Roland Griffiths on "The Mystical Experience and Psilocybin Research"

[@thomasgill223]

Such wonderful research, particularly in how the psilocybin couch studies producing transformational enduring positive change. I hope that someday in the future this guided and supported psilocybin experience will be available for all that desire it. What a potential boon to society and the individual.

[@ajmlyons]

Thanks for sharing. Huge fan of Roland's work!

[@YiannisPho]

I have never taken psilocybin or any of the other hallucinogens. After listening to this extremely informative lecture, I'm now sorry I never did. My hope is that the US government will reduce the restrictions on its use, starting with the terminally ill. Perhaps a broader and deeper understanding of our interconnectedness, and a stronger sense of empathy toward all living beings will have an effect on the frequency of violence, war, environmental awareness, consumerist greed. (Would libertarians and Tea-partiers alter their views, or would they be in that minority of psilocybin users who just have a bad trip?)

[@SimplyBlackMe75]

I have often wondered the same. What a beautiful world we could live in if everyone were to experience this. I wish psilocybin was in the water supply instead of fluoride.

[@veilofreality]

Thanks for posting this. This series of uploads are invaluable, just enjoyed two, will get into the others soon. Two thumbs up. Subscribed.

[@Stgfre]

How may I participate in this study or clinical trial?

[@MrZimmaframe]

I think it's interesting them talking about the use of the drug as they are not comparing to other substances such as alcohol which can cause death and can easily be abused. It's all down to the user, Psilocybin was legal in Amsterdam up until 2007-8 i think will no issues until someone with psychosis had the substance. You cannot deny people a cure for their illness such as depression or anxiety because of the variable of abuse. I think antidepressant have far more of a damaging impact on people that Psilocybin. Everyone that i know who has taken Psilocybin it has helped them in a positive way, whereas i know many people who have had problems with SSRI's and alcohol

[@jackchorn]

And..... the gentleman asks what the danger is to people having adverse side effects. The Doctor goes on to say that there has been stories that it triggers schizo or depression. But what about the young children on amphetamines for ADHD? has there been a study on the mental effects of this? Is it questioned like this? It seems that many of the children who are responsible for these mass school shootings all have been or are on RX either for depression or amphetamines. Just what mental conditions are being supported or created by these drugs? Culturally today its more accepted to be a successful sociopath as compared to a meditating Buddhist.

[@freeri87]

I'm dying to know what the so-called "mystical experience" consists in/of. I have experience with around 2 grams of Norwegian Psilocybe semilanceata. I think you have to work very hard indeed to reach Nirvana and the like.

[@RobSinclaire]

The "Mystical" experience will remain such; until we understand it better.

[@djaldd420]

25:07 It would have been cool to see a low dose / high support group to determine whether they could achieve any results. I get the feeling they would be a good couple of notches above the control group, but still a good ways below the high dose camp. Very interesting study nonetheless.

[@Kafei]

I thought the bald dude in the front was Alexander Shulgin until I heard him speak at the end. To answer one of the audience member's questions at the end as to whether trained monks are unfazed by psilocybin would be because the state the reason monks are unfazed is because psilocybin is inducing the same state they enter into in the deep meditative states, so they're not astonished. They've a religion that has trained them to navigate through that type of experience.

[@derangedhermit7981]

I would love to see research on hard, if not impossible to treat personality disorders like borderline personality disorder. Perhaps three groups: the first as a control using just DBT, a second group on psilocybin and a third with both DBT and psilocybin. with the later two groups divided into microdosing and heroic dose groups. My own experience with a non pharmaceutical mystic experience eliminated my own BPD symptoms for a little over over a year.

[@piggie916]

I hope anybody doing this research reads this. You need to let people eat the mushroom. I know you are measuring out psilocybin so you can have a scientific study. This is by far not the true nature of the mushroom. In fact, there are SEVERAL active alkaloids that you are not including in your research that come with the mushroom experience. This is pin pointing what you THINK causes all the effects, and indeed it is responsible for most of the altering effects. You are leaving out the most mystical part, that's becoming one with a vegetable, not a molecule. Please do more studies. Grow your own mushroom strains out so you can guarantee flat alkaloid rates so you can have a real scientific study.

[@sharkonwhisky]

From Albert Hofmann's 'LSD: My Problem Child': "As we took leave of Maria Sabina and her clan at the crack of dawn, the curandera said that the [synthetic psilocybin] pills had the same power as the mushrooms, that there was no difference. This was a confirmation from the most competent authority, that the synthetic psilocybin is identical with the natural product. As a parting gift I let Maria Sabina have a vial of psilocybin pills. She radiantly explained to our interpreter Herlinda that she could now give consultations even in the season when no mushrooms grow."

[@piggie916]

It's nice reading it. You will never understand.

[@sharkonwhisky]

piggie916 I think it is you that doesn't understand. No one is in a better position to comment in an informed way on this subject than the late, great Mazatec shaman Maria Sabina mentioned above, who was better and more deeply acquainted with the mushroom than probably anyone else alive.

[@jackchorn]

He should also show the results of the group that were put on amphetamines. I know that if anything the drug gives the opposite effect and dulls the mind compared to the experience of meditation or mushrooms. The funny thing is that doctors today hand out amphetamines like candy to our children-why? This study is funny- so careful and strict scientific guidelines for "tripping" but he later talks about becoming illuminated- as if this is perfectly accepted state of being that everyone strives for but lack the ability. It seems pretty clear that that "tripping" has the ability to access levels that can be acquired by meditation- but unless you live in a cave and eat only locust and honey- the level of "tripping" by meditation is not feasible for the average citizen. The drug alters how you think- most people who meditate don't want to, or simply can't go to that level.

[@Sternendiener]

God and Unity is a common American experience. They're not very concentrated.