2022
December
Brittney Griner came home, MAPS was found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit, a batch of hallucinogenic spinach was recalled, and a look ahead at cannabis and psychedelic drug reform possibilities in 2023.
November
Many U.S. drug policy reform efforts succeeded during the midterm elections, a new shroom dispensary opened in Florida, two big research studies are over, and the National Park Service politely asked visitors to not lick the toads.
October
MAPS is preparing for a wrongful death lawsuit, Canada and Germany are slated to loosen their approaches to drug policy, new research on MDMA for eating disorders, & two major losses in cannabis and psychedelic criminal cases.
September
San Francisco decriminalized cannabis, research found that cannabis users don't fit the "lazy stoner" stereotype, the FDA unintentionally made NyQuil chicken a thing, and Elijah McClain's autopsy report was corrected.
August
The DEA withdrew its plan to ban two more psychedelics, a clinical trial found that psilocybin therapy can treat alcohol use disorder, an NFL player opened up about using ayahuasca, and a bear ate a lot of psychedelic honey.
July
The DEA withdrew a proposal to ban five psychedelic drugs, the world's first ecstasy shop opened in the Netherlands, Health Canada halted—and then resumed—an MDMA therapy trial, and Ann Shulgin passed away at the age of 91.
June
A petition to invalidate Compass Pathways' patents was denied, a country in Southeast Asia became the first nation to legalize cannabis, a lot of fake MDMA in England, and another study found microdosing LSD to be ineffective.
May
The 19th U.S. state legalized cannabis, a psychedelic company is splitting into two separate entities, studies find LSD for anxiety and psilocybin for depression and eating disorders are effective, and psychedelic activists were arrested outside the DEA headquarters.
April
Psychedelic stocks are having a bad trip, the industry's first major merger, more trouble in the psychedelic research and therapy spaces, and Joe Biden commuted the sentences of people with non-violent federal drug convictions.
March
A Central American country legalized medical marijuana, another Michigan city decriminalized psychedelics, some ups and downs involving MDMA therapy research, a new U.S. drug-checking mail program, and a caution about natural forms of 5-MeO-DMT.
February
A southern U.S. state legalized medical marijuana, scientists created a new way to make 5-MeO-DMT, a follow-up study found psilocybin therapy was an effective treatment for major depression for one year, zebrafish microdosed LSD, and the NFL invested $1 million into cannabinoids.
January
Canadians gained the right to request special access to illegal psychedelic substances, an Asian country became the first in the continent to decriminalize cannabis, a study found that hemp may protect against COVID-19, and a candidate for U.S. Senate made history by smoking a blunt and talking about the harms of the drug war in his campaign ad.
2021
December
Decriminalizing psychedelics and legalizing cannabis, Compass Pathways' psilocybin patent was challenged, a new psychedelic research center, combining psilocybin and SSRIs, an update to November's fentanyl-tainted cannabis story, and one last chance to fill out the Global Drug Survey.
November
Another U.S. city decriminalized psychedelics, a new patent was awarded to COMPASS Pathways, mixed results from the largest psilocybin therapy trial to date, and the first real case of fentanyl-tainted cannabis in the U.S.
October
Three U.S. cities decriminalized psychedelics, two European countries are slated to legalize cannabis, the truth about official warnings involving laced Halloween candy, results from the latest psychedelic research studies, and some examples of why psychedelic drug policy reform future is here—it’s just not very evenly distributed yet.
September
Hamilton Morris ended his show and joined a notorious psychedelic company, the FDA and CDC issued warnings on delta-8 THC products, Scotland decriminalized all drugs, nitrous oxide might become illegal in the UK soon, and a study found that young adults have used a lot of psychedelics during the pandemic.
August
The launch of a new psychedelic peer support app, innovations in wearable psychedelics, psychedelics for gambling addiction and eye disease, new psychedelic research centers, innovative drug checking kits, and using salvia to treat mental health.
July
A U.S. Olympian is disqualified from competing due to marijuana use, a new ketamine law in Colorado, and new research about the origins behind cannabis.
