Psychedelische Droge
Psychoactive substances have always been subject to (and in need of) social control. For the most part, social controls have been informal and effective, but formalization of control and the commodification of drugs has brought about new strategies and new problems of control. This is especially true for the prohibition type of control. Outright drug prohibition has been documented as a means of defending a given cultural and political order against innovations that were seen as unwanted by rulers (infamous example: Murad IV's 1623 to 1640 anti-tobacco campaign). Still widely known is also the alcohol prohibition in the United States of America (1920-1933). But today's Global Prohibition Regime on dangerous drugs is quite different from those short-lived exaggerations. It is so old that most people do not have an idea of its age or extension. It all started with the Spanish-American War (1898) and the U.S.' acquisition of the Philippines. Attempts to effectively deal with a single-drug problem in one area (opium in Manila) soon spread to global dimensions and ever more drugs. The Hague Opium Convention of 1912 already covered Heroin and Cocaine, and its later amendments and successors until the Vienna Convention of 1988 embraced literally hundreds of substances and were adhered to by practically all countries on earth. As a matter of fact, national drug laws are not national in nature, but they are strikingly uniform because they all stem from the uniform norms contained in the international drug conventions. It is on this supranational level - materially dominated by the U.S. diplomacy - where the real decisions on what to prohibit are being taken. The rest is implementation.
The result was the a regional problem of one drug (opium) To deal with the opium problem in Manila, . iinnovationsIn today's world, psychedelic drugs like LSD, magic mushrooms, and Drug Prohibition is the most radical strategy in the field of drug control. IWhereas regulatory strategies make use of incentives in order to stimulate consumer choices (taxation, gratification, information) aiming at the prevention of psychoactive substance use by the general population is the most radical - but not necessarily the most effective or efficient - kind of drug control.
Pre-modern prohibitions of psychoactive drugs were the result of perceived threats to a given social and political order in the widest sense (religious heresy, public finances, social institutions like families and the organization of labour, discipline, societal values).
Modern prohibitions of psychoactive drugs can be found all over the globe. They vary in the harshness of punishments, but variations of prohibited drugs are small. Sometimes alcohol is included, but that is a special case.
The Legal Framework
Basically prohibited by global prohibition regime. Challenges and some exceptions in Brazil for ritual use of Ayahuasca (DMT).
Mit der Vierten Betäubungsmittel-Gleichstellungsverordnung (4. BtMGlV) vom 21. Februar 1967, in Kraft getreten am 25. Februar 1967, wurden Psilocybin und Psilocin sowie LSD in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland den betäubungsmittelrechtlichen Vorschriften des Opiumgesetzes unterstellt. Heute sind Psilocybin und Psilocin in Anlage I zu § 1 BtMG (nicht verkehrsfähige und nicht verschreibungsfähige Stoffe) aufgelistet. Der Erwerb, der Besitz und die Weitergabe dieser Substanzen ist somit generell verboten.
Social Aspects in the European Context Germany has less tolerance for unconventional religious communities than Brazil and other countries. More like France, where Ayahuasca has been forbidden for being a drug the leads to sectarian behaviour.
Weblinks und Literatur
- Psychedelisch in: de.wikipedia
- Psychedelic drug
- Psilocin, in: de.wikipedia
- Entheogen, in: de.wikipedia
- Entheogen, in: en.wikipedia
PSYCHEDELIC drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms should be made legal as banning them is "against human rights", scientists have said.
By Scott Campbell
PUBLISHED: 17:32, Fri, Mar 6, 2015 | UPDATED: 23:37, Sun, Apr 12, 2015
Researchers say the drugs are much less harmful than alcohol, and banning them is a human rights issue because of their "spiritual" links.
The Norwegian researchers also claim there is no link between LSD and magic mushrooms and mental health problems.
They analysed information from more than 135,000 random people, including 19,000 who had used psychedelics, and found no association between the drugs and psychosis.
The study used data from the US National Health Survey and found there was no relationship with psychological distress, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts.
A previous study by the same researchers also failed to tie up LSD and magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin, with brain damage.
Clinical psychologist Dr Pal-Orjan Johansen, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said: "Over 30 million US adults have tried psychedelics and there just is not much evidence of health problems."
"Concerns have been raised the ban on use of psychedelics is a violation of the human rights to belief and spiritual practice, full development of the personality, and free time and play."
He believes it is time to end the 50-year ban on the hallucinogenic drugs which inspired the Beatles and other pop groups of the Sixties.
His researcher Dr Teri Krebs added: "Drug experts consistently rank LSD and psilocybin mushrooms as much less harmful to the individual user and to society compared to alcohol and other controlled substances."
The researchers, whose findings are published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, pointed out that unlike alcohol, psychedelics are not addictive.
They found the use of psychedelic drugs is correlated with fewer mental health problems.
Dr Krebs said: "Many people report deeply meaningful experiences and lasting beneficial effects from using psychedelics."
But Dr Johansen admitted, given the design of the study, they cannot "exclude the possibility use of psychedelics might have a negative effect on mental health for some individuals or groups".
He said: "With these robust findings, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure."
Earlier this week British scientists claimed psychedelic drugs could prove to be highly effective treatments for depression and alcoholism after the first brain scans of people under the influence of LSD.
Early results from the trial, involving 20 people, are said to be "very promising" and add to existing evidence that psychoactive drugs could help reverse entrenched patterns of addictive or negative thinking.
Professor David Nutt, who led the study, warned patients are missing out on the potential benefits of such treatments due to prohibitive regulations on research into recreational drugs.
Speaking at a briefing in London, the government's former chief drugs adviser said the restrictions amounted to "the worst censorship in the history of science".