As we settle into MAPS’ brand new office headquarters in Santa Cruz, Calif.—just a few doors down from our old building, but with more space and greater capacity to support the continued expansion of our work—we notice that every time in our 29-year history that MAPS has needed to grow, our friends and supporters have been there to see us through. We are excited and grateful to take these next steps with you.
On April 9, the 24th and final subject was enrolled and treated in our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for 24 U.S. veterans, firefighters, and police officers with treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On May 18, Principal Investigator Michael Mithoefer, M.D., will share preliminary results at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada.
On May 5, MAPS was a proud participant in Silicon Valley Gives Day 2015. We are grateful to every one of our 100 donors, and to the many more who shared the campaign, for helping raise $11,715 for MDMA biomarker research at Stanford University for our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety in autistic adults.
In the May 2015 edition of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Email Newsletter, you’ll also learn:
- The 19th subject is enrolled and treated in our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in Boulder, Colorado
- Thirty Zendo Project staff and volunteers provide psychedelic first aid services at AfrikaBurn in South Africa
- Early bird tickets are now available for the official book launch and art gallery on July 19 in San Francisco for Stan Grof’s upcoming Modern Consciousness Research and the Understanding of Art, including The Visionary World of H.R. Giger—now available for presale!
- WEED 3, a special report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN about the politics of medical marijuana research, turns the spotlght on MAPS and Dr. Sue Sisley’s work to study medical marijuana for U.S. veterans with PTSD
Stay in touch by following MAPS on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and reddit. We’re also now on Tumblr, Pinterest, and Google+!
All of our successes—from eliminating barriers to psychedelic and medical marijuana research, to opening hearts and minds to the importance of careful scientific research—has been made possible by your support. Thank you for being with us, every step of the way.
|
Always upward,
 Brad Burge MAPS Director of Communications and Marketing |
- Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Therapy
- U.S. Veterans: Final Subject Enrolled and Treated
- Boulder: 19th Subject Treated
- Zendo Project Report: AfrikaBurn 2015
- Thank You for Supporting Psychedelic Science in Silicon Valley!
- April Giving Report: Thank You for Your Continued Suppor
t - CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Forces TV, Healthline, and more…
- Modern Consciousness Research and the Understanding of Art by Stanislav Grof, M.D. NEW
- Second Chance for Rare Psychedelic Research Artifacts
- Book Launch and Art Gallery: The Visionary World of H.R. Giger with Stan Grof: July 19, San Francisco
- The Nature of Consciousness Conference: May 9-10, University of California, Santa Cruz
- American Psychiatric Association 168th Annual Meeting: May 18, Toronto, Canada
- Psychology of the Future Online Summit: Content Available June 1
- 9th Annual Women’s Visionary Congress: Rising from the Underground: June 19-21, Petaluma, CA
- Breaking Convention: July 10-12, University of Greenwich, UK
- Psychedelic Science 2017: April 19-24, 2017, Oakland, CA SAVE THE DATE
- Study Published: Antidepressant Effects of Ayahuasca
- Research Travel Grants: Psychoactive Substances Research Collection at Purdue
Psychedelic Harm Reduction
Support MAPS
Media
MAPS Store
Events
More News
On Sunday, April 19, CNN premiered WEED3: The Marijuana Revolution, a special report by CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the politics of medical marijuana research, with a special focus on MAPS and Dr. Sue Sisley’s work to study medical marijuana for U.S. veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
TREATING PTSD WITH MDMA-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
1. U.S. Veterans: Final Subject Enrolled and Treated
On April 9, 2015, the 24th and final subject was enrolled and treated in our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for 24 U.S. veterans, firefighters, and police officers with treatment-resistant PTSD. The first subject was enrolled in November 2010. Nine of the 24 subjects have also enrolled in our ongoing sub-study, in collaboration with researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), of the physiological effects of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. This sub-study is using heart rate variability (HRV) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore correlations with clinical outcomes. Principal Investigator Michael Mithoefer, M.D., will share preliminary results and ongoing research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD at the upcoming American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, from May 16-20, 2015. MAPS will also host an educational booth in the exhibit hall. Learn more…
$1,428,000 estimated study cost • $1,408,000 raised • $20,000 still needed
Learn about our work to make psychedelics and medical marijuana into prescription medicines at the redesigned maps.org.
2. Boulder: 19th Subject Treated
On April 24, 2015, the 19th subject was treated in our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in 23 subjects with PTSD from sexual assault, violent crime, war, natural disasters, or any other cause, taking place in Boulder, Colorado. “It was in a very unassuming building in downtown Boulder…It was not what I would have set up for myself, but ended up being perfect,” reported one subject in a reddit “Ask Me Anything” session last month. “It occurred to me that I am intelligent and capable…MDMA took my hand and showed me how powerful I was. How I utilized my intuition and intelligence all my life and overcame A LOT. I needed to know this about myself. I was only ever okay because I was all of these things…I was. I am.” Learn more…
$763,000 estimated study cost • $313,000 raised • $450,000 still needed
Learn about our Funding Priorities.
