The Beckley Foundation’s principal scientific objectives are to investigate the neurophysiology underlying conscious states, and how physiological changes in the brain (chemical, electrical and functional) – that occur with age, meditation, or the ingestion of psychoactive substances – are reflected in changes in our consciousness and cognitive functioning, and how these changes may be beneficial or harmful to health and well-being. One of the main purposes of our research is to build an evidence base to inform drug policy decisions, which currently largely ignore scientific evidence. Furthermore there is almost no evidence on any potential benefits, as such research is neither funded nor approved of. Indeed it is almost impossible to obtain permission from scientific ethics committees to carry out certain research, such as on the effects of LSD.
Some scientific achievements of the Foundation include:
- in April 2007 the first approvals in modern times to study the effect of LSD on human brain function, obtained at the University of California, Berkeley.
- the first fMRI study of a psychedelic compound i.e. psilocybin, which is also the first study in the UK to use a psychedelic substance in modern times. This is being carried out in the Beckley/Imperial Psychedelic Research Program.
- The development of a device to study, non-invasively, the health of the cerebral circulation, i.e. the interaction of the two intracranial fluid systems, blood and cerebral spinal fluid; further to demonstrate how the ageing process, and other factors, affects these systems. As the measured index of intercranial compliance diminishes, so does cognitive functioning. [St Petersburg]
- research into the potential therapeutic effects of high dose psilocybin as an aid to psychotherapy in the treatment of highly-resistant addiction. [Johns Hopkins, USA]
- Research into the effects of the different components of cannabis, especially THC and cannabidiol (CBD). This research shows that CBD is an extremely potent antipsychotic and anti-stress agent, with many other potential beneficial therapeutic characteristics as well. This component has been bred out of cannabis in its modern “skunk” form. It is an indicator of how a regulated market in cannabis could lessen the potential harms by labeling differing THC/CBD contents and by cultivating CBD rich strains. [Institute of Psychiatry and University College, London]
- We are currently launching the first ever survey into the efficacy of medical cannabis, using a distribution network of 40,000 patients, in which the THC/CBD levels will be one of the factors noted.
Psychedelics can trigger insight, but behavior change takes time and a changed environment to take root. Through personal stories, participants will explore the concept and process of change in psychedelic therapy. How do psychedelics redefine medicine and science, and how can we effectively reintegrate them into contemporary society? Speakers: Neal Goldsmith Psychotherapist and Counselor Rick [...]
Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study with psilocybin, February 2012 Background Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic drug that has a history of use in psychotherapy. One of the rationales for its use was that it aids emotional insight by lowering psychological defences. Aims To [...]
In this popular science article published in io9, Robert T. Gonzales ties up findings from this week’s Beckley Foundation-Imperial College Psilocybin paper in the PNAS with Aldous Huxley’s ‘reducing valve’ hypothesis, initially presented in his 1954 book The Doors of Perception (http://mescaline.com/huxley.htm); also, to more recent theorising by Karl Friston of University College London (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/~karl/), [...]
Press Release 25th January 2012 The Beckley Foundation-Imperial College Psychedelic Research Programme Surprising findings of Research: Potential therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs fMRI brain scans show that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, lowers the activity of specific brain regions. The finding contradicts the popular belief that psychedelic drugs increase brain activity, and has [...]
Cannabis in Pain and Palliative Care
USA Today 29.9.2011 – Coverage of a Beckley Foundation project In new research that will almost certainly create controversy, scientists working with the hallucinogen psilocybin — the active ingredient found in “magic mushrooms” — have found that a single dose of the drug prompted an enduring but positive personality change in almost 60 percent of [...]
A documentary film crew have been chronicling the research of a Canadian doctor and author whose travels through the Amazon have taught him about psychotropic medicines. Doctor Gabor Maté first learnt about the healing potential of Ayahuasca at a clinic in Peru, and was startled to learn that the rates of success of treatment for [...]
The Liberal Democrat conference passed ‘Protecting Individuals and Communities from Drug Harms’ on Sunday 2oth September 2011 and is therefore now Lib Dem Party policy. You can watch the entire debate on the BBC iplayer here. It calls for the Government to “immediately establish an independent panel tasked with carrying out an Impact Assessment of [...]
“Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality…Simply stated, researchers have been unable to give animals enough marijuana to induce death…In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of [...]
Researchers at the University of Birmingham believe that ecstasy could be effective in treating blood cancers. The modified drug could have “100 times more cancer-busting properties than the popular recreational drug itself” according to a Medical Xpress article. The modified form of ecstasy seems to attack and destroy cancerous in a very effective way – [...]
