Nine Sites Officially Screening in Phase 3 Clinical Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD
March 20, 2019
Dear friends and supporters,
Tremendous growth is happening in the field of psychedelic research. As of March 6, 2019, nine of fifteen sites are officially screening for our Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study participants will be administered MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy at research sites in several locations across the United States, Canada, and Israel. To learn more about currently recruiting national and international studies, visit our Participate in Research webpage.
On February 26, 2019, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) staff and researchers met for a publication meeting and data unblinding for the MAPS-sponsored clinical trial of smoked marijuana (cannabis) as a treatment for PTSD symptoms in veterans. All 76 participants have completed treatment, and the data from the study are now being analyzed and prepared for publication later this year in a peer-reviewed biomedical journal.
We are currently hiring! MAPS is hiring a Full-Charge Bookkeeper and MAPS PBC is hiring a Drug Development Assistant, Quality Intern (QI), Training Coordinator, and Adherence Rater. You can support MAPS by referring viable applicants to these open positions.
MAPS representatives will be included at upcoming high-profile events around the world, including MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., at TED in Vancouver, Canada, and Michael Mithoefer, M.D., at the American Psychiatric Association conference in San Francisco, California.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Zendo Project provided psychedelic peer support for attendees at Envision Festival in Costa Rica, assisting 183 individuals while providing outreach and education to dozens more. Volunteer applications are now open for the Zendo Project’s next event, Lightning in a Bottle, taking place May 8-13, 2019. Applications will be accepted until March 22, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Pioneering psychedelic researcher and author Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., passed away on March 14, 2019, at the age of 82. We are thankful for his lifelong dedication to providing the world with new insights, discoveries, and knowledge about the scientific and medical potential of psychedelics. MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., reflects on Metzner’s life, stating, “The name of MAPS came from a book Metzner wrote called Maps of Consciousness. I was searching for a word that had a ‘P’ in it for ‘psychedelic’ and remembered Ralph’s book title. Then I just had to figure out what M and A and S would stand for, and that was that. Ralph was a major inspiration to many, me included. His work contributed in a major way to the current renaissance of psychedelic research.”
• Free Book: Through the Gateway of the Heart – Accounts of Experiences with MDMA and Other Empathogenic Substances
• Video: Uses of Psychedelics in Shamanism and Psychotherapy – Psychedelic Science 2013
In this month’s edition of the MAPS Newsletter, you’ll also learn:
- The Ketamine Papers is 20% off through March 31
- New psychedelic events are available on the MAPS Event Calendar
- The MAPS Podcast features Andrew Weil, M.D., a leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine
- The Zendo Project is hosting a psychedelic peer support workshop at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) in June
Follow MAPS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and reddit.
We hope you have a lovely spring!
With appreciation,
Amy Mastrine
MAPS Web and Email Marketing Associate
Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Therapy
Phase 3 Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: 9 Sites Screening Participants
As of March 6, 2019, nine of fifteen sites are officially screening for our Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study volunteers will be administered MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy at research sites in several locations across the United States. To learn more about currently recruiting national and international studies, visit our Participate in Research webpage. Additional Phase 3 sites will be starting in the next several months.
Our FDA-regulated Phase 3 multi-site clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD are continuing to open sites for screening. Taking place at 15 locations across the United States, Canada, and Israel, study volunteers will be administered MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy at research sites in the following locations:
- Charleston, SC
- Boulder, CO
- Fort Collins, CO
- Los Angeles, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- San Francisco, CA (UCSF and private practice)
- New York, NY (NYU and private practice)
- Boston, MA
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Montreal, Canada
- Be’er Ya’akov, Israel
- Tel HaShomer, Israel (Sheba Medical Center)
Phase 3 clinical trials are assessing the efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in adult participants with severe PTSD. Over a 12-week treatment period, participants will be randomized to receive twelve non-drug preparatory and integration sessions lasting 90 minutes each along with three day-long sessions about a month apart of either MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy. The primary endpoint will be the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), as assessed by a blinded pool of independent raters.
The trials are the final phase of research required by the FDA before deciding whether to approve MDMA as a legal prescription treatment for PTSD. If approved, MDMA will be required to be used in conjunction with psychotherapy in a clinical setting.
