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Photo, from left to right: Ram Dass, Alfred Matthew Hubbard, Aldous Huxley, Albert Hofmann, Ralph Metzner, Sasha Shulgin, Amanda Feilding, and Maria Sabina.
Chacruna Press Release
chacruna.xyz/ is proud to announce the release of the Statement on Open Science and Open Praxis with Psilocybin, MDMA, and Similar Substances, to which we are a signatory.
Robert Jesse, psychedelic researcher, led the development of the statement, which reflects the history, commitment, and hopes of leaders and organizations in the field of psychedelic research and therapy.
The statement is intended to promote key principles in the research and development of psychedelic medicines, including intellectual and scientific integrity, service, open science and open practices, and non-interference. This document was developed in response to concerns that, as psilocybin and MDMA progress through clinical trials showing promise as medicines, commercial enterprises will form in ways that incentivize them to not share materials or knowledge, to prioritize profits, or to act competitively against others.
For the past century, the field of psychedelics has been marked by cooperation over competition, including the open sharing of knowledge, methods and best practices, and materials. With commercial enterprises taking an interest in psychedelics, journalists, stakeholders, and the general public may need to ask critical questions: Will the new businesses move away from this heritage? Will they seek to interfere with or compete with each other? Do they use exclusive contracts and partnerships to restrict collaboration, sharing of information, or access to materials? Will they assert patent rights? Will they seek regulatory approvals that are tailored to serve the applicant’s financial interests while effectively locking others out? Will they follow the tradition of modest, cost-plus pricing? Or will they employ value-based pricing, charging what the market will bear after potential “competition” has been minimized?
The statement had been signed by numerous scholars, researchers, and practitioners; psychedelic research and service organizations; and philanthropists and foundations. Journalists seeking more information or professionals interested in adding their signature to the statement may write to Bob Jesse: osop@bobjesse.com
Further available contacts:
- Geoff Bathje: gbathje@yahoo.com
- Katherine MacLean: connect@katherinemaclean.org
- Mendel Kaelen: m.kaelen@imperial.ac.uk
STATEMENT ON OPEN SCIENCE AND OPEN PRAXIS WITH PSILOCYBIN, MDMA, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Preamble: The undersigned individuals and organizations work to advance the understanding and beneficial uses of substances called (among many names) psychedelics, hallucinogens, or entheogens. Our fields include medicine and traditional healing, medicinal chemistry and ethnopharmacology, psychopharmacology, neuroscience, psychology, counseling, religion, public health, and public policy.
From generations of practitioners and researchers before us, we have received knowledge about these substances, their risks, and ways to use them constructively. In turn, we accept the call to use that knowledge for the common good and to share freely whatever related knowledge we may discover or develop.
Therefore, in this work, we commit to the following principles. If we engage with consultants, contractors, or suppliers, we will do so in ways that uphold these principles.
1. Intellectual and scientific integrity. We affirm that we report the truth as we find it, not as we or others might prefer it to be found. We will present disappointing or adverse results as well as affirming or encouraging ones. We will properly attribute the contributions of others.
2. In service. While we may need to be paid for our labor, we are called to this work in the spirit of service. We will place the common good above private gain, and we will work for the welfare of the individuals and communities served. We will strive to make our expertise and services available to all who may benefit from them, even those whose means are limited.
3. Open science and open praxis. We will not withhold, nor will we require others to withhold, materials or knowledge (experiences, observations, discoveries, methods, best practices, or the like) for commercial advantage. This does not preclude the appropriate management of raw data or the exercise of data exclusivity rights, but we will make those decisions for the common good rather than for private gain. Nor does this preclude reasonable and ordinary charges for our books, other media, software, materials, or professional services.
4. Non-interference. We will strive to place our discoveries into the public domain, for the benefit of all. If we have patents or patents pending, we will license that intellectual property, for no more than reasonable and ordinary administrative costs, to anyone who will use it for the common good and in alignment with these principles.
Signatories may refine or expand their commitments, broadly in keeping with these principles, via further public statements. This document is an evolving work, with signatures being added. They are provisional pending a final release.
Clerk: Robert Jesse. Please email osop@bobjesse.com if you’d like yourself or your organization to be included.
Scientists, scholars, and practitioners:
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Research and service organizations:
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Psychedelic societies and integration circles
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Supporters, Organizers, publishers, conferences
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Philanthropists and philanthropic foundations:
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The most current version of this statement can be found at csp.org/open.
