Thanks for sharing this.
As someone who suffers from depression it would be great if we were allowed the medical option of LSD or psychedelic therapy - it is one of the few treatments that has been found to be curative.
Unfortunately, as I discuss in one of my recent posts on drug policy, the hard-line stance that most governments have on these sorts of substances has a crippling effect on medical research into them.
Only very brave physicians are willing to take the risk of doing research which is considered both controversial and academically risky. Further the lack of research then gets cited by politicians as a reason for not relaxing the rules which restrict research on illegal substances. This is despite some of these amazing outcomes being known since the 1960s.
Thankfully some brave scientists and doctors in the medical/psychiatric field have resumed this research in the last decade despite the hurdles that make it very difficult. The work has also expanded from psychiatric disorders like depression and PTSD to other fields such as palliative care where psychedelics have helped people come to terms with terminal illness.
Let's hope that the lessening of the hardline government attitudes to things like marijhuana feeds into other drugs like LSD that have potential medical uses.
Let's also hope that it is not sabotaged by vested interests like drug companies who would rather keep people on expensive antidepressants for life than offering them a potential cure.
I absolutely agree with everything you said; fortunately we're living in a time when there's greater hope for the future of psychedelic medicine than ever before. Ketamine, in particular, is already proving to be a novel antidepressant with greater efficacy than currently-available pharmaceuticals. The studies being carried out right now, particularly on LSD brain imaging and MDMA as a treatment for PTSD, bring hope to many that these treatment options will be legally on the market soon. I hope that one day I'll be able to contribute to this growing movement with research of my own.
I'm going to take a look at your drug policy post right now. Thank you so much for sharing, and I wish you all the best in working through your depression as well. Let's hope for radical changes in alternative therapies!
Thank you and I look forward to your future posts and any potential research you might do.