In the News
A collection of the most recent news, press mentions, and media assets.
Investing Daily – September 26, 2023
New Study: Psilocybin Improves The Condition of Your Condition
A burgeoning body of research shows that psychedelics can treat chronic mental ailments. The latest case in point: A new study, published September 19, shows that psilocybin use can cause “persisting reductions” in depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse. Psilocybin also increases emotional self-regulation and spiritual wellbeing, and eases introversion.
Psilocybin is the psychoactive ingredient in “magic mushrooms.” Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University and Unlimited Sciences asserted that their research represents the “largest prospective survey of naturalistic psilocybin use to date,” providing empirical evidence that underscores the “potential for psilocybin to produce lasting improvements in mental health symptoms and general wellbeing.”
The Dales Report – September 23, 2023
TDR’s Top 5 Psychedelic Developments For The Week Of September 18
1. Psilocybin Associated With ‘Significant’ And ‘Persisting’ Decreases In Depression, Anxiety, Alcohol Misuse And More, New Study Finds
Psilocybin use is associated with “persisting reductions” in depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse—as well as increases in emotional regulation, spiritual wellbeing and extraversion—according to a new study.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University and Unlimited Sciences said their work represents the “largest prospective survey of naturalistic psilocybin use to date,” finding evidence that supports the “potential for psilocybin to produce lasting improvements in mental health symptoms and general wellbeing.”
For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry on Tuesday, the researchers recruited 2,833 adults and administered multiple surveys before and after they used the psychedelic outside of the clinical setting.
Cannabis News World – September 23, 2023
Psilocybin use is associated with “persisting reductions” in depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse—as well as increases in emotional regulation, spiritual wellbeing and extraversion—according to a new study. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University and Unlimited Sciences said their work represents the “largest prospective survey of naturalistic psilocybin use to date,” finding evidence that supports
The post Psilocybin Associated With ‘Significant’ And ‘Persisting’ Decreases In Depression, Anxiety, Alcohol Misuse And More, New Study Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
Psilocybin use is associated with “persisting reductions” in depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse—as well as increases in emotional regulation, spiritual wellbeing and extraversion—according to a new study.
Psychedelic Spotlight – September 23, 2023
THE BIGGEST PSYCHEDELIC NEWS THIS WEEK – SEPTEMBER 17TH
Recently, in a significant piece of psychedelic news, Unlimited Sciences unveiled research outcomes regarding an examination of the health impact of psilocybin, popularly recognized as ‘magic mushrooms.’
The research, now featured in the Frontiers in Psychiatry journal, is the most extensive ongoing collection of data concerning natural psilocybin consumption so far. The findings suggest that one dose of psilocybin may have long-term positive effects on mental well-being.
These conclusions align strongly with the expanding accumulation of evidence from clinical experiments, behavioral drug studies, and population health research, offering valuable insights into the renewed public fascination with traditional psychedelic substances.
Marijuana Moment – September 21, 2023
Psilocybin use is associated with “persisting reductions” in depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse—as well as increases in emotional regulation, spiritual wellbeing and extraversion—according to a new study.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University and Unlimited Sciences said their work represents the “largest prospective survey of naturalistic psilocybin use to date,” finding evidence that supports the “potential for psilocybin to produce lasting improvements in mental health symptoms and general wellbeing.”
Psychedelic Health – September 20, 2023
Using psilocybin in naturalistic settings shows lasting results
Carried out by research non-profit Unlimited Sciences and published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, the observational study represents the world’s largest longitudinal dataset on naturalistic psilocybin use to date.
Results reveal the broad therapeutic potential of a single dose of psilocybin in producing lasting improvements in mental health and wellbeing, consistent with the growing body of evidence from clinical trials. Unlimited Sciences Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer Matthew X. Lowe, Ph.D., stated: “Outside of clinical research settings, psilocybin is capable of producing significant and persisting changes in psychological health and wellbeing, such as reductions in anxiety, depression and alcohol misuse. “Additionally, our results indicate lasting changes in psychological functioning such as increased cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation and spiritual wellbeing, and even alterations to personality traits such as increased extraversion and reduced neuroticism.”