PSYCHEDELIC HARM REDUCTION
3. Zendo Project Report: AfrikaBurn 2015
From April 27 to May 3, 2015, 30 Zendo Project volunteers provided psychedelic first aid services to 80 guests of the Sanctuary space at AfrikaBurn 2015, the official regional Burning Man event in Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa. Working together with medical and rangers, volunteers were able to provide compassionate support for over 70 guests. Zendo Project Coordinator Sara Gael and veteran volunteer Rion Beauregard also led two harm reduction trainings during the event, which drew over 60 attendees. This was the third year that the Zendo has partnered with AfrikaBurn to provide assistance for those undergoing challenging or overwhelming experiences, substance-related or otherwise, during the event. In her Winter 2014 MAPS Bulletin article, psilocybin researcher and Zendo Project volunteer Katherine MacLean, Ph.D., wrote about her experience working with the Zendo Project at AfrikaBurn 2014: “AfrikaBurn is a model for harm reduction at its best. We were able to communicate and work directly with medical staff and rangers to comprehensively assess and meet the physical and mental needs of our guests. We often received and cared for individuals who had been cleared by the medical team, but who still needed a safe, warm place to spend the rest of the night.” Learn more…
SUPPORT MAPS
4. Thank You for Supporting Psychedelic Science in Silicon Valley!
MAPS was a proud participant in Silicon Valley Gives Day 2015, and we extend our appreciation to every one of the 100 donors who each gave from $3 to $1,000 to fund MAPS’ MDMA biomarker research at Stanford University, and to the many more who shared the campaign through email and social media. The one-day Silicon Valley Gives crowdfunding campaign raised $11,715 for research analyzing blood concentrations of hormones that may be involved in the effectiveness of MDMA when combined with therapy, as part of our ongoing study of MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety in autistic adults. The campaign also brought new visibility to MAPS and helped connect us with many new creative, risk-taking, and visionary supporters in Silicon Valley. In addition to meeting our $5,000 match from an anonymous donor, MAPS also received the $1,000 Silver Spring Networks Power Hour Prize for the Most Unique Donors (11:00am-12:00pm) for science and technology non-profits. On May 5, MAPS staff spoke with local media in Santa Clara, Calif., about our participation in Silicon Valley Gives. “As a non-profit research and education organization that develops psychedelics into treatments for mental health conditions, our focus today is raising money for a new treatment for social anxiety in autistic adults,” MAPS Clinical Research Scientist Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., told NBC Bay Area reporter Christina Loren. “Our goal is to help improve their quality of life, and celebrate them as individuals.” Learn more about Silicon Valley Gives…
5. April Giving Report: Your Loving Contributions
In April 2015, 225 donors lovingly contributed $23,374 in new donations and pledges to MAPS. Our gratitude goes to the Sarlo Foundation of the Jewish Community Federation Endowment Fund for a $10,000 grant in support of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety associated with life-threatening illness. Thank you to Ashley Booth of the Aware Project for raising $1,011 at Bicycle Day LA for MAPS’ research, to Morton & Arline Doblin for supporting Stan Grof’s travel to Israel with a $1,000 donation, to Donald Mack for general support, and to the 213 donors who each gave between $2 and $500. We also thank Thomas Heath for his $2,000 CAD gift to our sister organization MAPS Canada, and to the five donors who gave to our fiscally sponsored projects: Sublime Visions, Bluelight, the Global Ibogaine Therapist Alliance, and the Ethnobotanical Stewardship Council. For a complete fiscal year donor list, see our printed MAPS Bulletin Annual Report published in December of each year. maps.org/donate
Learn about including MAPS in your will or trust.
MEDIA
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
6. CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Forces TV, Healthline, and more…
FEATURED CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: WEED 3 | view
Dr. Sanjay Gupta | April 19, 2015
FEATURED CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: It’s Time for a Medical Marijuana Revolution | view
Dr. Sanjay Gupta | April 16, 2015
FEATURED Reset: Psychedelic Researchers Look to Silicon Valley for Support | view
Aaron Kase | April 30, 2015
Forces TV: MDMA: The Cure for PTSD? | view
Hannah King | April 23, 2015
Healthline: If Marijuana Is Medicine, Why Can’t We Buy It in Pharmacies? | view
Cameron Scott | April 10, 2015
HuffPost Live: “Brain Games” Host On Why We Need To Explore Medicinal Use Of Psychedelics | view
Josh Zepps | April 21, 2015
OPEN Foundation: Peter Gasser Dreams of Further Research with Group Settings | view
Olivier Taymans | March 30, 2015
Reset: MDMA Could Be Key To Easing Anxiety In Autistic Adults | view
Aaron Kase | April 15, 2015
The Verge: Scientists are Testing MDMA as a PTSD Treatment for Veterans | view
Thor Benson | April 24, 2015
Veterans for Cannabis Research: Open Letter to Kevin Sabet, SAM | view
Veterans for Cannabis Research | April 27, 2015
Explore MAPS in the Media for more psychedelic and medical marijuana research news.