To learn more about currently recruiting national and international studies, visit our participate in research webpage. • Learn More
Open-Label Lead-In Study of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: 30th Participant Completes Treatment
As of March 6, 2019, thirty participants have completed treatment in our Phase 2 open-label lead-in study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at planned Phase 3 sites across the United States and Canada. The purpose of this study is to provide the final training and provide supervision for our co-therapy teams as they each work with one subject with PTSD using the same treatment approach to be used in Phase 3. We are currently developing long-term follow-up protocol for this multi-site open-label Phase 2 study, which will assess symptoms of PTSD in participants 12 months after completing treatment.
Startle Testing with MDMA: Twelfth Participant Receives Experimental Treatment
On March 6, 2019, the twelfth participant completed experimental treatment in our ongoing study of the effect of MDMA on startle testing in healthy volunteers. Led by Principal Investigator Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., this study is conducted at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. This research group is planning to conduct a subsequent study exploring the combination of MDMA with Prolonged Exposure in people with PTSD. • Learn More
Expanded Access Training Update: March 2019
From March 3-10, 2019, 53 therapists, doctors, and counselors gathered in Asheville, North Carolina, to receive training from Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., and Michael Mithoefer, M.D., on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. This six-and-a-half-day training retreat is the first in a new series of trainings to prepare therapy providers to work on an anticipated Expanded Access (“compassionate use”) protocol, submitted by MAPS PBC to the FDA in January and pending approval. The retreat offers training MAPS’ manualized approach to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: a non-directive orientation in which each participant’s inner healing intelligence guides the therapeutic process. As a benefit for this training effort, One World Brewing hosted a community event to raise funds for potential Expanded Access clinics in Asheville, NC, with over 400 attendees.
Trainees represented more than 16 potential Expanded Access sites across 13 states. Additional guests in attendance received training to prepare for Phase 3 protocols in Europe and Canada, for a pilot MAPS-sponsored study of MDMA in the treatment of eating disorders, and for an investigator-sponsored trial integrating cognitive processing therapy with MDMA as a treatment for PTSD.
In a sign of the growing acceptance of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, the trainees included three psychotherapists from the Bronx VA, a psychiatrist from the U.S. Army, and a police psychotherapist from a city near Boston, MA. MAPS subsidized the training of all of these therapists as part of our outreach to the VA, DoD, and police.
Qualified sites interested in Expanded Access may now apply with MAPS PBC to assess eligibility and obtain the required training to administer MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD under an approved protocol. The basic requirements of a qualified site are 1) Treatment Facility conducive to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, 2) Therapy Team, qualified and able to complete MDMA Therapy Training Program, and 3) Prescribing Physician who can obtain a DEA Schedule I license for MDMA. At this time, only sites in the U.S. and U.S. territories may participate in a U.S. FDA Expanded Access program. Over the coming years, as Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials in Europe progress, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy clinical research develops internationally, the MDMA Therapy Training Program plans to offer more training opportunities abroad. More information on therapy training requirements and application procedures for Expanded Access sites and therapy providers can be found on our website.
The MDMA Therapy Training Program takes seriously our obligation to participant safety and to reflecting internally to promote ethical growth in our programs. We are committed to providing quality and comprehensive training and supervision to support therapy providers in delivering ethical care within MAPS’ MDMA-assisted psychotherapy protocols. In service to this commitment, the MDMA Therapy Training Program has established the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy Code of Ethics. This Code will be published in the MAPS Bulletin and posted online in the coming weeks. The Code will remain a living document to grow and adapt with the ongoing integration of feedback and evolution of needs over time.
The MDMA Therapy Training Program will host additional training retreats at various locations across the U.S. Marcela Ot’alora M.A., L.P.C., and Bruce Poulter, R.N., will lead a training event May 4-11, outside Fort Collins, Colorado. Additionally, the MDMA Therapy Training for Communities of Color, led by Marcela Ot’alora M.A., L.P.C., and Monnica Williams, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., with support from additional trainers, will take place August 10-17 in Louisville, Kentucky. Additional training retreats, once scheduled, will be announced via the MDMA Therapy Training Newsletter. To receive updates, please sign up online at maps.org/training • Learn More
Participate in Research
MAPS sponsors clinical trials around the world that require human participants. Our studies have strict enrollment criteria based on the goal of the study and the condition the study is investigating.
