Yeti101

Guess we’re gonna have to eat capitalism then

What, no one was interested in the 239 pages of correspondence between the organisation that must not be named and the TGA? Or the fact that, as of August 30 only one prescriber of psilocybin had been approved under the scheduling carve-out?

Man, you’ve been keeping busy!

That no one ever got more sane from talking to me - usually the opposite.

Pretty much.

I recently installed iNaturalist - might try it on a few things to see how it does & report back.

This on my to-read list. The author, Nese, steps on a some ppls toes, but she’s a solid scholar and does important work, IMO. Unless I’m mistaken, her point is that psychedelics, like AI, are being developed to be used in ways that entrench inequality instead of living up to their potential, which should be to make us more free and the same people or at least people with the same ideologies are responsible for using these tools to fuck us over.

PM’d

I’d totally be coming for this if I was still in Melb.

I was just thinking I wanted to build up my succulent collection again after giving a lot of plants away due to moving 3 times in 5 years (twice interstate). I would love to take these off your hands then pay some more cuttings forward in future.

@-RC- Even I’m surprised at how little I earn.

I’m not in QLD, so can’t directly participate in this. But thanks for the reminder.

I think we all know the root of existing drug laws isn’t reason, it’s power, specifically the misuse of it. In any case I think it important that folk understand the detail of what’s happening in the ACT. TGA and big Pharma, for sure, and the medical/psychiatric establishment too. But don’t forget the role the police play in all of this. IMO, the final version of these laws has their fingerprints all over it.

Important to note the threshold amounts don’t entirely make sense. For example, the threshold for psilocybin is 1.5 grams, no matter what form it’s in. ACT uses what are sometimes called “container” laws, this means that getting caught with 1 gram of pure psilocybin puts you under the threshold, but 2 grams of wet P. subaeruginosa would technically put you over. And yes, fines are regressive in the sense that they hit people with less money much harder - doubly so when you consider that the police will confiscate whatever you’ve just been caught with.

I don’t recall seeing changa that far back. But we all know (or should know) that tryptamines crystallised on plant material for smoking is an idea that’s really been around for a while - e.g., 5MeO-DMT on parsley that was apparently in the US during the 70s and 80s.

Was definitely an awesome time. @Darklight, if you want to hang out sooner than the next EGA, let me know.

Not yet sure where I’ll be staying, but I’m planning on attending. Be there or be a four-sided shape!

I want to make it very clear from the outset that this post isn’t about anyone or anything in particular, either recently or in the deeper past - and this thread isn’t for discussing particular people or events, no exceptions. What this is about is the health and well-being of members of this community (and our many guests), especially those who might be feeling vulnerable. If you are struggling with mental health issues, and/or you are having suicidal thoughts or impulses, there are people and resources that can help. If you know someone in this position, and you need help, both for yourself, and to help them – many of these organisations are specifically set up to provide that too. In many situations, especially when things are acutely bad, my go-to would be the Suicide Call Back Service: https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/ – I know people who’ve made use of them and heard good things. The Suicide Call Back Service is a 24-hour, nationwide service that provides telephone and online counselling to people 15 years and over who fit one of the following categories: People who are suicidal People caring for someone who is suicidal People bereaved by suicide Health professionals supporting people affected by suicide. The Suicide Call Back Service is especially suited to people who are geographically or emotionally isolated. Other organisations that may be helpful include: SANE Australia https://www.sane.org/ (I've also heard really good things about the support they can provide). Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Headspace http://headspace.org.au/ Black Dog Institute http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ If anyone has any other recommendations, including for outside Australia, please share them.

Has anyone confirmed the usefullnes of this plant for summoning the elves? I have yet to find a company over here selling the seeds but it is widely grown in the U.S. and the seed appears to be very cheap there.

Hey all, After 4 lovely years in Melbourne (where I was made to feel truly welcome & loved by @etherealdrifter and @Amazonian), I’ve relocated to the mid north coast of NSW. So, once we’ve settled in (and assuming we don’t all end up in lockdown), it would be cool to catch up with any peeps that might be around this neck of the woods.

The last few days I’ve been using my campus access to hit the journals and see if I can turn up any more interesting bits & pieces. Searching for serotonin in Planta Medica led me to the plant Boophone disticha . This plant contains alkaloids which have affinity to the serotonin reuptake transport protein (SERT) (Neergaard et al, 2008). (both cited by Stafford in the article below)Cool. Searching the web for info about this plant led me to these two massive articles The first is “A preliminary inventory of plants used for psychoactive purposes in southern African healing traditions”, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, Sobiecki, 2002. Abstract (The good bits anyway): I won’t post this publically as I’m specifically prohibited from doing so in the terms & conditions of my use of that journal. I might provide a copy you if PM me, but I'd only count on it if you are Torsten or a Moderator/Trusted member. The other is: “Review on plants with CNS-effects used in traditional South African medicine against mental diseases.” Gary I. Stafford, Mikael E. Pedersen, Johannes van Staden, Anna K. Jäger, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008. This article looks at fewer species, but in a bit more depth. The 14 page table of plants, broken down into those used for convulsions & epilepsy, depression, and dementia is fantastic. (See attached pdf) For those too lazy or busy to read them, here are some highlights from both papers: Dioscorea dregeana [wild yam, isidakwdilabatheka (Z)] The Zulu use tubers for hysterical fits and to cure insanity (Gerstner, 1941; Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962), while cold infusions from the tubers are used as soporifics (Hutchings et al., 1996). Two teaspoonfuls of fresh macerate from the tuber are reputed to make a person drunk (Gerstner, 1939). It is a profound sedative, and is used by unspecified groups in South Africa to treat various other conditions such as epilepsy, hysteria, insomnia, pain and acute psychosis (Van Wyk & Gericke,2000). It is often mixed with Boophane disticha to synergise the visionary (hallucinatory) experience and is a popular psychoactive plant sold on the muti markets in Johannesburg (J.F. Sobiecki, pers. obs.). Lannea schweinfurthii The roots are covered with a dense layer of very fine root hairs, that are reportedly used as a sedative snuff, and the smoke of the burned roots is inhaled as a sedative (vanWyk and Gericke, 2000) Vernonia amygdalina In Malawi women who want their beer to be “strong” rub the insides of the pots with the leaves of this plant to make the brew more intoxicating (Williamson, 1974). Cineraria aspera [moholu-oa-pela (S)]The leaves can be smoked for respiratory problems and is said to be as intoxicating as Cannabis sativa L.* (Phillips, 1917; Jacot Guillarmod, 1971). Plumbago zeylancia Suspected to be used by the San to induce a trance state, and the genus contains substances that have a stimulant and narcotic action on the central nervous system (Winkelman & Dobkin de Rios, 1989). Reported to be used as a narcotic in West Africa (Ayensu, 1978). And much, much more. Enjoy! sdarticle.pdf

Quite a few between Forster and Coffs.

Super-bump: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629918320027

They say sequels are never as good, and that goes for lockdowns, especially if you’re up to number 6. (I know they’re necessary, but they’ve definitely been financially and mentally tough to live through.) Still, the sun was out today, and I’ve had my shots (5G to brainstem connection is growing in nicely), so I’m doing ok overall.

Yeah, that would be nice.