The War on Drugs
The detrimental effects of the war on drugs, really date back to the early part of the last century. In 1912, or by some accounts 1913, German pharmaceutical giant Merck first documented and then synthesised and patented a compound known as 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, at that time referred to as ‘Methylsafrylamin’ [1]. It was primarily being looked into as a diet drug. They didn’t pursue this compound and dropped research into it in 1927, without performing any human trials. Given what was later discovered about its therapeutic benefits, how different would the story have been had they continued.
Alexander Shulgin and MDMA
Fast forward to the 1970s and step forward Alexander Shulgin. Shulgin is the first documented case of a human having taken MDMA.[2] This is despite what the conspiracy theorists would have you believe about USA Army experiments in the 1950s and its use as a truth serum. Shulgin had left a glittering career at Dow Chemicals, but after a falling out over MDMA and similar compounds he left to pursue his own research.
Shulgin had started researching the properties of psychoactive drugs in the 1960s, including mescaline, LSD, psilocybe and DMT, meticulously documenting their effects, both good and bad, and developing The Shulgin Scale. From around 1980 he started to enrol physchotherapists to use MDMA as a therapeutic compound, used in talking therapies. [3] It was found to be a great uninhibitor, allowing people to speak about trauma without the accompanying regret or shame. Shulgin documented his research into MDMA and around 200 other compounds in a book he published in 1992 called PiKhal – A Chemical Love Story.
The undoing of MDMA
The effect of lowering inhibitions and a general feeling of euphoria, meant that in the late 1980s MDMA soon found its way onto the street. Rebranded as ‘Ecstasy‘ it became a staple of the burgeoning club and rave scene. The knee jerk reaction of governments to this new drug sealed its fate, teh war on drugs deprived millions of its therapautic benefits. Calssification of a drug in the highest band effectively means research in it stops, it canot be used for any sort of therapy and it becomes purely a street drug.
This is particularly true with MDMA. Clandestine reseaerch of MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD has yeilded such significant results that the FDA maybe re-evaluating the drug. These non-licensed studies have shown that while MDMA isn’t itself the cure. However its use in removing barriers in psychotherapy have resulted in almost 90% of patients no longer having symptoms of PTSD, and the remaining having much reduced incidents.
MDMA research
In 2018 a study In California indicated that in just a few weeks symtoms were massively reduced. One particular dosage level resulted in 86% of patient no longer meeting the criteria for PTSD, meaning they were effectively cured. [4] In Jan 2020 the FDA stepped up and started to take MDMA seriously as a treatment for PTSD, by them issuing licenses for a 50 patient clinical trial. [5]. More recently in June 2020 an article on Clinical Trials Arena, showed that these affectes are not just short term [6]
Not the only drug
MDMA is not alone in this resurgence of interest. Cannabis and its main active constituents of CBD and THC are all over the news. Recent moves to intially allow it for medical purposes and then recreational in forward thinking States in America, have yeilded hundres of millions in tax revenue. Psilocybin too, the stuff of magic mushrooms, has recently been shown to be more effective than any current anti-depressant. THis extends to long term depressive perople as well. [7] Microdosing trials are continuing, but removing ‘developed’ nations’ reliance on these de-humanising drugs, is surely a goal, both from societal and financial perspectives.
The case for legalisation
If we look at the model that has been adopted for cannabis in certain USA states, they have issued licenses to both grow and supply cannabis at licensed retailers. In California alone, in the first two years since legalisation, they have raised of over $1 Billion dollars in revenue. [8] As of the date of this article there are only 8 states that have not take some sort of steps towards decriminalising or fully legalising its use. [9]
If we look at a purely recreational drug like cocaine. Despite the billions of dollars poured into stopping the drug cartels from Central and South America supplying across the border, the amount of cocaine reaching the USA has increased year on year. Overdoses do occur but in the illicit drug trade, compounds are cut with other substances to make the primary drug go further. Many of these compounds are more toxic that Cocaine. Substances like ketamine and more recently fentanyl are used, and also non pharmaceutical compounds like laundry powder. Additionally cocaine’s use is on the rise.[10]
A legal market would address this problem. A known regulated source, with regulated product, would make overdose rarer. In a similar manner to alcohol poisining.
In Summary
We don’t learn from our mistakes. America tried to ban alcohol with the addition of the 18th Amendment, or Prohibition as it became known. We know how that ended. We have banned complounds that have massive therapeutic benefit, and in doing so have stiffled research for decases. We pour billions into stopping a trade that we cant stop. Done for political reasons, and to appease a certain demographic.
Ending the war on drugs, and legalisation would provide a way of ensuring that people that choose to use these compounds, are getting known substances, or verifiable strengths, from laboratories that operate in sterile conditions. This will reduce the number of deaths massively.
It would also raise billions in tax revenue. While simultaneously saving money usind in trying to control the illicit trade. Also given around 50% of all people in US prisons are there for drug related offences, the cost savings are higher than people imagine.
My guess is that it will come. But will be slower than it should.
The Accountant
