Diese Woche findet im Kalifornischen San Jose eine internationale Konferenz zum Thema Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century statt. Organisiert wird das ganze von MAPS, der Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, und soll gemäss der NYTimes die grösste Konferenz dieser Art seit 40 Jahren in den USA sein. Mit dabei sind auch Alex Grey, die Gründer von Erowid.org und Ralph Metzner.

Die New York Times hat zu dem Thema einen Interessanten Artikel unter dem Titel "Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In Again", der sich insbesondere um die Behandlung von Krebskranken mit Psylocibin dreht:

"[...] After taking the hallucinogen, Dr. Martin put on an eye mask and headphones, and lay on a couch listening to classical music as he contemplated the universe.

“All of a sudden, everything familiar started evaporating,” he recalled. “Imagine you fall off a boat out in the open ocean, and you turn around, and the boat is gone. And then the water’s gone. And then you’re gone.”

Today, more than a year later, Dr. Martin credits that six-hour experience with helping him overcome his depression and profoundly transforming his relationships with his daughter and friends. He ranks it among the most meaningful events of his life, which makes him a fairly typical member of a growing club of experimental subjects. [...]"