Double Blind – September 19, 2023
Not Just a Daydream—Can Mushroom Trips Impact Your Sleep?
While it is possible to fall asleep under the influence of mushrooms, it may be more challenging than usual, especially if you take shrooms shortly before bed. “Taking hallucinogenic mushrooms can promote alertness and wakefulness in the hours immediately following ingestion,” says Lowe. “It is not recommended to take psilocybin-containing mushrooms immediately prior to sleeping.”
However, he adds, “sleep typically returns to normal once the effects of psilocybin subside.”
A 2020 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology illuminates the effects of shrooms on sleep. For the experiment, people took either shrooms or a placebo and went to sleep after the effects wore off. Those who had taken shrooms took longer to reach REM sleep than those who received a placebo. However, their sleep quality and continuity (ability to stay asleep) did not suffer. Not everyone will experience this same pattern, though.
Newsbreak – September 19, 2023
Unlocking the Healing Potential of Psilocybin: World’s Largest Study Reveals Lasting Benefits
In a groundbreaking stride toward understanding the therapeutic power of psilocybin, Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research nonprofit based in Colorado, has unveiled findings from the world’s most extensive study on naturalistic psilocybin use.
Published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, this study represents a pivotal moment in our understanding of the enduring positive effects of psilocybin, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” on mental health and overall well-being.
This remarkable research initiative engaged with over 8,000 participants over a two-year period, marking the largest longitudinal dataset on naturalistic psilocybin use to date. Unlike controlled clinical trials, this study observed participants in real-world environments, offering a glimpse into how psilocybin’s benefits translate into everyday life.
BusinessWire- September 19, 2023
Colorado-based psychedelic research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences recently published findings from an observational psilocybin (commonly known as ‘magic mushrooms’) study on the health effects of psilocybin use. The study, which represents the world’s largest longitudinal dataset on naturalistic psilocybin use to date, is published in Frontiers in Psychiatry and indicates broad therapeutic potential of a single dose of psilocybin to produce lasting improvements in mental health and wellbeing.
Results are highly consistent with the growing body of evidence from clinical trials, behavioral pharmacology and epidemiological data on psilocybin and provide an important window into the current resurgence of public interest in classic psychedelics.
WebMD – July 12, 2023
How Psychedelics Can Heal a Broken Mind
Recent research offers promise that psychedelic drugs may “reopen” the brain to help it recover from trauma. The study, published in Nature, reflects a renaissance of using and researching psychedelics to treat a range of mental health conditions.
Another psychedelics researcher, Matthew Lowe, PhD, sees promise in the Johns Hopkins study. The drugs “place the brain in a more malleable and flexible state,” said Lowe, the executive director and chief science officer for Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelics research nonprofit. He expects that psychedelics may help people break out of negative behavior patterns. “These findings show significant promise for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric diseases, including depression, PTSD, and addiction,” he said.
Nutrition Insight – June 27, 2023
FDA opens discussion on psychedelics in clinical trials to guide the industry
As using psychedelic drugs for treating medical conditions gains interest and popularity, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance to the industry. The guidance sponsors the development of psychedelic-based treatments and has left a 60-day window for comments on the paper.
“We are facing a worldwide mental health epidemic, and new treatment methods are critically needed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional treatments. Psychedelics have the potential to shift this trajectory positively,” Matthew X. Lowe, director of research for Unlimited Sciences, previously told Nutrition Insight.
The Microdose – June 22, 2023
Dispatches from Denver: Day 3 at Psychedelic Science 2023
Matthew X. Lowe, research director of psychedelics non-profit Unlimited Sciences, presented data from a small study investigating how an ayahuasca ceremony affected women immigrants and refugees from Middle Eastern and North African countries.
That population often faces higher risks for poor mental health because they face barriers to healthcare and employment, and often have experienced traumatic events, said Lowe. Twelve of the study’s 15 participants had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and half said they had been “recently bothered by an experience that caused them to believe they would be injured or killed.”
