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Nutt et al. recently proposed a common lexicon for psychedelic science including dosing categories for different forms of psychedelic use across multiple substances.

Of all the psychedelic treatments now under investigation, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is among the most advanced. Two Phase III trials have supported its efficacy and safety for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and by the usual standards it met or exceeded the bar for a treatment to be considered empirically supported. Even so, in 2024 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined to approve it, citing a range of limitations.

A UK study of 46 deaths among methadone-treated patients at a London practice found that in half of the 8 cases labeled "methadone poisoning" by coroners, the clinical evidence pointed elsewhere. The authors say toxicology reports cite a fixed "fatal" blood level without accounting for how much tolerance varies between patients, misleading coroners.

A new Australian study of 522 medicinal cannabis patients found significant improvements in chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms (plus sleep, mood, and quality of life) within three months, with gains holding steady for a full year. Adverse events were rare and mostly mild, though the study's lack of a control group means placebo effects can't be ruled out.

We're proud to release updated MDMA and psilocybin educational modules, developed with Norrsken Mind and Mind Medicine Australia, bringing pharmacology, history, and law fully up to date.

Medication-related harm is a leading cause of adverse health outcomes worldwide. However, incentive-linked prescribing – a practice where physicians prescribe expensive or unnecessary medications in exchange for incentives from pharmaceutical companies – is often overlooked as a contributing factor to medication-related harm.

A recent meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, published in Lancet Psychiatry, concluded there was little evidence that cannabinoids help treat mental health conditions (Wilson et al, 2026). It got plenty of media coverage, much of which made the classic mistake of treating 'lack of evidence of benefit' as 'evidence of lack of benefit'. They're not the same thing.

RCTs of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for anxiety consistently show little evidence of efficacy, yet patient use continues to grow. This editorial argues the discrepancy is largely artefactual, reflecting flawed trial methodology rather than a genuine lack of benefit.

Jurisdictions that have implemented formalised regulatory pathways integrating psilocybin into supervised clinical practice include...

Many of you will have seen the media reports of the recent Lancet Psychiatry paper by Wilson et al 2026 claiming that there is little or no evidence of clinical utility for medical cannabis in mental illnesses (other than possibly for cannabis dependence).

We consider the validity and accuracy of information in medical science as it relates to legal liability. We argue that fundamental changes have occurred concerning knowledge dissemination to doctors (and patients) that have profound implications for the ethical and legal responsibility for accuracy. Such considerations are important for legal professionals at all stages of legal processes and tribunal proceedings.

Whilst substance dependence is well-documented as a risk factor for suicide, less is understood about individuals who die by suicide following recreational polydrug use. Cocaethylene, a psychoactive metabolite produced by the co-ingestion of alcohol and cocaine, may be a cumulative risk factor for suicidality.

Drawing on data gathered in the General Social Survey (GSS), this study examined the influence of political ideology, conceived as a measure of personal identity, and party affiliation, an indicator of group identity, on attitudes toward the legalization of marijuana in the United States.

On Saturday, Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating clinical research into psychedelic drugs. The order focuses on expanding federal funding, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and speeding up regulatory timelines. The move signals a notable shift in U.S. federal posture toward psychedelics—distinct from ongoing developments at the state level—and arguably represents one of the most significant federal actions on psychedelic research and access to date.

A landmark training programme will give healthcare professionals in Aotearoa the skills, along with the pathway, to legally prescribe psilocybin.

While mental health support is available, cancer patients often face long waiting times, limited access to appropriate care, and emotional needs that shift rapidly during treatment.

Psychiatric medicine is undergoing a seismic shift as Compass pathways announce successful results from its Phase 3 trial (COMP006).

This year’s theme, “Unheard and Unseen,”brings together leading researchers, practitioners, and culture-shifters to shine light on the voices too often overlooked in the psychedelic renaissance.

In January 2025, the then Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to provide an updated assessment of ketamine-related harms, consider its appropriate legal classification, and advise on how best to reduce harms associated with ketamine use.

In 2025, DSPL published 21 articles with contributions from 86 different authors, with reviews and original research covering psychedelics, cannabis and harm reduction. This report will summarise the major themes and key findings covered in the journal this year.

The Elmore Court Art Party promises a night where art, music, science, and celebration come together in support of evidence-based drug policy.