including US Attorney General Jeff Sessions) make it difficult for psychedelics - like medical marijuana - to be used for medical treatments.
Others, however, believe seeking altered consciousness is a basic human right. "Even if it is harmful, even if it is damaging,” said one source from the article, “I think the damage of prohibition is far greater than the small number of people that are being helped using these things in a therapeutic way in a clinical trial.”