Phase 3 trial participant enrollment is now open. Please bookmark our Participate in Research page and check it frequently for updates.
Medical Marijuana
Data Unblinded for First Clinical Trial of Marijuana for PTSD in Veterans
On February 26, 2019, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) staff and researchers gathered for a publication meeting and data unblinding for the MAPS-sponsored clinical trial of smoked marijuana (cannabis) as a treatment for PTSD symptoms in veterans. All 76 participants have completed treatment, and the data from the study are now being analyzed and prepared for publication later this year in a peer-reviewed biomedical journal. • Learn More
Policy and Advocacy
MAPS’ Policy and Advocacy Efforts Reach Austria, Texas, and California
MAPS’ Policy and Advocacy team members are actively traveling around the world to educate the public about our work, which has led to current participation at the United Nations’ (UN) 62nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, Austria to present and advocate the human right to science and research with controlled substances, alongside international allies including International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS) and Science for Democracy. For more information about the UN CND, watch this video.
On March 16, 2019, MAPS Policy and Advocacy Director Natalie Lyla Ginsberg, M.S.W., represented MAPS at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2019 through participating in a panel discussion, The Future of Hemp and Health. In addition to this panel discussion, Natalie also collaborated with MAPS Development Officer Liana Gillooly on hosting the Psychedelic Science Meet Up at SXSW, a well-attended gathering that engaged and united the local psychedelic community.
On February 26, 2019, MAPS Policy and Advocacy Counsel Ismail Lourido Ali, J.D., spoke with Annie Oak of the Women’s Visionary Council at Psychedelic Systems of the Future, an event hosted by Psychedelic Seminars in San Francisco, California.
Psychedelic Peer Support
Zendo Project: Lightning in a Bottle Volunteer Applications, Envision Recap, and CoSM Workshop
The application for Lightning in a Bottle is now open! The date of this event is May 8-13, 2019. Applications will be accepted until March 22, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Applications will not be accepted after this date.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Zendo Project provided psychedelic peer support for attendees at Envision Festival in Costa Rica, assisting 183 individuals and providing outreach and education to dozens more. Zendo Project volunteers provided compassionate support for hundreds of guests, and dozens more used the Zendo Project facilities as a space to rest and rehydrate.
From June 29-30 at Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) in Wappinger Falls, New York, the Zendo Project will host a psychedelic peer support training about how to help someone having a difficult psychedelic experience. Techniques for transforming a potentially traumatic situation into a positive or even therapeutic one will be discussed. • Buy Tickets | Learn More 
Support MAPS
February 2019 Giving Report: MAPS Seeks Funding for European Studies
Currently, MAPS seeks $9 million for European Medicines Agency (EMA) trials to supplement the data gathered for the FDA, with $897,735 already raised and roughly $8.1 million still to go. We have completed key negotiations with EMA, and we will have a more precise estimate of timetables and costs for Phase 3 EMA trials in mid-2019 after completion of our negotiations with each country in the EMA in which we will have a Phase 3 site.
In February 2019, MAPS raised $1.67 million in new donations and pledges from 790 supporters. Of that amount, $1.62 million was for general support, and $51,123 for MDMA/PTSD Phase 3.
We extend a special thanks to those who so generously supported MAPS last month:
General Support:
- TIDES Foundation ($1.5 million)
- Robert Anthony Granieri ($50,000)
- David and Lisa Seligman ($15,000)
- Anonymous ($10,000)
- Jeffrey Zucker ($5,000)
- Anonymous ($5,000)
- John Heilemann ($2,000)
- Iiro Jalava ($1,000)
- Patrick Smith ($1,000)
- Ibrahim AlHusseini ($1,000)
MDMA/PTSD Phase 3 Research:
- Anonymous ($50,000)
Fiscal Sponsorship:
MAPS fiscally sponsors like-minded organizations and projects. This list includes donors who have contributed to organizations we fiscally sponsor.
- Anonymous ($300,000 – Mission Within)
- William Nathan ($25,000 – Prescription X)
- CIIS ($2,000 – Psychedelic Integration 2019)
- Brad Coy ($1,500 – Psychedelic Integration 2019)
- Matt Myers ($1,250 – Mission Within)
MAPS relies on the generosity of individual donors to achieve its mission. Psychedelic science is again being conducted under federal guidelines, but no funding for psychedelic psychotherapy research is yet available from governments or major foundations.