Aspen Public Radio – June 15, 2023
Aspen Psychedelic Symposium: Mental Health Breakthroughs
This event was recorded on June 2, 2023 at the Wheeler Opera House, in partnership with Aspen Public Radio, Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center, and Healing Advocacy Fund.
Panelists included Kevin Franciotti, Meg Richmond, and Matthew X. Lowe, moderated by Brandon Burns.
Aspen Daily News – May 27, 2023
Inaugural Aspen Psychedelic Symposium coming next Friday
To truly understand psychedelics is a multi-year process, said Martha Hammel, co-founder of the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center. It’s a topic that cannot be covered in just one event, she said, but the conversation has to start somewhere. On Friday, June 2, the inaugural Aspen Psychedelic Symposium takes place from noon to 7 p.m. at the Wheeler Opera House. A single ticket is $28 for the full day and attendees will be able to come and go between panel discussions.
BigLife Magazine- May 20, 2023
Learn from Experts at the Aspen Psychedelic Symposium
World-renowned researchers, advocates, and medical professionals come together in the Colorado Rockies on Friday, June 2nd, from noon to 7:00pm at the Wheeler Opera House in downtown Aspen. Presented by Aspen Public Radio, Healing Advocacy Fund, and the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center.
Baptist News Global – May 9, 2023
Realm of Caring is celebrating its first decade with a report on its achievements, including millions of dollars in aid for hundreds of CBD pilgrims. But the group isn’t stopping there. Its sister organization is now doing pioneering research on the medical benefits of another powerful drug: psilocybin, the naturally occurring compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, or fungi.
“Psychedelics have a long history of being intermixed with religion and have been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years,” said Matthew X. Lowe, who leads Realm of Caring’s offshoot, Unlimited Sciences.
Aspen Public Radio – April 19, 2023
The recent successful state passage of the Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122) represents a massive shift in public perception regarding psychedelics.
Colorado’s ballot initiative was the first to decriminalize the possession and use of psychedelic mushrooms and certain plant-based psychedelic substances in Colorado law for individuals aged 21 and over, and requires the state to establish a regulated system for accessing psychedelic mushrooms and additional plant-based psychedelic substances.
Benzinga- March 17, 2023
Cannabis saved my kid. Psychedelics saved me
What is the most powerful force in the world?
Of course, it is love, but what kind of love? Not a single doubt – it is a parent’s love for their children.
One person, one mother that has proven this to be true is Heather Jackson, an international speaker, author and published researcher. She is also the co-founder and president of the Realm of Caring Foundation (RoC), a cannabis-focused non-profit that helps families struggling with life-limiting and chronic health conditions through research education and grants.
Alive Magazine – January 31, 2023
Plant Allies for Mental Health
Realm of Caring, a non-profit dedicated to cannabis research and education, has partnered with John Hopkins University to gather longitudinal data on how cannabis use affects various health and quality of life markers.
In addition to Realm of Caring, Lowe heads up research at Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research non-profit. In another collaboration with John Hopkins University, they’re conducting an extensive study on real-world psilocybin use to better understand positive and negative outcomes.
Ganjapreneur – December 15, 2022
2023 Cannabis Industry Predictions: Cultivation, Agtech, Science, Hemp, & Psychedelic
In the coming year, we’ll see initiatives bolster research examining the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating a range of mental health conditions, and solidify psychedelic therapy as the next frontier in mental health treatment. However, research continues to be held back by bureaucratic red tape and funding limitations, and widespread efforts to increase profitability in the psychedelics industry will fuel heightened tensions between corporate- and community-based approaches to psychedelic access.
High Times – November 10, 2022
Colorado Voters Approve Psychedelics Decriminalization Measure
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT have also been used for centuries by indigenous American cultures for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Matthew X. Lowe Ph.D., research director at psychedelic research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences, says that there are numerous health and wellness benefits “that come from consuming psilocybin.”
