This past fiscal year, which ran from June 1, 1995 to May 31, 1996, was MAPS' tenth and most successful ever in terms of both fund-raising and membership. I believe that at least part of this increasing success can be attributed to MAPS' accountability, as evidenced by the detailed disclosure of our income and expenditures in an explanatory article printed annually in the MAPS newsletter. With this information, MAPS members can determine how their money is being spent and can judge for themselves whether the pattern of expenditures satisfies their criteria for the productive use of their charitable donations.
Another reason for the growth in donations to MAPS is our willingness to devote 100% of a donation to a specific purpose if the donor so desires, without subtracting any percentage for operating expenses. For MAPS to be able to offer this option, a sufficient number of MAPS members must be willing to make unrestricted donations that can be used for operating expenses. The policy of encouraging restricted gifts is thus dependent upon the determination of hundreds of individual members that the overall spending priorities of MAPS are consistent with their vision for this organization.
You can read this report in its original form here.
MAPS' total cash income in FY 95-96 was $190,330.
FY 95-96 was the best ever for MAPS in financial terms. In terms of MAPS' goals, however, the year was decidedly mixed. The most important accomplishment was the conclusion of Dr. Grob's Phase 1 MDMA safety study, which successfully laid the groundwork for future studies into the therapeutic potential of MDMA. This accomplishment alone made the entire year a great success.
A very disappointing setback was the continued suppression of Dr. Abrams' FDA-approved study into the use of marijuana in the treatment of the AIDS wasting syndrome. MAPS has now been trying for over four years without success to sponsor research into the medical use of marijuana. It seems that progress in the medical marijuana issue is dependent not on science but rather on politics. MAPS will particularly be watching the fate at the ballot box of California Proposition 215, which would legalize the right of patients or their primary caregivers to grow marijuana for medical purposes with the recommendation of a physician.
Also disappointing was NIDA's shortsighted decision not to fund Phase 1 human studies with ibogaine, even though the data from several million dollars worth of NIDA-funded animal studies suggested to many independent scientists that ibogaine might indeed have anti-addiction potential at acceptable levels of risk.
Despite the disappointments, and actually because of them, the need for an organization like MAPS is clear. MAPS will thrive to the extent that it can continue to weave together the support of a large number of small donors, a small number of large donors, the efforts of several committed physicians and researchers who invest their time in psychedelic and marijuana research, and the courageous actions of some government regulators who are willing to place science and human needs over the excesses of the War on Drugs.
Total expenditures in FY 95-96 climbed to $185,797.Income to MAPS for FY 95-96 amounted to $190,330 (not including $10,000 of Sun Microsystems stock) while expenses were $185,797. MAPS held a bank balance of $34,367 at the close of FY 95-96. Of this balance, $20,741.62 was in unrestricted funds and $13,625.47 in restricted funds, $12,126.47 restricted to MDMA research and $1,499 restricted to LSD research.
