Organizers in Washington State announced efforts to put a measure on the state’s ballot that would legalize a number of plant and fungi based psychedelics for personal use, including psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline and DMT.

While the proposal wouldn’t allow commercial sales of the substances, it would permit paid “supportive services” under which people could receive compensation for facilitating psychedelic experiences, somewhat like services already legal in Oregon and Colorado. Individual adults could also freely grow psychedelic plants and fungi and share them with other adults without remuneration. Check it out: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-washington-ballot-measure-would-legalize-psychedelic-plants-and-fungi/

Neuroscience News highlighted a new study on how glial cells can be reprogrammed into neurons through epigenetic modifications. This reprogramming involves complex molecular mechanisms, including the transcription factor Neurogenin2 and the newly identified protein YingYang1, which opens chromatin for reprogramming.

The study reveals how coordinated epigenome changes drive this process, potentially leading to new therapies for brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. To clarify, glial cells are the cells that hold nerve cells in place and help them work properly. Here’s more: https://neurosciencenews.com/glial-cells-neurogenesis-26408/

The California legislature approved a bill designed to streamline the processing of applications to study psychedelics and marijuana, sending it to the governor.

While advocates have experienced a series of setbacks in the push to provide legal access to certain psychedelics over the past several sessions, lawmakers have now successfully advanced AB 2841, with the Assembly concurring with Senate amendments and voting on final approval last week.

The legislation from Assemblymember Marie Waldron is meant to help clear a logjam of psychedelics study applications overseen by the Research Advisory Panel of California (RAPC), which has almost 70 pending proposals. Check it out: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-legislature-approves-bill-to-break-psychedelics-research-logjam-sending-it-to-governor/

Did you know that psychedelic use could potentially lower heart disease and diabetes risk? In a 2021 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that people who have taken a classic psychedelic even once have a lower incidence of heart disease and diabetes.

Of course, it still remains uncertain whether there is simply a correlation or a causal connection.  As well, it’s unclear whether people with access to psychedelics tend to demonstrate lifestyle behaviors that are linked with cardiometabolic health.  Although researchers suspect that if any connection exists, it’s that psychedelic use promotes a healthier lifestyle through behavioral changes.

Whatever the causal link, if any, the study authors write that their investigation demonstrates the need for “further research to investigate potential causal pathways of classic psychedelics on cardiometabolic health (i.e., lifestyle changes, mental health benefits, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics, and affinity to specific serotonin receptor subtypes).”

Here’s more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93787-4#Tab1