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Psychedelics Inching Forward in the news! 🌿 The House has passed veterans-focused marijuana and psychedelics amendments, allowing VA doctors to recommend these substances for therapeutic use. This move signals a positive shift towards more open policies and better treatment options for our veterans, particularly those battling PTSD. Read more about this significant step and its implications here: https://lnkd.in/engskDeU #Psychedelics #Marijuana #Veterans #Healthcare #PolicyUpdate

Attention Veterans! Navigating the complexities of VA benefits can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding cannabis use. At HeroGrown Foundation, we are committed to supporting veterans in their journey toward health and well-being. We've compiled answers to the Top 8 Questions About Cannabis and VA Benefits to help you better understand your rights and options. Whether you're curious about how cannabis might affect your VA benefits or seeking information on safe and legal use, we've got you covered! 🔍 Check out our comprehensive guide here: https://lnkd.in/gb_23nKv Visit our website for more resources and support tailored to veterans. Together, we can ensure you have the information you need to make informed decisions about your health. #Veterans #VABenefits #Cannabis #HeroGrownFoundation #VeteranSupport #HealthAndWellbeing #VeteranResources

A crucial initiative for UK medical cannabis patients launched recently from Release. Those who work in the space will be aware of interactions occurring between police and prescribed patients, wherein the police are not informed on the legalities of cannabis medicines, and the patients are unfairly victimised. Sometimes this leads to medicines being confiscated, in rare cases patients are even arrested. It's important to remember these instances are relatively rare. With over 30k prescribed patients, the numbers are likely in the tens, not the hundreds, but it's crucial we get a full picture of the scale of the issue. It's also crucial that patients have a place to go to get the legal advice and support they need to manage these incidents. That is what #ReleaseMyMeds offers - a simple questionnaire for patients to fill out who have had an incident of this kind. Through the questionaire, their incident can be assessed and appropriate legal advice given where appropriate. It also means their experience is compiled and reports can be written on the extent of the issue down the line. So how can you help? - Simply keep this link to hand, and help us promote the #ReleaseMyMeds initiative. Make sure those patients who are affected are aware. Release is the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law. The organisation, founded in 1967, is an independent and registered charity. They provides free specialist advice and information to the public and professionals on issues related to drug use and to drug laws.

UKRAINE | Le président Zelensky a promulgué une loi autorisant la prescription de médicaments à base de cannabis pour traiter des conditions médicales telles que la douleur, le cancer et le stress post-traumatique. (via Cannabis Health) Hanna Hlushchenko de l'Ukrainian Medical Cannabis Association: “Today we have 100% confirmation that the possibility for a medical cannabis market in Ukraine exists, what we must do now is create the market. My opinion is that products will be on the market by the end of the year. It might seem optimistic but the process is moving fast. There is the political will and this is explained by the amount of patients, by the war and those in the military who need access to medical cannabis. Not only for PTSD but for military veterans who are suffering with injuries and chronic pain.” Pour lire l'article: https://lnkd.in/eZfgVWaR #cannabis #cannabisqc #cannabisnews #cannabisindustry

Another exceedingly frustrating stance from federal regulators regarding the use of psilocybin to ease existential and psychological distress in individuals faced with a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis. Under federal and state Right to Try laws, an individual with a prognosis of 12 months or less to live (depending on state), can be prescribed an FDA investigational drug. The drug's eligibility is simple: has successfully completed a Phase I FDA approved study and remains actively under investigation. The DEA argues there was no provision made for a controlled substance. And that is exactly the point: there was no provision barring a controlled substance either. As that battle soldiers on, one related hope is the passage of federal legislation to specifically allow psilocybin under RTT, the Right to Try Clarification Act. I suggest writing or calling your congressperson to support this bill. https://lnkd.in/ebwGWmyC?

