On Monday August 23, the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced a new research center. Under their School of Pharmacy, the Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances will be established. There are a few goals the university plans to accomplish under this new research center.
“From cannabis to psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA (ecstasy), psychoactive agents are the new frontier for potential new therapies and medications,” Professor Paul Hutson said in the press release. He is a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy professor and an establishing member of the research center. “I anticipate FDA approval of psilocybin and MDMA within the next five years, and the UW Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances will help meet the need for more research into these applications, as well as others, that could dramatically improve patients’ lives.”
Goals
Firstly, the university will research the therapeutic potential psychedelics, like psilocybin and MDMA have for various conditions. Those include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and opioid addiction. Another aspect of the center is to provide educational training for the next generation of scientists and consumers as rules and regulations change across the U.S.
Finally, the University of Wisconsin wants to diversify the participant pool. Previously, people of color have often been underrepresented in psychedelic studies. The Transdisciplinary Center for Research hopes to change that.
“There is a substantial imbalance in the numbers of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American research participants in studies of psilocybin and other psychoactive medications. The center will seek opportunities to improve the representation of minorities, elderly, and marginalized groups in the forthcoming research on psychedelics,” says Hutson. He is a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy professor and an establishing member of the research center.
“Efforts to accomplish these goals align with established projects at the university that investigate the role and impact of psychedelic compounds across different cultures, including Indigenous communities.”
Psychedelic Laws
As the University of Wisconsin plans to open their research center, there are several cities and states enacting psychedelic laws. For example, the Massachusetts Joint Judiciary Committee is considering establishing a psychedelic task force to determine if decriminalization would be a viable option for the state. At the same time, California’s General Assembly will tackle a psychedelic legalization bill in January 2022.
Other cities across the country have decriminalized and legalized the possession of psychedelics. Currently, eight cities offer decriminalization measures, making psychedelic possession the lowest level of police priority possible. Several other cities are working to get decriminalization measures on the upcoming 2022 ballot. This expands the range of psychedelic inclusion, something cannabis experienced several years ago when legalization first began.
Psychedelics are next for legalization and activists say they are excited about this new endeavor. As more cities and states work to decriminalize and legalize psychedelics, we will update you with the latest.
Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.