References

Brecher, E. M. (1972). Licit and illicit drugs: The Consumers Union Report on narcotics, stimulants, depressants, inhalants, hallucinogens, and marijuana -including caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Little, Brown.

      This resource represents a comprehensive five-year investigation of drug use and regulation is a product of research conducted by the Consumers Union. As such, the Consumers Union takes the results of the research and integrates them into an extensive overview of the historical, social, legal and pharmacological effects of controlled substances. Objective in its evaluations the present reference attempts to address various rumors and misconceptions about drug use and abuse. This source may be useful to any researcher concerned with obtaining a comprehensive historical account of various issues concerned with drug policy before 1972.

Doblin, R. (2018, July 13-15). MAPS’ plans to shepherd MDMA-PT through FDA approval. Sleeping Octopus Assembly on Psychedelics 1st Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

      This citation represents a presentation from a conference concerned with research and policy related to psychoactive drugs. This presentation provided an overview of the current state of research concerning MDMA and other psychedelic drugs. The issue of cannabis research was touch upon in comparison to MDMA research, which has received less regulatory resistance than research concerned with cannabis. This resource is useful for assessing the current state of federal research acceptance concerning psychoactive drugs.

Holland, J. (2010). The pot book: A complete guide to cannabis: Its role in medicine, politics, science, and culture. Park Street Press.

      This reference explores the role of cannabis and related products in history, modern medicine, politics and society. With contributions by various medical professionals, this resource covers a broad spectrum ranging from common misconceptions to medical applications, such as HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s dementia, and other pathologies. This resource also touches upon the legal complexities associated with cannabis medicalization. This informative resource may be useful for both patients and researchers alike. As such, the present reference may be referred to as a comprehensive guide to cannabis issues.  

Mead, A. (2019). Legal and regulatory issues governing cannabis and cannabis-derived products in the United States. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00697

      This resource provides detailed overview of the legal and regulatory architecture of controls related to cannabis in the United States. Such is concerned with various aspects of the controlled substance act as they relate to FDA and DEA regulations. This reference also discusses regulations at the state level and the state of research concerning medical cannabis. This resource is valuable to those concerned with the current state of regulatory controls under Schedule I as they relate to cannabis. Additionally, this resource mayh be useful for those concerned with the current state of regulations concerned with industry at the state level.

Newman, C. L., Mason, M. J., & Langenderfer, J. (2021). The shifting landscape of cannabis legalization: Potential benefits and regulatory perspectives. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 55(3), 1169–1177. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12387

      This recently published reference addresses the harmful effects of cannabis for vulnerable consumers while simultaneously highlighting the benefits of cannabis legal reform and legalization. Additionally, this resource proposes that governmental regulations similar to those of alcohol, with a focus on public education for responsible use is a better model than the current legal framework. This resource also addresses the benefits of cannabis legalization, such as tax revenues, reduced law enforcement costs, social benefits, and medicinal benefits. This reference may be useful to researchers concerned with the social and economic benefits of cannabis legalization.

Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Nichols, D. E. (2013). Effects of schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(8), 577–585. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3530

      This resource addresses research concerning psychedelic drugs and the challenges of conducting such research under the current regulatory framework. This resource is primarily concerned with research involving MDMA, though the challenges associated with such can be extrapolated to other substances regulated under Schedule I controls. The authors indicate the drug scheduling in the United States poses various roadblocks to research. Addressing controls associated with Schedule II, the authors indicate that Schedule I is redundant by many measures, functioning only to hinder professional research. This resource may be useful to those wishing to understand the regulatory roadblocks of Schedule I, as they relate to the complexities of related research.

Rätsch Christian. (2005). The encyclopedia of psychoactive plants: Ethnopharmacology and its applications. Park Street Press.

      This reference is that of an encyclopedic work of German ethnopharmacologist Rätsch Christian who has written extensively on cannabis and other psychoactive plants. This resource provides information regarding the chemistry, history, traditions, uses, and legal status of cannabis and other ethnobotanical species of plants. This resource highlights the vast history of the human use of cannabis as an inebriant and as an industrial product. This reference also provides a historical review of cannabis prohibition in the United States and abroad. This resource is invaluable to anyone looking to acquire detailed general information about cannabis and other psychoactive plants.

