Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Packaging Mysticism in a Pill

I am not sure what to make of this news. Scientists are researching the psychological effects of the active ingredient of magic mushrooms, psilocybin. Now the pharmaceutical companies can package mysticism in a pill pending regulatory approval. It could be argued that this research could have been carried out 30 years ago. And it is to be seen if the Religious Right will try to stop it or not. I find it ironic though, that the West will find yet another way to package mysticism in a pill. It is likely the pharms will charge an outrageous amount for a naturally occurring drug. Still, it is what the Universe wants. Perhaps much good will come from psilocybin in pill form.
Comments:
As I recall and read, Ram Dass and
psychiatrists and psychologists and
Tim Leary all did it in the 60's,legally, without pharmaceutical houses. The corporations want in on the gold 30 years later. Perhaps they are the ones that made it illegal.

You might want to read the long, excellent writeup in the New Yorker June 26 called ACID REDUX by Louis Menand. It's mostly about
Tim Leary, but the history of the
period is good. Wish they had said more about Ram Dass though.


.
 
The less drugs taken, the better.
 
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