MDMA (aka "ecstasy" or "molly") Could Be Sold as a Legal, FDA-Approved Drug in Just 5 Years

[steve2470]

http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/mdma-could-be-sold-legal-fda-approved-drug-just-5-years

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is one of the leaders behind the modern-day psychedelic research movement, and the scientists who have been heading the research investigating the therapeutic benefits of MDMA say that the drug could be an FDA-approved medicine in just 5 years.

In a MAPS video, Iraq war veteran Tony Macie discusses his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experience with standard therapy versus psychedelic therapy.

Macie says he became really dependent on a lot of the medications used in standard therapy, and then he “kind of just fell off the radar.” That is, until the retired sergeant became a part of MARPS’ clinical trial which was testing MDMA as an attempt to help patients who hadn’t responded to the traditional therapies for PTSD.

So, the not-so-traditional therapy that was tested was pairing MDMA, the pure form of the illegal party drug known as ecstasy (commonly referred to as “Molly”), with psychotherapy. Importantly, most researchers note that the majority of non-research ecstasy and Molly usually aren’t pure MDMA — so indulging in the substances sold on the streets should be done at your own discretion if you know the risks.

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. Wow. (NT)

[RAFisher]

2. The DEA still has MDMA listed as a Scheduled I substance

The FDA can recommend that it be changed but I believe the DEA still has the final say if MDMA should be rescheduled. The fucking morons at he DEA still think marijuana is more dangerous than cocaine so I wouldn't get your hopes. In the 80s MDMA was supposed to be a scheduled III drug but Reagan had other ideas. Congress can always override the DEA by scheduling a drug with legislation but that's not happening either.

Scheduled I drugs, by definition. have no approved medical value. It must be rescheduled before doctors can use it.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. my son and i were just discussing this yesterday

So many of his friends came back pretty messed up. He's dealing with it a little better now, but still struggling with depression mostly

[Nitram]

4. As with pot and LSD, the US government prohibits research into the potentially beneficial uses...

...of non-addictive drugs.

[eniwetok]

5. freedom to alter consciousness must be a right

Given the potential for addiction or for irresponsible drug users to harm others, there always going to be a public interest in developing rational laws concerning recreational drugs. But this freedom to alter one's own consciousness should be a right... and outright prohibitions on certain drugs like pot, MDNA, LSD etc are arguably unconstitutional. For a discussion on that issue see http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027725258

Laws must reflect a balance between responsible users and protecting the public. The potential psychiatric/medical uses for such drugs is also an area that needs more research... and the outright ban on such research reflects the idiocy and narrow mindedness of some who are in power.