Shulgin, A. T., & Shulgin, A. (1997). Tihkal: The continuation. Transform Press.

      This comprehensive overview of issues related to tryptamine derivatives dives into a vast landscape of drug-related topics. Divided into two parts, the beginning of this resource provides an overview of drug policy, subjective experiential effects, and history. Such accompanies a vast chemical index of tryptamines such as indole alkaloids. This resource provides details and laboratory notes concerning the synthesis of various controlled and uncontrolled tryptamines. This resource is invaluable to those concerned with research associated with tryptamines and the legal framework that regulates them.

Strassman, R. J. (2001). Dmt: The spirit molecule: A doctor's revolutionary research into the biology of near-death and mystical experiences. Park Street Press.

      This item is a non-professional account of research concerning the physiological effects of DMT conducted by Rick Strassman M.D. This resource provides a subjective overview of the process of conducting research under DEA and FDA regulations. Additionally, the author provides various accounts of the experiential effects of DMT experienced by human participants used in the research. This resource can be categorized under the genera of popular science and is less relevant than resources of greater merit. However, this resource may be useful for those interested in the opinions of researchers who have successfully conducted research with Schedule I drugs using human participants. Additionally, this resource is invaluable for anyone wishing to understand the subjective, experiential effects of DMT.  

Strassman, R. J. (1991). Human hallucinogenic drug research in the United States: A Present-day case history and review of the process. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 23(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1991.10472572

      This resource reviews the application process, procedures, and obstacles associated with research conducted under Schedule I controls at state, local, and federal levels. Such is concerned primarily with issues surrounding human research participants and psychedelic drugs. This resource describes the various complications associated with federal licensing to conduct research with controlled substances in a professional research setting. Strassman concludes with optimism, as navigating the landscape of such regulations is possible, despite the many hurtles placed in the way of researchers. This resource is invaluable to any researcher wishing to conduct research under DEA and FDA regulations.  

Teets, R. M. (2021). Psychedelic Drugs: A pilot survey of use prevalence and context. Youngstown State University

      This pilot survey presents preliminary results concerning drug use among undergraduate students. Concerned with the prevalence of use of psychedelic drugs and the social context in which such are used, this resource provides indicators that drug use among undergraduate students is most likely associated with cannabis, as opposed to drugs with more extreme experiential effects. As stated, results are preliminary and the generality of such must be established using a larger sample. This resource may be useful for those interested in drug preference among undergraduate students.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2020). Drugs of abuse. U.S. GPO.

This reference provides a comprehensive overview of the Controlled Substances Act and the plants, fungi, and chemicals that are regulated by such. This resource highlights the details of Scheduling with an intense focus on drugs classified under Schedule I. This resource also discusses the role of the DEA in regulating such substances, as well as controls and procedures applicable to professional research. This resource is invaluable to anyone wishing to research drug policy, as well as those concerned with research regulations. This resource may be a good starting point for general information related to regulatory controls for substances listed under Schedule I and II.

U.S. National Library of Medicine, (2020). A Multi-Site Phase 3 Study of MDMA-Assisted  Psychotherapy for PTSD. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03537014

This resource simply provides the indexed status of MDMA research as it related to FDA and DEA approved clinical trials. At the time of the present proposal, such research is in phase three clinical trials, one of the final phases of evaluation for FDA approval as a medication. It should be noted that this resource is very brief. This reference may be useful for those following the progress of MDMA clinical research.

Weatherall, M. W. (1996). Making medicine scientific: Empiricism, rationality, and quackery in mid-victorian britain. Social History of Medicine, 9(2), 175–194. https://doi.org/10.1093/shm/9.2.175

This historical reference is concerned with strategies once used to manufacture medicine in Victorian era Britain. Such touches upon unscientific approaches to medicine manufacture and distribution in the mid-nineteenth century. However, the primary concern of this document is to provide historical context as it relates to scientific progress in areas of medicine and pseudo-medicine, such as homoeopathy and other pseudoscientific areas of medicine. As such, this resource is concerned with the unscientific state of medicine in the mid 1800s. This resource is useful for gaining a historical perspective of the previous state of pharmacological treatments.

Page Author: Ryan M. Teets (2020)