Lawmakers Urge VA to Draft Plan for MDMA-Assisted Therapy Ahead of Potential FDA Approval.  A group of bipartisan congressional representatives is calling on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prepare a plan for providing MDMA-assisted therapy to veterans. This call comes in anticipation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The lawmakers believe that without sufficient preparation, veterans may end up sourcing treatments from providers lacking requisite expertise and military context understanding, potentially posing significant costs to VA. The FDA has granted priority status to the review of MDMA-assisted therapy, targeting a determination date of August 11. House representatives, including both Democrats and Republicans, want official plans detailing care models and timelines for MDMA therapy administration and staff training. They have asked the VA to provide this strategic plan by July 1. https://lnkd.in/g5C6E8Un

Surprising article in Willamette Week that Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt is receiving a $30,000 campaign contribution from the Drug Policy Alliance. The New York-based Alliance was a major supporter ($4.5 million) to the campaign for Measure 110 in November, 2020, which decriminalized possession of cocaine, heroin, meth, and other hard drugs. The surprise was that Schmidt accepted this donation, given that four days after this article, he endorsed the re-criminalization proposal that is being considered by the Oregon state legislature. https://lnkd.in/gqdBtU5x Accepting the Alliance's donation would appear to remove the benefit that would normally occur from taking a popular decision. Still, the Schmidt campaign has raised only 60% of the dollars raised by Schmidt's challenger, Nathan Vasquez, not to mention the independent spending on billboards that criticize Schmidt. That is, he is accepting the $30,000 as a matter of survival. The donation also highlights the challenges for the effort to re-instate criminal penalties for drug possession and steer addicts towards drug treatment diversion programs. The legal system is a series of inter-connected institutions - police, detectives, prosecutors, defending attorneys, judges, jails, and treatment systems. A bottleneck in any one of those systems could block the functioning of the entire system. Perhaps the Alliance's support for Schmidt is a back-door effort to continue the system of drug decriminalization. However, rather than viewing the Alliance's support as an effort to undermine the legislatures efforts with a less compliant prosecutor, the Alliance's contribution is more likely a token contribution to recognize the previous efforts of the District Attorney Schmidt to move criminal justice policy away from the war-on-drugs. The election for Multnomah County District Attorney will be settled in the May primary. https://lnkd.in/gDNm3SjF

Review of The Overdoes Response Stratgey 2020 Annual Report. 2022. HIDTA Program. https://lnkd.in/e57gxgZb: High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. https://lnkd.in/eTzRswuh.

Check out this interesting study by Brad Ray (RTI) aimed at investigating the impact of law enforcement activities targeting drug markets on overdose events. Using data from January 2020 to December 2021, the researchers analyzed the relationship between drug seizures (opioids and stimulants) and fatal overdoses, nonfatal overdose calls, and naloxone administrations in the surrounding area and the time following the seizures. The results showed a significant increase in overdoses following opioid-related seizures. The study suggests the need for further exploration of the impact of supply-side enforcement interventions and drug policies on the ongoing overdose epidemic and national life expectancy.

In a recent joint committee meeting of the U.S. House and Senate, veterans service organizations (VSOs) passionately advocated for exploring the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy and medical marijuana. Notable organizations like the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Disabled American Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project underscored the urgent need for congressional action. IAVA emphasized that veterans are increasingly open to alternative therapies, with a significant majority expressing support for expanded access to psychedelic treatment options within the VA. VFW echoed these sentiments, urging policymakers to advance medical cannabis and explore alternative therapies for veterans' mental health issues. Furthermore, they highlighted ongoing VA research into MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and depression. While VSOs welcomed VA's steps toward psychedelic research, they raised concerns about capacity challenges and the need for clear implementation strategies. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington from the Wounded Warrior Project emphasized the importance of scaling treatment to meet the needs of veterans and providing tailored follow-up care. Additionally, VSOs stressed the necessity of differentiating between various psychedelic therapies and ensuring access to accurate information. They called for collaboration among stakeholders to address the complexities of psychedelic-assisted therapy effectively. Moving forward, VSOs will continue to advocate for VA research into medical cannabis and alternative therapies, prioritizing veterans' well-being. Their efforts underscore the critical role of veterans in advancing drug policy reform and expanding access to innovative treatments. As the conversation around psychedelic-assisted therapy evolves, VSOs remain committed to supporting comprehensive and evidence-based approaches to veteran health care. #VeteransHealth #PsychedelicTherapy #VeteransSupport #PTSDTreatment #MentalHealthCare #VeteransAdvocacy #VAResearch #DrugPolicy #VAHealthcare #PolicyReform https://shorturl.at/eflmo