Help us reach our goal to make MDMA a medicine by 2021 by establishing a monthly gift of $10 or more. maps.org/donate
Learn how to include MAPS in your will or estate plans.
Learn more about hosting a Global Psychedelic Dinner to fundraise for MAPS.
Media
Featured Media: February 2019
- Fronteras Desk: Arizona Researcher Completes First Study Of Marijuana As PTSD Treatment
- Written by Will Stone on February 21, 2019
- Haaretz: Party Drug or Breakthrough Treatment? Israel Approves Compassionate Use of MDMA to Treat PTSD
- Written by Ido Efrati on February 10, 2019
- Psychedelics Today: Brad Burge – MAPS and the Phase 3 Trial for MDMA Assisted Therapy
- Written by Psychedelics Today on February 12, 2019
- Big Think: Decades Ago, Ecstasy — Yes, MDMA — Was Used in Marriage Counseling
- Written by Derek Beres on February 18, 2019
- Psychedelic Support: MDMA Could Revolutionize Care for Trauma, a Social Worker’s Perspective
- Written by Courtney Hutchison on February 19, 2019
- Fatherly: Wedded Ecstasy: The Couples Using MDMA to Fix Their Marriages
- Written by EJ Dickson on February 27, 2019
- The McGill Tribune: MAPS Canada Charts the Way for Psychedelic Therapy
- Written by Lucas Bird on February 19, 2019
MAPS Podcast
MAPS Podcast: Andrew Weil, M.D.
This episode of the MAPS Podcast features an exclusive interview with Dr. Andrew Weil. The interview centers around the new science of psychedelics and why current research plays such an important role in crafting a new model for overall integrative medicine. Dr. Weil lends his insight and expertise into the areas of psychedelic research that go hand in hand with his decades long work into alternative medicine and overall well-being.
Andrew Weil, M.D., is a leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing-oriented approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit. • Listen Now
MAPS Psychedelic Bibliography
Psychedelic Bibliography
The MAPS Psychedelic Bibliography is a searchable database of over 12,000 publications of psychedelic literature, scientific research, and popular culture articles. Each record consists of a title, author name or names, and often an abstract or notes about the piece. The bibliography allows people to learn more about where psychedelic science has been while keeping up to date on where it is going now. The Psychedelic Bibliography is an excellent resource for professional authors, university students, or MAPS fans seeking general information on the history of psychedelics. • Browse the Bibliography
MAPS Store
The Ketamine Papers edited by Phil Wolfson, M.D., and Glenn Hartelius, Ph.D. – 20% Off
The Ketamine Papers opens the door to a broad understanding of this medicine’s growing use in psychiatry and its decades of history providing transformative personal experiences. Now gaining increasing recognition as a promising approach to the treatment of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological conditions, ketamine therapies offer new hope for patients and clinicians alike. With multiple routes of administration and practices ranging from anesthesia to psychotherapy, ketamine medicine is a diverse and rapidly growing field. The Ketamine Papers clarifies the issues and is an inspiring introduction to this powerful tool for healing and transformation—from its early use in the 1960s to its emerging role in the treatment of depression, suicidality, and other conditions. This comprehensive volume is the ideal introduction for patients and clinicians alike, and for anyone interested in the therapeutic and transformative healing power of this revolutionary medicine. • Buy Now
Changing Our Minds by Don Lattin
Changing Our Minds is an experiential tour through a social, spiritual, and scientific revolution that is redefining our culture’s often confusing relationship with psychoactive substances. Veteran journalist Don Lattin chronicles the inspiring stories of pioneering neuroscientists, psychotherapists, spiritual leaders, and ordinary people seeking to lead healthier lives by combining psychedelic drugs, psychotherapy, and the wise use of ancient plant medicine. • Buy Now
Events
Browse our Event Calendar page for more opportunities.