Nutrition Insight – October 20, 2022
The US State of Colorado is preparing to vote this November on whether to legalize healing centers using magic mushrooms for treatments amid surging mental health concerns worldwide. The vote will also include whether to decriminalize the possession, growing and sharing of hallucinogenic plants and fungi for personal use.
“We are facing a worldwide mental health epidemic, and new treatment methods are critically needed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional treatments. Psychedelics have the potential to shift this trajectory positively,” Matthew X. Lowe, director of research for Unlimited Sciences, tells NutritionInsight.
Ethos – October 18, 2022
Americans Want Psychedelic Treatments for Depression. Will Legislation Catch Up?
Ayahuasca, the DMT-rich brew used widely across South America, is seeing an uptick in research, too. Psychedelic magazine DoubleBlind reports that a new study will see immigrants and refugees trial ayahuasca to process trauma. That research is being helmed by Unlimited Sciences out of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“We thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to be able to educate and bring awareness to both the positive and negative experiences of these group-based ceremonies,” Matthew X. Lowe, director of research at Unlimited Sciences told DoubleBlind.
Forbes – September 21, 2022
Colorado Will Vote On Legalizing Psychedelic Mushrooms In November
Matthew X. Lowe Ph.D., research director at psychedelic research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences, says that there are numerous health and wellness benefits “that come from consuming psilocybin.”
“Preindustrial Mesoamerican cultures have consumed psilocybin for thousands of years in ritualized contexts to enhance psychotherapeutic healing, religious insight, and self-exploration,” he writes in an email. “In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating a range of different psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance use disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others.”
The Daily Beast – September 16, 2022
Forget Weed. Legal Shrooms, DMT, and Mescaline May Be Next.
Unlimited Sciences, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that researches psychedelic drug use, is currently working with 8,000 study participants, 1,000 of whom have completed a five-month prospective observational study. Del Jolly, the group’s appropriately named co-founder, said their “very preliminary” research into psychedelic drug use since Denver decriminalized psilocybin at the local level in 2019 suggested that the average user was 39.5 years old.
Psychedelic Spotlight – August 24, 2022
Can an Ayahuasca Ceremony Heal Immigrant and Refugee Trauma?
In an airy room overlooking the mountains, soft voices and the smell of sage surround an altar with carefully placed crystals, candles, instruments, and sacred herbs. The pale sun is low on the horizon, casting long shadows as each attendant is cleansed with sage and invited to take their place in the circle. Pillows, blankets, and mats encircle the room, reminiscent of an inviting childhood slumber party. The individuals seated in the circle are mostly Arabic-speaking women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including immigrants and refugees of various backgrounds originating from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.
Filter Magazine – August 18, 2022
Can Ayahuasca Help to Heal Refugees’ Trauma?
A new study will seek to discover if ayahuasca is effective at helping a group of Middle Eastern and North African refugees, primarily women, to heal from trauma. While previous research has examined the effectiveness of ayahuasca for trauma, it hasn’t touched this population from a region of the world that has seen much warfare and and suffering.
Maleek Asfeer, a Saudi Arabian filmmaker now based in Colorado, organized an ayahuasca ceremony and reached out to the researchers to offer them the chance to collect data on it. The study was approved by the FDA and is being conducted in accordance with HIPAA patient privacy rules.
Healio – August 11, 2022
Study to Investigate Ayahuasca’s Effects on Trauma Linked to Migration
Psychedelic research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences announced a new study that intends to measure the potential healing effects of ayahuasca on refugees and immigrants with past experiences of trauma.
According to a company release, the study — expected to commence this summer — will engage mostly female immigrants and refugees seeking remedial therapy through the psychoactive hallucinogenic, which has been identified as a candidate for the treatment of trauma.
