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Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies is this week’s guest on The Green Rush. Founded by Rick in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS envisions a world where psychedelics and marijuana are safely and legally available for beneficial uses, and where research is governed by rigorous scientific evaluation of their risks and benefits.

Rick is a major advocate of the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic molecules like MDMA and psilocybin to treat mental health challenges so Lewis and Anne invited him on to discuss how psychedelics may benefit those that are suffering from stress and other psychological problems caused by the COVID pandemic. In addition, our hosts chat with Rick about the organizations MDMA trials and the recent ‘breakthrough status’ it has received from the FDA; offers guidance to those contemplating using psychedelics as part of their self-care routines while dealing with social distancing and the overall growth of both the for-profit and non-profit sectors of the psychedelic space. 

Over the decades, Rick Doblin has established himself as a leading authority on the renaissance of psychedelics and his insights on how these molecules may be able to solve the global mental health crisis will not be something that you want to miss. 

So don’t sit back, lean forward and enjoy! 

Rick Doblin, Founder and Executive Director of MAPS

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife, dog, and empty rooms from three children, one of whom is in college and two have graduated.

Links and mentions in the show

• MAPS website: https://maps.org/
• Rick Doblin’s TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/rick_doblin

Links to the guest’s company and social media accounts

• Rick Doblin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickdoblin
• MAPS Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPS
• Rick Doblin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdoblin/
• MAPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapsnews/

Show Credits:

This episode was hosted by Anne Donohoe and Lewis Goldberg of KCSA Strategic Communications.

Special thanks to our Executive Producer Nick Opich and Program Director Shea Gunther.

You can learn more about how KCSA Cannabis can help your cannabiz by visiting www.kcsa-cannabis.com or emailing greenrush@kcsa.com. You can also connect with us via our social channels:

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