Modern Entheogens Ethics

"The only freedom which counts is the freedom to do what some other people think to be wrong. There is no point in demanding freedom to do that which all will applaud. All the so-called liberties or rights are things which have to be asserted against others who claim that if such things are to be allowed their own rights are infringed or their own liberties threatened.

This is always true, even when we speak of the freedom to worship, of the right of free speech or association, or of public assembly. If we are to allow freedoms at all there will constantly be complaints that either the liberty itself or the way in which it is exercised is being abused, and, if it is a genuine freedom, these complaints will often be justified. There is no way of having a free society in which there is not abuse. Abuse is the very hallmark of liberty."

- Former Lord Chief Justice Hailsham

Individual Code of Conduct for Primary Religious Practices

When I engage in spiritual practices designed to bring about profound changes in consciousness, I will consider my intentions and will choose carefully the occasion and location for the practice.

I will be well informed about the mental and physical effects, anticipate reasonably foreseeable risks to myself and others, and employ safeguards to minimize these risks.

Safeguards may include:

Ensuring that my setting is reasonably free of hazards.

Ensuring that I will not operate automobiles or other potentially dangerous machinery.

Taking myself `off duty' from responsibilities.

Arranging for someone to be `on duty' (a `guide' or `sitter')
to keep the session safe and respond appropriately to any exigencies that might arise.

Substance info: Syrian Rue

Syrian rue or harmal (Peganum harmala) is a perennial succulent shrub with narrow, pinnately cut leaves and white solitary flowers, growing up to 1 meter but usually not more than 30 cm high, native from the Mediterranean to central and soutwest Asia. Its small angular brown seeds are traditionally used in dye making and for medicinal purposes in the Middle East. Peganum harmala is one of the plants speculated to be the Soma or Haoma of ancient Persia.

The seeds of Peganum harmala contain beta-carboline harmala alkaloids, primarily harmine and harmaline, which are both psychoactive and potent short-acting reversible inhibitors of MAO-A. The seeds also contain uterotonic alkaloids, which should be avoided by pregnant women (Ott 1996; Shulgin 1997; Mahmoudian 2002). In addition, the seeds have been shown to have both analgesic and antibacterial properties (Prashanth 1999).

In western culture Peganum harmala seeds are sometimes used as an MAOI in combination with other psychoactive substances, and less commonly as a psychoactive in their own right (Ott 1994; Shulgin, 1997). At psychoactive dosages, Peganum harmala typically produces heavy somatic effects (cf. Ott 1996, Shulgin 1997). Simple acid extractions are often used to isolate the harmala alkaloids. Due to its MAOI properties, it may be advisable to avoid certain foods in combination with Peganum harmala.

Dose

For use as an MAOI, 3-5 g of seeds (approximately 1.5 mg harmala alkaloids per kilogram body mass) appears to be sufficient to activate oral DMT; no increase in activity is noted above these doses (Ott 1994; Shulgin 1997; Gracie & Zarkov 1986). Dosages from 3 to 28 g are taken to produce psychoactive effects (Shulgin 1997; Most 1985).

Price

In 2010, seeds are sold for approximately $2-4 USD per ounce.

Law

Peganum harmala is unscheduled in the United States meaning it is legal to possess and sell, however it is listed as a noxious weed in several states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon (USDA 2009), which means its cultivation or import might be controlled or prohibited in those states. The harmala alkaloids contained in the seeds are neither scheduled in the United States nor are they analoges of scheduled substances. However, the harmala alkaloids are scheduled in Australia, and harmaline is scheduled in Canada. Both Peganum harmala and the harmala alkaloids are listed as controlled substances in France.

Chemistry

Peganum harmala seeds contain the harmala alkaloids harmine and harmaline, but also harmalol, harman, and tetrahydroharmine at approximately 2-7% by mass total. The harmala alkaloids are beta-carbolines. The seeds also contain the uterotonic alkaloids vasicine, vasicinone, and deoxyvasicinone, which are quinazoline compounds.

Pharmacology

The harmala alkaloids are potent short-acting reversible selective inhibitors of MAO-A. They have been described as both CNS-stimulants (Ott 1994 citing Beer 1939; Pendell 2006 citing The Merck Index) and CNS-depressants (Ott 1996 citing Naranjo 1967), however most commonly as CNS-depressants (Ott 1996). Tetrahydroharmine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, but is typically only present in trace amounts (Shulgin 2002). Harman has been shown to be a vasodilator and a hypotensive agent in animals (Shulgin 2002).

The quinazoline compounds vasicine, vasicinone, and deoxyvasicinone are uterotonics and possibly emmenagogues. (Ott 1996; Shulgin 2002; Mahmoudian 2002).

History

Peganum harmala has a long history of medicinal use in North Africa and the Middle East from Persia to India. It has been used there to ward off the evil eye (Pendell 2006), and as an abortifacient and emmenagogue (Mahmoudian 2002). Its use as an MAOI and as a psychoactive in underground drug culture appears to have begun in the 1980s; one of the early records of its use to orally activate DMT was in publications by Gracie & Zarkov (Gracie & Zarkov, 1985, 1986).

Effects

The effects of Peganum harmala are difficult to characterize (Ott 1994, 1996; Shulgin 1997; G&Z 1985). It has been described both as a stimulant and soporific, more often the latter (Ott 1994, 1996). Pendell describes the effects as "sedative, narcotic, mildly to moderately visual" (Pendell 2006). Depending upon dosage, common effects are nausea, dizziness, ataxia, oneirophrenia, tinnitus, hypertension, visual trails, and closed eye visuals (G&Z 1986; Ott 1994, 1996; Shulgin 1997).