MAPS STORE
7. Modern Consciousness Research and the Understanding of Art by Stanislav Grof, M.D.
| Official release date: July 19, 2015
After Sigmund Freud, who introduced the unconscious, the libido, and guilt into the interpretation of art, and Carl Gustav Jung who introduced the collective unconscious and the archetypes, we now have Stanislav Grof who widens the horizons by bringing in the perinatal and the transpersonal dimensions of human experience. Grof is unquestionably the third giant in the psychological interpretation of art in the modern age. — Ervin László PLUS: Join us for the official book launch and psychedelic art gallery with Stanislav Grof and Rick Doblin on July 19 at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco. $29.95 | 200 pages | Pre-order your copy now |
 |
8. Second Chance for Rare Psychedelic Research Artifacts
Did you miss out on the benefit auction last month, which raised over $10,000 for MAPS’ research and educational projects? Do you still want to bring home a piece of psychedelic research history? A limited number of signed prints of The Shulgins and their Alchemical Angels by Alex Grey are still available in the MAPS Store. You can also still find copies of PiHKAL and TiHKAL, signed by authors Ann and Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin.
EVENTS
10. The Nature of Consciousness Conference: May 9-10, University of California, Santa Cruz
The Brain, Mind, and Consciousness Society (BMC) is a unique interdisciplinary student organization committed to understanding human cognition, behavior and experience. The Nature of Consciousness conference features renowned speakers from across the country specializing in the science and philosophy of consciousness. MAPS Director of Development Virginia Wright, M.B.A., will discuss “The Potential of Psychedelic Psychotherapy.” Learn more…
11. American Psychiatric Association 168th Annual Meeting: May 18, 2015, Toronto, Canada
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD researcher Michael Mithoefer, M.D., and MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety in autistic adults researcher Charles Grob, M.D., will present at the American Psychiatric Association annual symposium in Toronto, taking place from May 16-20, 2015. On Monday, May 18, Dr. Mithoefer will present results and discuss the implications of MAPS’ ongoing Phase 2 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy PTSD research program, and Dr. Grob will discuss preliminary results from his study. MAPS will also host an educational booth in the exhibit hall from May 17-19. Learn more…
12. Psychology of the Future Online Summit: Content Available June 1, 2015
Do you want to know what the leading thinkers, personal growth professionals, and spiritual leaders of the world are building? The Psychology of the Future online summit features 10+ hours of incredible video interviews that will share what these visionaries believe about the future. With presentations and dialogues by leaders in the fields of personal growth, mindfulness meditation, self-transformation, science, technology, and the future of psychology. Featuring Virginia Wright of MAPS as keynote speaker. Register…
Looking for more ways to get involved? Check out our Student Resources page!
13. Women’s Visionary Congress: Rising from the Underground: June 19-21, 2015, Petaluma, CA
The Women’s Visionary Council will hold its 9th annual Women’s Visionary Congress from June 19- 21, 2015 at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) Earthrise Retreat Center in Petaluma, CA. The gathering will include presentations from visionary researchers, healers, activists, and artists from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The Women’s Congress welcomes students and is open to people of all genders. Register…
14. Breaking Convention: July 10-12, 2015, University of Greenwich, UK
Breaking Convention is a multidisciplinary conference on psychedelic consciousness, featuring more than 130 presenters from around the world, including MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. Co-sponsored by MAPS, the 3rd Breaking Convention will be held at the University of Greenwich on July 10-12, 2015. The conference program will include talks from over 130 experts, plus experiential and training workshops, mind-altering installations, art and dance performances, light shows, a comprehensive bookshop, two visionary art exhibitions, evening parties with live bands and DJs, and a psychedelic film festival. Register…
15. SAVE THE DATE Psychedelic Science 2017: April 19-24, 2017, Oakland, CA
Mark your calendars—it’s official! Psychedelic Science is coming back to the San Francisco Bay Area. The conference will return to the Oakland Marriott City Center in California from April 19-24, 2017. The conference will feature the latest findings in the psychedelic research community and is expected to sell out early. We are incredibly excited to start coordinating this monumental event. We will announce ticket sales, as well as opportunities to participat
e, closer to the date. For past conference information, speaker videos, and more from Psychedelic Science 2013, visit psychedelicscience.org.
MORE NEWS
16. Study Published: Antidepressant Effects of Ayahuasca
A group of Brazilian researchers has published the results of the first clinical trial of the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca in the Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, the official journal of the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry. The study sought to evaluate the effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in six volunteers with a current depressive episode, and found statistically significant reductions (up to 82%) in depressive scores one, seven, and 21 days after receiving ayahuasca in a clinical setting. Learn more | Download the full text
17. Research Travel Grants: Psychoactive Substances Research Collection at Purdue
The Psychoactive Substances Research Collection at the Purdue University Archives announces its inaugural Research Travel Grants program for visiting scholars. The purpose of this program is to support the research of scholars (faculty, students, and independent researchers) whose research cannot progress satisfactorily without consulting materials onsite in the collections of the Purdue Archives. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to individual scholars studying subjects represented in the Psychoactive Substances Research Collection onsite between June 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Learn more and apply…
Help us make psychedelics and marijuana into prescription medicines—donate today!