June
Berlin now has an LSD shop, the DEA denied Soul Quest’s religious exemption to use ayahuasca, Atai went public, an innovative app scans pills to see what they contain, two new psychedelic holidays, and a few drug policy wins.
May
Promising results from MAPS’ Phase 3 Trials for MDMA-assisted therapy, a questionable list of people in the psychedelic community, a couple marijuana reform wins, a controversial new cannabis product, and a response from Decriminalize Nature about peyote conservation.
April
The results from a study that pitted psilocybin therapy against traditional antidepressants, a few drug policy wins, new psychedelic companies on the Nasdaq, and why Joe Biden’s son used psychedelics several years ago.
March
The results of latest LSD microdosing study, investors weigh in on psychedelic patents, two new drug decrim laws, Virginia’s close to legalizing cannabis, and more.
February
The first study on MDMA therapy for alcohol addiction; Cambridge, Massachusetts decriminalized psychedelics; COMPASS Pathways submitted a questionable patent application; several new professional psychedelic associations; and an update on the QAnon Shaman.
January
A cautionary tale about magic mushrooms, the psychedelic guru who stormed the U.S. Capitol, a city in Massachusetts that decriminalized natural psychedelics, and a new psilocybin church in Salt Lake City.
2020
December
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to federally legalize marijuana, New Hampshire’s Supreme Court approved the religious use of magic mushrooms, a pilot trial investigated MDMA-assisted couples therapy, psychedelic activist Sheri Eckert passed away, and more.
November
Drugs won the 2020 election, archaeologists find new evidence of ceremonial datura use in Californian caves, a preliminary study found that magic mushrooms may be really effective at treating depression, and the first non-palliative Canadian was granted access to psilocybin therapy.
October
The psychedelic policies that will be on the ballot next month, the Supreme Court declines to hear a case to reschedule cannabis, a Canadian company harvests its first flush of psilocybin mushrooms, and new evidence suggests early Christians drank hallucinogenic wine.
September
Ann Arbor decriminalizes psychedelics, the U.S. House of Representatives postpones vote on federal cannabis legalization bill, Usona Institute puts psilocybin synthesis method in public domain, and COMPASS Pathways becomes first psychedelic company to go public in the U.S.
August
A forthcoming study will explore combining MDMA with LSD to avoid bad trips, four terminal cancer patients in Canada were granted a legal exemption for psilocybin therapy, and MAPS raised $30 million to conduct its Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.
July
Two of the world’s most prolific LSD chemists were released from prison, Virginia’s cannabis decriminalization law is in effect, and a massive update on a ton of psychedelic and cannabis policy reforms.
June
A follow-up study found long-term benefits of treating PTSD with MDMA, the launch of the world’s first psychedelic stock index, a Phase 2 clinical trial of LSD for suicide headaches begins treating patients, a Spanish porn star was charged with manslaughter following a 5-MeO-DMT ritual, and can DMT be used therapeutically?
May
Using cannabis and ketamine to deal with COVID-19, DMT makes you believe in God, researchers accidentally get high from inhaling penguin poop, a star-studded psychedelic documentary comes out on Netflix, and an ethical pledge for psychedelic businesses.
April
Scientists figure out how to grow psilocybin from yeast, people are still stranded at ayahuasca retreats, cannabis reforms are struggling, Virginia legalizes medical marijuana, and magic mushroom macrodosing legend Kilindi Iyi passes away.
March
Allegations of sexual abuse in psychedelic research, the cannabis industry experiences both wins and losses due to the coronavirus, the emergence of remote psychedelic therapy, and a study finds that participants claim they were tripping when they were only given placebos.
February
The first-ever Thank You Plant Medicine Day is a success, psychedelic companies are about to go public, and Washington, D.C. psychedelic decriminalization ballot measure advances.
January
Santa Cruz decriminalizes psychedelics, a Canadian company offers a microdosing kit, a study finds ayahuasca afterglow increases mindfulness, and Compass Pathways gets a patent for its crystalline psilocybin formulation.