It is an incredible happiness to share with you the success of the beginning of the Legalization of Psychedelic Therapy. Shamanic drugs are finally being recognized as important for mental health and well-being.

DOCUMENTARY (2023 version)

In 2015, Brazilian neuroscientist Eduardo Schemberg came to me after seeing an announcement of a lecture of mine at a Rave in Ceará. At this time he was starting the “MDMA in the Clinic” campaign, in partnership with the Californian MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). The most important institution of its kind in the world.

To include Brazil in global clinical trials we needed to raise 50,000 Reais in crowdfunding, but the biggest problem was the public’s lack of knowledge about MDMA. But, on the other hand, in electronic music, Ecstasy is the main drug. So I joined my research on the electronic scene with Eduardo’s. (MDMA is the main component of Ecstasy pills. But because it is illegal, more than half of them do not contain this substance).

With this documentary, we were able to include Brazil in the clinical tests necessary for the approval of any new drug. This can take several years and, at that time, the forecast of the possible start of legalization was the year 2023.

And it really happened! In February 2023, the first postgraduate course in Psychedelic Therapy authorized by the Brazilian Government began. And in July 2023, Australia became the first country to legalize Psychedelic Therapy.

The campaign was called “Help Legalize Psychedelic Therapy in Brazil” and I offered my help for the editing of the video. As I had been researching a lot since 2010, since when I started my anti-prohibitionist activism, I was able to help by including scenes and arguments linked to the recreational scene, which in Brazil is the only public that knows MDMA, through the popularity of the use of Ecstasy in Raves.

This 2023 version had its audio and video remastered in 4k, and now has subtitles in Portuguese and English. The soundtrack is partially tuned to 432 Hz.

PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY

Psychedelic therapy can treat difficult conditions in a few or even in a single session with the substance. It replaces a large amount of daily remedies, is closer to scientific research, is cheaper and safer. Conventional therapists study psychology where they have little pharmacology and neuroscience. Psychiatrists study medicine where they have little therapy and psychology. Psychedelic therapy is uniting these two knowledges.

Psychedelic therapy has already proven efficacy for: Couple Relationship Problems, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Drug Abuse, Depression and Anxiety. Psychedelic therapy is contraindicated for people with psychotic disorders. But it presents great results for neurotic disorders. 10% of the population of large cities has traumas considered incurable until then. And MDMA therapy cured 83% of them.

“The potential of Psychedelic Therapy is that it can take you faster and further than any psychoanalysis or therapy technique. Getting to where emotional and psychosomatic problems form. There, healing and transformation processes are produced that are much more powerful than anything that can be solved at the biographical level. We have heard many people who have tried many therapies for many years and who have never come as far as with Psychedelic Therapy.” – Stanislav Grof (one of the greatest specialists in psychedelics in the world)

SHAMANIC DRUGS

Shamanism is global, prehistoric and is considered the common origin of medicine, religion and philosophy. It is the rule in the history of humanity where our industrialized and non shamanic culture is the exception. In addition to Marijuana, the 4 classical psychedelics that also considered shamanic drugs are Mescaline, LSD, Psilocybin and DMT. They are among the safest drugs known and their risks are psychological. They do not cause overdose, are not addictive and are used in the treatment of addiction to other drugs.

See the map of shamanic plants from the book “Plants of the Gods” by “Albert Hoffman” and “Richard Evans Shultes” the father of Ethnobotanic who cataloged more than 1000 species including Peyote, Ayahuasca and more than 200 types of mushrooms with psilocybin. On the map it is shown from where these plants are native or where they were taken by the populations.

MDMA

MDMA is considered the most therapeutic of psychedelics. It is a semi-synthetic psychedelic amphetamine similar to Mescaline. It was invented in 1912, abandoned and synthesized by Shulgin in 1976. He introduced MDMA into therapeutic circles and quickly spread as an empathogen, which is a substance that creates emotional connection, harmony and understanding.

MDMA does not cause visual hallucinations and allows 70% connection with therapists against 30% of other psychedelics. It is an emotional and intellectual substance that modifies only feeling and thought. It is the best psychedelic for resistant traumas considered incurable until then. It became known in the therapeutic environment as the anti-war drug. The golden age of the therapeutic use of MDMA goes from 1977 to 1985, when it is popularized recreationally under the name of Ecstasy.

RAVES

The popularization of Ecstasy took place in Dallas in the USA where party producers mixed MDMA with some stimulant such as caffeine or amphetamine. The Raver scene began in 1987 on the island of Ibiza under the influence of Ecstasy, LSD and Hashish. Fast and repetitive electronic music was developed mainly for parties with Ecstasy.

MDMA is the drug that most quickly became popular in history. Psychiatrist Julie Holland, author of the biggest book on MDMA, argues that fun is also a form of individual and social therapy. MDMA ban turned her into the most adulterated drug in history and took the electronic scene to the underground. Today 50% of Ecstasy pills do not contain MDMA and most others contain dangerous adulterated substances. The overdose of MDMA is 16 individual doses, while for LSD and Psilocybin it is estimated at more than 1000 doses.

“The Raves movement is an antidote to the fact that for many people the available religious rituals did not work. So they had to create their own!” – Rick Doblin (Founder and Director of MAPS – Psychedelic Association for Psychedelic Studies) Responsive for the legalization of Psychedelic Therapy.

“Psychedelics have always played a key role in awakening spirituality in humanity.” – Audox Huxley (Most prolific writer about psychedelics)

CREDITS AND LINKS

Eduardo Schemberg – Neuroscientist responsible for the study. Research and direction of the video.
Toni Mazzotti – Video editing, research, direction and narration in the Portuguese-br version of 2015.
Camilla Albano – Narration in the 2015 version.
MAPS – Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.
Instituto Phaneros – Brazilian institution chaired by Eduardo Schemberg.
Brasil postgraduate course – Started in February 2023.
Australia legalization – Started in July 2023.