Summary: Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Founder and Executive Director, explains the history, stigma, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential of MDMA on the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast. “Based on this understanding that it’s a fundamental human right to explore your consciousness,” Doblin proposes a future “licensed legalization system” for psychedelic use founded upon “honest drug education, harm reduction methods throughout society, drug checking, and treatment on demand.”
Originally appearing here.
Rick Dobin, PhD. is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). MAPS is a non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana.
Rick did his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists on cannabis in nausea control for cancer patients. He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on regulating medical uses for psychedelics and cannabis.
Rick and I chat about MAPS’ mission, MDMA history, stigma, and backlash, dispelling common myths and rumours around the pharmacology of MDMA. We chat about MDMA’s use in therapy – notably PTSD, how we form memories and why that’s important in treating PTSD, drug rescheduling, MAPS research, and much, much, more.