As the unusually cool summer on the west coast of North America starts to wind down, the Erowid crew is gearing up for the busier coming months. With the news of visionary artist Robert Venosa's death at 75 last week, we are again moved to remember the many elders in our field who have lead the way and the importance of trying to preserve their collected wisdom before it dissipates into the winds of passing years. Thanks to everyone who contributes to the evolution of knowledge about psychoactives.

Twenty-five years ago, the psychoactive drug zeitgeist was dominated by the crack-cocaine scourge, a control controversy around MDMA, and the growing issue of "designer drugs". In May 1986, an administrative judge ruled that the DEA's adding of MDMA to Schedule I was invalid, triggering legal battles. In June, at the height of the Reagan-era crack cocaine explosion, basketball player Len Bias's cocaine-related death was a major media event. In August 1986, Discover magazine published "Beyond Crack: The Growing Peril of Designer Drugs" and Good Housekeeping published "Crack: Dangerous New Drug".

Earth and Fire will be speaking at the Entheogenesis Australis Conference (Dec 2 - 5, 2011)
north of Melbourne, Australia. Come join us at this three-day outdoor event!

http://www.entheo.net/

Is THC Neuroprotective Against MDMA Toxicity? Researchers have found that when rats and mice received both MDMA and THC, they had a smaller rise in body temperature than after MDMA alone. With so much left to learn about MDMA's long-term effects, what implications, if any, does this have for ecstasy users?

4-HO-MET Vault The effects of 4-HO-MET, a Shulgin compound, are usually compared to psilocybin/psilocin. This new vault covers effects, dosage, legal status, and images.

4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) Vault 4-MEC gained ground in research chemical products after its more popular cousin mephedrone began receiving increased scrutiny in the UK. Its effects are compared to mephedrone, though it is considered by some users to be less euphoric.

What should I know about taking ecstasy? Erowid and EcstasyData get a lot of questions about MDMA/ecstasy. Although there are many pages already online about this controversial psychoactive drug, Earth took a stab at writing a new top-25 "things to know" list about ecstasy in response to a recent question.

In July, the DEA published a Federal Register (FR) entry denying a petition to reschedule cannabis. Curiously, there are two distinct voices in the publication, one from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and one from the DEA. This FR entry includes discussion of the linkage between cannabis use and psychosis, with the DHHS stating "At present, the data do not suggest a causative link between marijuana use and the development of psychosis." Later in the entry, the DEA rebuts this, arguing that evidence does show a causal connection. An amusing (yet disturbing) dispute between the scientific body (the DHHS) and the political/police body (the DEA).

Another interesting point about this document is it appears to offer a formalized view by both DHHS and the DEA that cannabis is not a "gateway drug".

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2011/fr0708.htm

The Value of Experience Addresses questions and criticisms about Erowid's Experience Vaults, as well as insight into why experience reports continue to be integral to Erowid Center's work.

1. Energy Control Legal Highs Report (2011)
   Energy Control (Spain) held a press conference in July to announce findings for "legal high" products they have tested, and to offer warnings and recommendations to users as well as policy makers.
2. EMCDDA Report on the Risk Assessment of PMMA (2003)
   PMMA, a stimulant that has been linked to deaths in Europe, has been detected in recent samples of legal high products and fake ecstasy. This report covers pharmacotoxicological and other data.
3. Shulgin Collection - Experience Reports
   Reports from Shulgin's lab books are being transcribed and transferred to the Experience Vaults. Featuring trip reports by Alexander Shulgin as well as friends of the Shulgins, dating from 1960 to the 1980s.
4. 2C-C-NBOMe Dosage Update
   When we first published the dose page for this novel substance, we had little information available about the dosages being used. This update adds new details.

• Psychological Dependency and Binges (4-MEC), by IpsoFacto

• What are the differences between AMT and AMT methanesulfonate? (revised)

EcstasyData is a project of Erowid Center that conducts laboratory testing of street Ecstasy tablets and publishes these and other test results online.

• 
  Paul Frank (Madison, WI)
  Contains Unidentified, 5-MeO-DiPT, and Caffeine.
• 
  Blue Rolex (Hamilton, ON)
  Contains MDMA.
• 
  Red Doves (Spain), tested by Energy Control
  Contains 4-MEC, MDPPP, PMMA, and Unidentified.
• 
  Head Trip (Spain), tested by Energy Control
  Contains JWH-018 and JWH-073.

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