Event Description

In partnership with the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) at the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School is pleased to present a virtual panel on Psychedelics in the Global North, the first of a three-part spring series. Other events in April and May discussed psychedelics in the Global South and the importance of psychedelics to Indigenous communities. 

In recent years, the use of psychedelics for research and therapeutic purposes has gained popularity in Europe, Australia, and North America. The legalization of psilocybin in two US states, Australia’s recent rescheduling of MDMA and psilocybin, and Quebec’s support of psilocybin therapy reflect this growing interest (as do hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital flowing into the emerging psychedelic industry). However, despite their scientific and therapeutic potential, the use of psychedelics raises several complex cultural, social, and legal questions.   

This international event assembled experts from several continents to explore the most pressing social and legal issues associated with the use of psychedelics in the Global North. Speakers addressed topics such as the historical and cultural contexts of psychedelic use, the legal frameworks surrounding psychedelics, the role of psychedelics in medicine and public health, and the potential risks and benefits of using psychedelics.  

Panelists

• Introduction: Carmel Shachar, Executive Director, Petrie-Flom Center
• Moderator: Beau Kilmer, McCauley Chair in Drug Policy Innovation, coodirector, RAND Drug Policy Research Center, and senior policy researcher, RAND Corporation

This event is sponsored by the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School and the RAND Drug Policy Research Center.