The Psychedelic Policy Quagmire

Edited by two preeminent scholars this book provides coverage of the policy issues related to the increasingly diverse treatments practices and applications of psychedelics.Hallucinogenic substances like LSD mescaline peyote MDMA and ayahuasca have a reputation as harmful substances that are enjoyed only by recreational users committing criminal acts. But leading international researchers and scholars who contributed to this book hold that the use of psychedelic substances for health religious intellectual and artistic purposes is a Constitutional rightand a human right. Based on that conclusion these scholars focus on policy issues that regulate the use of psychedelic drugs in medicine religion personal life and higher education arguing that existing regulations should match current and anticipated future uses.This volume has two parts. The first surveys research on the use of psychedelic drugs in medicine religion and truth-seeking following these topics through history and contemporary practice. The second section treats government policices that regulate the psychological physiological biochemical and spiritual aspects of research and experience in these fields. The Psychedelic Policy Quagmire: Health Law Freedom and Society challenges medical and legal policy experts ethicists scientists and scholars with the question: How can we formulate policies that reduce the dangers of psychedelics'' misuse and at the same time maximize the emerging diverse benefits?