Psychedelic News Roundup: June 4-11

In a world where experts increasingly recognize psychedelic medicine as a crucial aspect of overall well-being, psychedelic substances are in the news with increasing regularity. From the personal experiences of celebrities to legislative changes and scientific breakthroughs, the landscape of psychedelic research and application is rapidly evolving. This week, we delve into the latest psychedelic news: from Drew Barrymore’s reflections, to groundbreaking research, legislative strides, and innovative therapeutic approaches, join us as we journey through the latest developments in the world of psychedelics.

Drew Barrymore and the Healing Power of Psychedelics

In a recent interview with New York magazine, actress Drew Barrymore discussed considering the use of psychedelics to explore why she’s not open to relationships. Barrymore, a former child star, expressed her exhaustion with romance and drama, stating that she’s curious to understand why she’s not open to a relationship. She suggested that she might need to try MDMA or psilocybin treatments to gain a different perspective.⁽¹⁾

“I’m curious to examine why I’m not open to a relationship,” she told the magazine. “I really think I have some serious sh*t buried. And I don’t know if it’s like I need to try an MDMA treatment or psilocybin as a way to get to some state where I could see things in a different way.”⁽¹⁾

Barrymore was open bout her difficult divorce, and mentioned that she hasn’t had sex since her 2016 divorce from Will Kopelman.⁽¹⁾

A successful daytime talk show host, Barrymore uses her platform on “The Drew Barrymore Show” to encourage her guests to open up emotionally. She also balances motherhood — she shares two young children with Kopelman — and her pursuit of fulfillment.⁽¹⁾

Rhode Island Moves Towards Legalizing Psilocybin

A Rhode Island House committee has approved a bill that would legalize possessing and cultivating psilocybin mushrooms while also preparing for regulated therapeutic access pending federal reform. The bill (2023-S 0806, 2023-H 5923) passed with amendments in a 12-2 vote will next be presented on the House floor.⁽²⁾

The legislation, which still needs to go to the state house for a full vote before moving to the senate, proposes to remove criminal penalties for possessing and cultivating up to one ounce of psilocybin for personal use starting on July 1. It also stipulates that if the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reschedules the psychedelic, the Rhode Island Department of Health will establish rules and regulations pertaining to cultivation, distribution, and medical prescription. This move is a significant step toward accepting and integrating psychedelic substances into mainstream healthcare.⁽²⁾

Antidepressant Psychedelics Without Hallucinations

Researchers have recently shown that separate mechanisms drive the hallucinogenic and antidepressant effects of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. This discovery could pave the way for using these substances as treatments that don’t trigger psychedelic trips.⁽³⁾

The study, led by the University of Helsinki in Finland, found that LSD and psilocin firmly bind to the receptor TrkB. In fact, the bond was 1,000 times more potent than some other antidepressants. This association boosted brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that controls plasticity and learning in the brain. By enhancing BDNF, psychedelics made it easier for mice to create new neural pathways and unlearn a conditioned fear response. However, some questions remain, particularly regarding the value of the psychedelic hallucinogenic properties and their subsequent effects. Some suggest that the mystical experience brought on by a psychedelic event may be part of what makes them so effective.⁽³⁾

Cybin’s CAD$41M Share Purchase Commitment

Cybin Inc., a Canadian clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of developing innovative, psychedelic-based treatment options, has announced a share purchase commitment and successful fundraising of CAD$41M. This latest agreement propels Cybin’s capital access to over CAD$70M, an impressive escalation from their at-the-market offering.⁽⁴⁾

Since its inception, Cybin has astoundingly raised and accessed over CAD$200M, funding its dynamic clinical pipeline of proprietary psychedelic molecules. The agreement solidifies Cybin’s position as an industry front-runner and provides a steady runway for its ongoing expansion in the field of psychedelic therapeutics. Recently, Cybin announced the successful completion of the CYB-003 Phase II clinical trial. CYB-003 is a psilocybin analog being explored as a treatment for major depressive disorder. ⁽⁴⁾

Psychedelics Research Discussed in Dubai

Representing a milestone in psychedelics education, the Dialogues in Mental Health: Novel Treatments in Mood Disorders conference is scheduled for June 10th in Dubai. The conference, organized by The Energia Foundation in partnership with Tabula Rasa Ventures, Reem Neuroscience Center, Abu Dhabi, and The Valens Clinic Dubai, brings the discussion of psychedelic-assisted therapies to the Arab world.⁽⁵⁾

The conference aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and education among professionals, researchers, and stakeholders, promoting a medicalized, therapeutic, and evidence-based approach to psychedelic-assisted therapies.⁽⁵⁾

Advanced Brain Imaging Study Hints at How DMT Alters Our Perception of Reality

A study at Imperial College London has provided new insights into how the potent psychedelic compound DMT alters brain function. The study involved detailed brain imaging data from 20 healthy volunteers and revealed increased connectivity across the brain during the immersive DMT experience, with more communication between different areas and systems. The changes to brain activity were most prominent in areas linked with “higher level” functions, such as imagination.⁽⁶⁾

“Our results revealed that when a volunteer was on DMT there was marked dysregulation of some of the brain rhythms that would ordinarily be dominant. The brain switched in its mode of functioning to something altogether more anarchic. It will be fascinating to follow-up on these insights in the years to come. Psychedelics are proving to be extremely powerful scientific tools for furthering our understanding of how brain activity relates to conscious experience,” said Dr Chris Timmerman, Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London.

DMT is a potent psychedelic found naturally in certain plants and animals and is the major psychoactive compound in ayahuasca. The study is the first to track brain activity in such detail before, during, and after the DMT experience. Funding for the study was provided via Patrick Vernon and the Beckley Foundation. Some researchers involved with the study are now exploring how to prolong the peak of the psychedelic experience through continuous infusion with DMT and are advising on a commercially run trial to assess DMT for patients with depression.⁽⁶⁾