The Students for Sensible Drug Policy International Conference, March 29-31, 2019, Rosemont, Illinois
SSDP2019: The Global Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference will bring more than 400 student members, alumni, and supporters to the Chicago area from March 29-31 for our annual gathering. Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Founder and Executive Director, will offer the keynote speech. • Learn More
International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances, April 8-9, 2019, Maastricht, Netherlands
The VI International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) aims to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration on NPS among multidisciplinary professionals at the international level. The conference is jointly organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), University of Hertfordshire, University of Maastricht. • Learn More
The Association for Transpersonal Psychology (ATP) International Transpersonal Conference, April 12-14, 2019, Pacific Grove, California
The Association for Transpersonal Psychology (ATP) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019 with an exciting conference. The theme of the conference is “The Future of Transpersonal Psychology: Acknowledging the Past, Honoring the Present, and Envisioning the Future.” We warmly invite you to join us in the historic celebration at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Grounds, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D., will be giving an address. • Learn More
Integrative Mental Health Conference, April 15-17, 2019, San Francisco, California
Join us for the 2019 Integrative Mental Health Conference taking place April 15-17 in San Francisco. Learn from 35 internationally renowned experts, including best-selling authors, award-winning physicians, researchers, and professors. Integrative methods to enhance mental well-being will be taught by speakers such as Dr. Andrew Weil, Michael Pollan, Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Dr. Richard Davidson, Dr. Dale Bredesen, Dr. Judson Brewer, Belleruth Naparstek, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, Dr. Charles Raison, and Dr. Andrew Newberg.
To win 2 free VIP tickets to the Psychedelic Stories Panel at Integrative Mental Health Conference plus 2 signed copies of Michael Pollan’s How To Change Your Mind, visit imhc2019.com/psychedelic-stories-panel. Deadline for entry is March 28 and winners are announced on March 29! • Learn More
American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, May 18-22, 2019, San Francisco, California
APA’s Annual Meeting is the premier psychiatry event of the year. This year marks the 175th Anniversary of the founding of the American Psychiatric Association. With 650+ educational sessions, 38 courses, 8 tracks, 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ available, and 15,000+ attendees, there’s no better event to learn, discover and experience the best educational content in psychiatry. • Learn More
Awakened Futures Summit 2019, May 18-19, 2019, San Francisco, California
From May 18-19, 2019, the first annual 2-day Awakened Futures Summit will discuss the intersection of psychedelics, technology and meditation. Attendees will explore how the renaissance of psychedelic science and the mainstreaming of contemplative practices might combine with the latest transformative technologies to create the next paradigm of healing and awakening. MAPS Development Officer Liana Sananda Gillooly will be a featured speaker at this event. • Learn More
Psychedelics 101 & 102 for Clinicians, May 18-19, 2019, New York, New York
This 2-day training offered by psychologists Ingmar Gorman, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Nielson is designed for clinicians and healthcare providers who want to learn more about current psychedelic research and clinical practice, including how to work with patients who have a history of psychedelic use or have expressed an interest in using psychedelics. • Learn More
Canna West Summit 2019, May 29-31, 2019, Los Angeles, California
Now in its 6th chapter, Infocast’s Canna WEST Summit returns with its unique cross-section of policy, health, and technical regulators from dozens of states. These regulators will engage with cannabis operators, testing and quality professionals, and solution providers. This is the place where innovators, advocates, and compliance consultants can sit down with policy leaders and compliance enforcers, understand their priorities, and in turn educate them on the unique needs and issues of the highly innovative cannabis culture and medical eco-system. • MAPS supporters receive 10% off registration with this coupon code: 192231
World Ayahuasca Conference 2019, Girona, Spain, May 31 – June 2, 2019
Join us in Girona, in the beautiful region of Catalonia (Spain), to celebrate the diversity of ayahuasca cultures, practices, art, film, and research. AYA2019 will be more than a conference. It will be the largest event ever held about ayahuasca, one where we inspire each other to work together for a more connected, meaningful, and sustainable life on earth. • Learn More
Queering Psychedelics, June 1-2, 2019, San Francisco, California
This 2-day conference is part of Chacruna’s Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities speaker series. It highlights the voices of queer visionaries within the psychedelic community as well as examines the history of psychedelics from queer and non-binary perspectives. As the so-called psychedelic renaissance reaches a pivotal moment of mainstream interest and regulatory legitimacy, it is vital that traditionally underrepresented communities share a seat at the table and have their voices heard so as to ensure access to all the benefits that psychedelics and plant medicine offer. • Learn More
