Psychedelic Science Conference in Oakland April 18-23

Over 100 of the world’s leading researchers, from 13 countries, will be presenting recent findings from their research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs at the Psychedelic Science 2013 conference in Oakland from April 18-23.

Researchers will be discussing their clinical studies with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca, ibogaine, ketamine, cannabis, and other psychedelic drugs.

Long ridiculed, demonized, or ignored by the mainstream media, psychedelic drugs are finally being taken seriously by the scientific community.

New research is confirming the results of older studies, which suggest that these mind-bending substances have a myriad of useful medical applications.

After a worldwide ban on clinical research with psychedelic drugs that lasted for 18 years, there is now an explosion of research occurring all over the globe, and we are currently witnessing a genuine scientific renaissance. 

Psychedelic Science 2013 presents and celebrates this exciting new research, with three days of conference presentations and two days of workshops.

Additionally, there will also be fund-raising dinners, music, parties, art exhibits, films and documentaries, dance performances,  and even a sunset cruise on the San Francisco Bay.

This extraordinary conference is being hosted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the Bekley Foundation, the Council on Spiritual Practices, and the Heffter Research Institute--those privately-funded organizations that made this research possible.

Some of the stellar speakers lined up for this not-to-be-missed event include psychiatrist Petter Gasser, who will be talking about his long-anticipated research with LSD psychotherapy in Switzerland.

Gasser’s research--which was the first clinical LSD study on the planet in more than 35 years--examined how LSD-assisted psychotherapy affects the anxiety associated with suffering from an advanced, life-threatening illness. 

Johns Hopkins University neuroscience researcher Roland Griffiths will be discussing his landmark studies into psilocybin-facilitated mystical experiences. 

Since 2005, Griffiths has been studying the clinical effects of psilocybin, the psychoactive component of the magic mushroom.

Amidst a wealth of evidence for psilocybin’s potential therapeutic value, Griffiths’ research has confirmed that religious experiences can sometimes be achieved with psilocybin that are indistinguishable from those reported by mystics throughout history.

Psychiatrist Michael Mithoefer, and his wife, certified nurse Annie Mithoefer, will be speaking about their groundbreaking MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research with posttraumatic stress disorder, and their  recent studies with war veterans, firefighters, and police officers.

Neuroscientist Dennis McKenna will be speaking about ayahuasca admixture plants as an “uninvestigated folk pharmacopeia.”

Some of the many other speakers include psychiatric researcher Stanislav Grof, psychologist Ralph Metzner, neuroscientist David Nichols, and psychologist James Fadiman.

I’ll also be there, discussing my latest book, The New Science of Psychedelics: At The Nexus of Culture, Consciousness, and Spirituality.

The conference will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center, located at 1001 Broadway in Oakland.

Continuing Education (CE) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit will be available.

Hope to see you there!

To learn more about the conference, or to register, see: http://www.maps.org/conference/

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