CPR News – August 16, 2022
Heather Jackson calls it the mother’s wall and it usually comes on very suddenly. She can’t make regular decisions, like what to cook for dinner. She realizes the kitchen trash is full and starts to go to take it out and then discovers something else needs to be done and she sets the trash bag down, only to discover it eight hours later. “I can feel the wall coming,” said Jackson, CEO of Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research company and a mother of two in a town south of Denver. “And I think the wall is coming because I need something to rest on.”
Benzinga – August 10, 2022
Psychedelic Treatments Vary Greatly By Cost And Setting, What About Efficacy?
“It’s essential that modern retreat centers learn from indigenous practices and understand how to mitigate the risk of harm,” Matthew X. Lowe Ph.D., research director for Colorado-based psychedelics research nonprofit Unlimited Sciences.
At the same time, calls for access are made as concerns over affordable pricing and indigenous inclusion remain.
High Times – July 27, 2022
DEA Rescinds Proposal to Ban Five Psychedelic Drugs
Matthew X. Lowe Ph.D., research director at the psychedelic research nonprofit organization Unlimited Sciences, tells High Times that the psychedelic drugs that the DEA had sought to ban have therapeutic potential that should be explored through research.
“The compounds 4-OH-DiPT, 5-MeO-AMT, 5-MeO-MiPT, 5-MeO-DET and DiPT are lesser-known psychedelic substances of the tryptamine class,” Lowe wrote in an email. “The effects of these psychedelic compounds on humans were first documented by Alexander and Ann Shulgin, who famously synthesized and studied the effects of these and hundreds of other psychoactive compounds.”
The Emerald Magazine – June 22, 2022
The Next Steps in Psychedelic Health Treatment
Another psychedelic research group looking to gain more knowledge about psychedelic treatment is Unlimited Sciences. Formed in 2018 by Heather Jackson, Unlimited Sciences has a goal to create the world’s largest collection of real-world data surrounding psychedelics. They hope to use this resource to develop an understanding of how to use psychedelics safely and effectively.
In 2018, Unlimited Sciences partnered with John Hopkins University, the largest psilocybin registry in the world, to conduct an observational research study on psychedelic treatment.
High Times – August 8, 2022
Normalizing Psychedelics: An Interview with Matthew X. Lowe
Over the past few years, psychedelics are finally becoming more normalized, but for the most part, that just means psilocybin. LSD is still considered, even by many who are interested in the world of mushrooms and cannabis, to be a taboo substance. Unlimited Sciences and Matthew X. Lowe would love to change that. We chatted with him about the moves he’s been making to change the culture and bring psychedelics access to those who need it.
Ganjapreneur – June 1, 2022
Matthew X. Lowe: Advancing Medicinal Cannabis and Psychedelics Research
Ganjapreneur recently connected with Matthew X. Lowe, the Research Director for Realm of Caring and for Unlimited Sciences — which is a psychedelics research firm — to discuss cannabis and psychedelics medicinal research. This interview covers why this research is necessary, who benefits from it, the methods used to understand the healing possibilities of these compounds, and more!
VICE – February 11, 2022
How to Microdose Drugs Based on What You’re Using
Another reason to go slow—whether microdosing once or repeatedly over the course of several days, weeks, or months—is to prevent building up a tolerance. It’s best to wait a few days after microdosing before taking anything again, said Matthew X. Lowe, research director for the psychedelic research non-profit Unlimited Sciences, which is currently conducting a study on the health outcomes associated with full-dose psilocybin with Johns Hopkins University. “It is a commonly practiced three-day cycle that follows the ‘Fadiman Schedule’, where for 48 hours, you remain substance-free,” he said, “and on the third day, you microdose.”
Benzinga – March 6, 2022
The Road to Psychedelics Legalization
In the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, it’s crucial to recognize that the use of psychedelics is not a new phenomenon. But what has changed in recent years is a concerted effort to increase our scientific understanding of their applications in natural medicine and therapeutic healing—and everyone who’s interested can play a part.
The colorful road to psychedelics legalization has been intertwined with human history for thousands of years. Anthropological reports indicate that psychoactive substances in the form of plants, fungi, roots, seeds, and even the secretions of animals have been used by humans for millennia.