Psyched: $75M In Federal Funds, Gov. Polis Opens MAPS Event, CNN's Show, Dock Ellis' LSD Pitch & More

Federal Psychedelics: $75M Grant Program

In view of the most recent Congressional advancement in psychedelics regulation, a bipartisan bill created a $75 million research grant program for the potential treatment of mental health conditions in active duty military members.

Republican lawmakers and military veterans joined a press gathering outside the Capitol on June 13 to continue the discussion.

Meanwhile, on June 13 the National Institute on Drug Abuse released a notice about potential NIDA grants to applicants of the agency’s “special interest” in research projects examining the impact of "changing state and local psychedelic and dissociative drug policies." Read more HERE.

2 New Shulgin Compounds Will Be Revealed At MAPS Event

Psychedelic Science, this June’s 10,000 attendees gathering hosted by the legendary nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and organized by Momentum Events, announced its final agenda, which will include opening remarks by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, featured speakers and a new local day-pass option.

Psychedelics pioneer the Alexander Shulgin Research Institute (ASRI) announced information on two recently-identified lead compounds, currently undergoing late-stage preclinical testing, will be further disclosed in a live press conference at Psychedelic Science 2023. Read more HERE.

CNN Goes Psychedelic With Anderson Cooper's Magic Mushroom Show

Psychedelics were featured on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show “The Whole Story.”

In a direct reply to Michael Pollan’s “How To Change Your Mind” — see Netflix’s NFLX book-based series — “Magic Mushrooms: Can They Change Your Mind?” debuted on Sunday, June 18 at 8 PM ET.

The program dove into psilocybin’s potential as a therapeutic through reporter David Culver’s journey at a Jamaican retreat. Read more HERE.

Dock Ellis Pitched A No-Hitter While Stoned

All manner of pro athletes are coming out with admissions that they smoked weed before or during this or that game, but no one comes close to Pittsburgh Pirates’ Dock Ellis who pitched a no-hitter while tripping on acid.

It was on this date in 1970 that Dock Ellis struck out or walked every Padres' batter at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego while stoned on LSD. Read more HERE.

The Milestone Round

• Nevada’s Governor signed into law a psychedelics bill creating a new working group toward setting the stage for regulated access.

• Findings by a Johns Hopkins study shows psychedelics might be capable of reopening “critical periods,” including that of social reward learning.

• The FDA greenlighted a clinical trial assessing MDMA-assisted therapy for patients with schizophrenia.

• Silo Pharma SILO is developing a novel ketamine implant for the treatment of fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

• Clearmind CMND and SciSparc SPRC will conduct a study evaluating a combination of psychedelics and CannAmide for treating obesity and metabolic syndrome.

• Awakn Life Sciences AWKNF announced it will now exclusively focus on advancing R&D and licensing, dropping its European ketamine clinics businesses, and also closed its private placement’s second tranche with additional upsizing.

• PharmAla Biotech PMBHF launched a non-brokered private placement offer for up to $3.76 million and received an export permit to send its proprietary MDMA to the University of Sydney.

• Canadian private company Apex Labs has secured a second psilocybin API source, this time in the U.S.

• Numinus Wellness NUMIF and MAPS are partnering for a Phase 1 MDMA-assisted therapy experiential study, to be supplied by Optimi Health OPTHF.

• Wesana WSNAF shareholders vote for psilocybin and CBD therapy asset sales to Lucy Scientific LSDI 

• Rapper Wyclef Jean talks cannabis, psychedelics and hip-hop: 'They were counter-culture for a long time'

• 60 years of 'The Pink Panther:' Positive queer coding and psychedelia, a retrospective look at the series.

See Also: Last Week's Edition Of 'Psyched'

Psychedelics ETF Weekly Performance

AdvisorShares Psychedelics ETF PSIL opened Tuesday, June 20 at $1.87, showing an uptrend after market close on Friday, June 16 at $1.84 as well as compared to prior weeks’ openings at $1.80, $1.76, $1.70 and $1.74, respectively.

The week’s highest was set at $1.86, on Thursday, June 15, slightly behind prior week’s at $1.90 yet higher than two weeks’ past at $1.79. 

The lowest was $1.81, on Tuesday, June 13, yet higher than prior week’s lowest at $1.79 and certainly two weeks’ past at $1.69.

For this ETF, the yearly price range is set between $4.35 and $1.65.