On April 8, 1986—36 years ago today—the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was founded by Rick Doblin, Ph.D., as a non-profit organization to fulfill the need to broaden psychedelic research, therapy, and develop legal options for psychedelic medicine.
At 36, MAPS is now older than I was when I started MAPS at age 32. Personally, it’s been a blessing to see so much progress and so much healing in my own lifetime. In MAPS’ 36th year, we’ll learn if our second Phase 3 study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD was successful. If so, FDA approval will likely take place in MAPS’ 37th year, and MAPS will also likely outlive me, which is a legacy to be proud of.”
—Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Founder and Executive Director
Now, we are closer than ever to legalizing MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though there is still a long road ahead. This year, we are completing the second Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, the final stage prior to requesting FDA approval for a new prescription treatment to help heal trauma.
For over three decades, we’ve been working to achieve mass mental health throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. To celebrate this, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane and review highlights from every year of our history.
1986
Rick Doblin founded MAPS as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization on April 8, 1986. Later that year, Doblin sued the DEA for the first time.
1987
Following MAPS’ first year as a non-profit organization, support for MDMA research increased and MAPS collaborated on a study protocol with researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
1988
MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., published the first edition of the MAPS Bulletin, titled “MDMA Can Become a Legal Medicine,” and the FDA rejected the second MDMA study protocol submitted by MAPS.
1989
MAPS continued to publish Bulletin articles about MDMA research, requests for donations, and discontinuing animal studies. A study on neuroendocrine and mood responses to intravenous L-tryptophan in MDMA users was also published.
1990
The FDA formed a new group to oversee psychedelic research protocols, opening the doors to modern psychedelic science. Regulation or Prohibition: Psychedelics in the 1990s became the first major psychedelic conference hosted by MAPS.
1991
MAPS announced the first protocol for MDMA-assisted therapy in terminal cancer participants suffering from clinically diagnosed anxiety and depression, and MAPS received a $10,000 donation toward an annual budget of less than $50,000.
1992
The FDA formally decided to open the door to psychedelic research in human participants, and later accepted MAPS’ Phase 1 MDMA safety and tolerance study protocol.
1993
MAPS hired Sylvia Thyssen as our first employee, celebrated the 50th anniversary of LSD, outlined perspectives on drug policy, and worked toward facilitating a pilot study for medical marijuana.
1994
MAPS revealed our organizational strategy, introduced our clinical plan for marijuana research, and started exploring the possibility of conducting research in Israel. Members of Congress voiced support for marijuana/AIDS research.
1995
MAPS initiated a study on the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for heroin dependence in Russia and resumed working on a protocol for MDMA-assisted therapy for anxiety associated with cancer.
1996
MAPS completed the first Phase 1 safety study with MDMA and resumed working on a protocol for anxiety associated with cancer. The first medical marijuana bills were passed in California and Arizona.
1997
MAPS published our first book, The Secret Chief: Conversations with a Pioneer of the Underground Psychedelic Therapy Movement by Myron J. Stolaroff. Researcher Donald Abrams received a $1 million grant to study the risks of marijuana.
1998
MAPS Founder Rick Doblin published a 34-year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment, which involved administration of psilocybin-assisted group therapy to prisoners in an effort to reduce recidivism.
1999
MAPS initiated the world’s first clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, which took place in Madrid, Spain.
2000
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and Michael Mithoefer, M.D., met for the first time and decided to work on MDMA/PTSD research in the U.S. The Spanish Ministry of Health accepted the first-ever controlled study of the therapeutic use of MDMA, later to be shut down.
2001
The FDA received MAPS’ protocol for a new study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Lyle Craker, Ph.D., submitted his first DEA application to manufacture marijuana for use in medical research.
2002
George Ricaurte published a paper on the neurotoxic effects of MDMA in primates, which was later retracted due to a drug labeling error. Media coverage of the paper led to a new stigma and political pressure ended the Spain MDMA study.
2003
The journal Science retracted George Ricaurte’s paper on the neurotoxic effects of MDMA in primates after MAPS sent multiple letters to the journal and an investigation revealed that the data were invalid due to a drug labeling error.
2004
The first shipment of research-grade MDMA arrived for MAPS’ trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, MAPS sued the DEA for obstructing marijuana research, and Peter Jennings’ Ecstasy Rising documentary improved public perception of MDMA.
2005
MAPS submitted a protocol of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in Switzerland, hearings were initiated for MAPS’ lawsuit against the DEA for obstructing marijuana research, and the Catharsis on the Mall event was envisioned by MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
2006
MAPS initiated new Phase 2 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in Switzerland and Israel, celebrated Albert Hofmann’s 100th birthday, and published two new educational books.
2007
MAPS and Dr. Peter Gasser initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety associated with advanced-stage illness in Switzerland.
2008
A shipment of LSD arrived in Switzerland for our study of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with advanced-stage illness. CNN and Dr. Sanjay Gupta produced a TV report about the potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy.
2009
Health Canada agreed to the protocol for a study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in Vancouver. Members of the U.S. Congress wrote letters in support of Lyle Craker’s application to grow marijuana for medical research.
2010
MAPS published strong results from the first Phase 2 pilot study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and we increased work on securing a DEA permit for Lyle Craker to cultivate marijuana for research and break the government monopoly on the supply of research-grade marijuana. MAPS also started research into ibogaine for opiate addiction.
2011
MAPS started research into ayahuasca for addiction, and the late Ashawna Hailey provided a donation of $5.5 million in the form of a bequest.
2012
The Zendo Project was created by MAPS to provide psychedelic peer support, harm reduction, and education for the Burning Man community in Black Rock City, Nevada.
2013
MAPS published promising results from our studies of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in Switzerland and ayahuasca for addiction. Over 1,500 people from around the world attended MAPS’ Psychedelic Science 2013 conference in Oakland, CA.
2014
MAPS published results from the first study of LSD therapy in over 40 years. Later that year, MAPS received a $2 million grant from the state of Colorado for marijuana research and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) was founded.
2015
The MDMA Therapy Training Program was created to train the next generation of psychedelic therapists. Reddit awarded $82,765.95 to MAPS and nine other non-profit organizations chosen by the Reddit community.
2016
MAPS initiated a study of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) integrated with MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in couples. The MAPS community raised over $140,000 in donations by hosting more than 80 Global Psychedelic Dinners.
2017
The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to MDMA for the treatment of PTSD, MAPS published results from studies of ibogaine for opiate addiction, Dr. Bronner’s pledged $5 million to MAPS, and 3,000 people attended Psychedelic Science 2017.
2018
MAPS successfully raised $8 million through the completion of the Pineapple Fund’s $4 million matching grant. How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan highlighted MAPS’ research and introduced a wide audience to psychedelic science.
2019
MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., presented the first official TED Talk about psychedelics. MAPS published results from the combined analysis of six Phase 2 studies of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
2020
The FDA agreed to an expanded access program for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, MAPS donors raised $30 million for psychedelic research during the Capstone Campaign, and we announced the positive result from our first Phase 3 trial.
2021
On May 3, 2021, our study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD achieved successful results for patients with severe, chronic PTSD.
