The war on drugs began in the 1970's, most notably with psychedelics. Most people when they think of someone doing magic mushrooms or LSD imagine someone trying to fly or in a corner trying to hide from their hallucinations. At the other end of the spectrum there is the hippy who does not work, does not contribute to society and spends all day "tripping." Well, I am happily here to tell you that is a terrible misconception brought on by the war on drugs and society's inability to open their mind. Psychedelics under controlled conditions can actually cure depression, help with PTSD (I am looking at you veterans affairs) and generally make you a more loving, open person. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, founded by Dr. Rick Doblin, is dedicated to the scientific research of psychedelics and marijuana in treatment of psychiatric disorders. I unfortunately did not stumble upon this till this morning, but three months ago Dr. Doblin and his team did an AMA on Reddit.com. For those who do not know what an AMA is, it stand for "ask me anything." It has allowed countless scientists, politicians, writers, etc., to answer questions from curious readers. I would really love for you to go read their AMA:
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s0mt7/i_am_rick_doblin_phd_founder_of_the/, but I just want to share with you one question and answer from the forum:
DrMattJHU
"Hey Rick et al., Matt Johnson here from Johns Hopkins [University School of Medicine, a very prestigious school!]. Glad you're doing this AMA. My question is: What do you think the world would be like today if psychedelic research (including therapeutic use research) had not shut down in the 1970? That is, both in terms of medicine and the larger culture. Good luck with all the questions... Thanks!"
MAPSPsychedelic
"Hey Matt! If psychedelic research had not been shut down in the 1970s, and if the cultural crackdown had not taken place, I believe there is a very good chance that the United States would never have invaded Iraq and that the War on Drugs would have ended. The reason I say this is that the whole process of scapegoating and finding external enemies is in part because of our inability to handle our own flaws and imperfections, which we then project outward. Also, the process of dehumanization, the demonization of others, is reduced if we have a culture where spiritual experiences and a sense of unity are more widespread, and where we realize that we share more in common in other people than we have differences.
The UNESCO charter says, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” I think the psychedelic mystical experience is one of the strongest defenses of peace that can be constructed. Albert Einstein said that the splitting of the atom changed everything but our mode of thinking, and that as we “drift toward unparalleled catastrophe,” what shall be required by mankind to survive is a whole new mode of thinking. This new mode of thinking is, I believe, a spiritual orientation.
For me personally, and for many others, psychedelics, more so than traditional religious rituals, have opened the door to spiritual experiences. I therefore think that if our culture had mainstreamed psychedelics in the 1970s rather than demonized them, 45 years later we would have a more spiritual world, a more compassionate world, and would be dealing with the stresses of globalization in much healthier ways.
-Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director"
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1s0mt7/i_am_rick_doblin_phd_founder_of_the/, but I just want to share with you one question and answer from the forum:
DrMattJHU
"Hey Rick et al., Matt Johnson here from Johns Hopkins [University School of Medicine, a very prestigious school!]. Glad you're doing this AMA. My question is: What do you think the world would be like today if psychedelic research (including therapeutic use research) had not shut down in the 1970? That is, both in terms of medicine and the larger culture. Good luck with all the questions... Thanks!"
MAPSPsychedelic
"Hey Matt! If psychedelic research had not been shut down in the 1970s, and if the cultural crackdown had not taken place, I believe there is a very good chance that the United States would never have invaded Iraq and that the War on Drugs would have ended. The reason I say this is that the whole process of scapegoating and finding external enemies is in part because of our inability to handle our own flaws and imperfections, which we then project outward. Also, the process of dehumanization, the demonization of others, is reduced if we have a culture where spiritual experiences and a sense of unity are more widespread, and where we realize that we share more in common in other people than we have differences.
The UNESCO charter says, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” I think the psychedelic mystical experience is one of the strongest defenses of peace that can be constructed. Albert Einstein said that the splitting of the atom changed everything but our mode of thinking, and that as we “drift toward unparalleled catastrophe,” what shall be required by mankind to survive is a whole new mode of thinking. This new mode of thinking is, I believe, a spiritual orientation.
For me personally, and for many others, psychedelics, more so than traditional religious rituals, have opened the door to spiritual experiences. I therefore think that if our culture had mainstreamed psychedelics in the 1970s rather than demonized them, 45 years later we would have a more spiritual world, a more compassionate world, and would be dealing with the stresses of globalization in much healthier ways.
-Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director"
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