Women’s Visionary Congress, June 14-16, 2019, Oakland, California
After a three-year hiatus, the 11th annual Women’s Visionary Congress will gather for the first time in Oakland, CA from June 14-16, 2019. More than twenty speakers will present new ideas for resilience and sustainability. Tickets are $125 for the entire weekend or $65 per day. The speaker schedule will be posted as presenters confirm. People of all genders welcome. The Women’s Visionary Council (WVC) promotes women who develop innovative mental health and community wellness services. The WVC hosts public discussions including the Women’s Visionary Congress. A non-profit educational organization, the WVC makes grants to advance the work of women healers, researchers, activists, and artists at the leading edge of cultural evolution. • Learn More
Zendo Project Workshop at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors: Peer Support Training 2019, June 29-30, 2019, Wappinger, New York
What can you do to help someone having a difficult psychedelic experience? What techniques are available for helping transform a potentially traumatic situation into a positive or even therapeutic one? Journey to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) for a special weekend workshop focused on psychedelic peer support led by the Zendo Project. Introduce yourself to tools and information on reducing potential risks of drug use and how to work with challenging experiences to create a platform for honest and responsible conversations about substance use. This training is designed for those who are interested in learning how to assist in difficult psychedelic experiences. We demonstrate that safe, productive psychedelic experiences are possible without the need for law enforcement-based prohibitionist policies. This is also an opportunity to connect with your community in an immersive workshop complete with role-playing, exercises for grounding and connection, and the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with your local community. Developed for peer counselors, educators, mental health clinicians, event producers, and individuals who are interested in volunteering for harm reduction organizations like the Zendo Project, creating their own grassroot peer support, or helping others experiencing psychedelic challenges. • Learn More
Breaking Convention 2019, August 16-18, 2019, London, United Kingdom
Breaking Convention is a biennial multidisciplinary conference on psychedelic consciousness, featuring more than 150 presenters from around the world. Europe’s largest conference on psychedelic consciousness, Breaking Convention is now approaching its eighth year. Breaking Convention is a truly multi-faceted festival selling nearly a thousand tickets in forty countries and offering the latest ground-breaking research and insights across human and social sciences, law, politics, art, history and philosophy. Spanning three full days, Breaking Convention features numerous workshops, awards, an art exhibition, and films. • Learn More
Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics 2019, October 11-13, 2019, New York, New York
Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics is an annual forum in New York City that examines the role of psychedelic drugs and plant medicines in science, medicine, culture and spirituality. In recent years, a growing community of scientists, doctors, scholars, and activists have orchestrated a renaissance in psychedelic research and practice. Horizons brings together the brightest minds and the boldest voices of this movement to share their knowledge, insights, and dreams for the future. Now in its twelfth year, Horizons is the largest and longest-running annual gathering of the psychedelic community in the world. • Learn More
International Drug Policy Reform Conference, November 6-9, 2019, St. Louis, Missouri
The International Drug Policy Reform Conference is a biennial event that brings together people from around the world who believe that the war on drugs must end. Reform attendees have the opportunity to spend three days interacting with people committed to finding alternatives to the war on drugs while participating in sessions given by leading experts from around the world. • Learn More
More News
In Memory of Ralph Metzner, Ph.D.
Pioneering psychedelic researcher and author Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., passed away on March 14, 2019, at the age of 82. We are thankful for his lifelong dedication to providing the world with new insights, discoveries, and knowledge about the scientific and medical potential of psychedelics.
MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., reflects on Metzner’s life, stating, “The name of MAPS came from a book Metzner wrote called Maps of Consciousness. I was searching for a word that had a ‘P’ in it for ‘psychedelic’ and remembered Ralph’s book title. Then I just had to figure out what M and A and S would stand for, and that was that. Ralph was a major inspiration to many, me included. His work contributed in a major way to the current renaissance of psychedelic research.”
Video: Uses of Psychedelics in Shamanism and Psychotherapy – Psychedelic Science 2013 • Learn More
Now Hiring: MAPS and MAPS PBC
MAPS is hiring a Full-Charge Bookkeeper and MAPS PBC is hiring a Drug Development Assistant, Quality Intern (QI), Training Coordinator, and Adherence Rater.
The Beckley/Imperial Psychedelic Research Program Self-Blinding Microdose Study
Contribute to psychedelic research on the effect of microdosing versus placebo by participating anonymously in a global study conducted by the Imperial-Beckley foundation. • Participate in the Study