Onset

For usage both as MAOI and as a psychoactive, effects usually begin within 30-60 minutes.

Duration

The MAOI effect lasts for 3-6 hours or longer. Psychoactive effects last 5-8 hours.

Risks

Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, body tremors, brachycardia, tachycardia, hypertension, and tinnitus are common when using Peganum harmala. Due to its MAOI properties, consumption of tyramine containing foods from 12 hours prior until 24 hours or longer after consuming Peganum harmala might precipitate a hypertensive crisis. Peganum harmala taken in conjunction with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs, which are common antidepressants) may precipitate serotonin syndrome, which may be life threatening.

A case report (Mahmoudian 2002) has demonstrated that a 150 g oral dose of Peganum harmala seeds can result in severe gastrointestinal distress including vomiting of blood, convulsions, and gastric ulcers. Vasicine and vasicinone are known uterotonics. Harman interacts directly with DNA and may be mutagenic (Shulgin 2002).

Contraindications

Do not operate heavy machinery. Do not drive.

Individuals currently in the midst of emotional or psychological upheaval in their everyday lives should be careful about choosing to use psychoactives as they could possibly trigger even more difficulty.

Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or early onset mental illness should be extremely careful because strong psychoactives have been known to trigger latent psychological and mental problems.

Syrian rue contains uterotonics and is probably better avoided by women who are pregnant.

Addiction potential

Peganum harmala is not known to be either physically addicting nor likely to cause psychological dependance.

Substance info: Ketamine

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic, developed in the mid 1960's, used primarily for veterinary anaesthesiology. Although Ketamine is not used medically on humans much because it induces psychedelic episodes in patients, it is still used for some limited human applications because it does not depress breathing or circulation.

Ketamine is used recreationally primarily as a snorted white powder and for therapeutic and psychedelic use it is often injected intra-muscularly (IM). Its effects range (at lower doses) from mild inebriation, dreamy thinking, stumbling, clumsy, or 'robotic' movement, delayed or reduced sensations, vertigo, sometimes erotic feelings, increased sociability, and an interesting sense of seeing the world differently to (at higher doses) extreme difficulty moving, nausea, complete dissociation, entering complete other realities, classic Near Death Experiences (NDEs), compelling visions, black outs, etc. Ketamine is also known for being more psychologically addictive / compelling than most psychedelics and it is not uncommon to hear of users who take it once or more daily.

Dose

Depending on the concentration, form, and method of administration, recreational doses of ketamine range from 30 - 300 mg. The dosage range for insufflated (snorted) ketamine varies widely from about 15-200 mg. With doses higher than about 50 mg it is advisable to be lying down. I.M. (intra-muscular injections) ketamine dosages are generally between 25-125 mg. Oral use usually requires more material, ranging from 75-300 mg.

Price

It is sold for 25-50$ per gram at parties & events, sold for 15-25 USD per gram for larger purchases, and 10-20 for wholesale purchases.

Law

Ketamine is illegal to possess in the United States without a prescription or license. It was made a schedule III substance in August, 1999. Prior to that time sales were regulated by the FDA but possession was legal. Ketamine is controlled in many countries.

History

Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962 by Calvin Stevens at Parke Davis Labs while searching for PCP anaesthetic replacements. He named it "CI581". In 1965 Ketamine was discovered to be a useful anaesthetic and was first used recreationally by Edward Domino who coined the term "dissociative anaesthetic". Ketamine was used for anaesthesia because it suppresses breathing much less than most other available anaesthetics, but in the 1970's patients began to report unwanted visions while under its influence. In 1978, John Lilly published his book "The Scientist" and Ketamine popularity grew through the 1980s until in 1995 the DEA added Ketamine to its "emerging drugs list". In 1998 & 1999, Ketamine was lumped by media and legislators with GHB as a 'date rape drug' and a 'club drug' and was emergency scheduled by the DEA on August 12, 1999.

Effects

The full ketamine experience is somewhat different than many of the psychedelics because of its nature as a dissociative. At high enough doses, users find themselves completely removed from their surroundings and disconnected from their body and sensations.

Descriptions of the experience vary, but many describe alternate planes of existence, fully enveloping meetings and conversations with non-existant people or beings, and life-revelations.

Onset

I.M. (intra-muscular injection) Ketamine generally takes 1-5 minutes to take effect. Snorted ketamine takes a little longer at 5-15 minutes. Depending on how much and how recently one has eaten food, oral ketamine can take between 5 and 30 minutes to take effect.

Duration

The primary effects of ketamine last approximately an 30-45 minutes if injected, 45-60 minutes when snorted, and 1-2 hours if used orally.

Risks

Negative physical effects can include dry mouth, respiratory problems and nervousness/racing heart. Many people also experience nausea and/or vomiting on ketamine, which can obviously be a problem when taking an anaesthetics or sedatives.

Supervision of higher dose ketamine experiences by a sober sitter can help ensure that an unconscious participant doesn't have problems with vomiting and/or breathing.

Two psychological difficulties which seem to come up for those who use ketamine regularly are paranoia and egocentrism.

There are many reports of regular users starting to see patterns and coincidences (synchronicities) in the world around them which seem to indicate that they are somehow more important or integral to the world than others. This same sense of the world focusing on the user can also feed into a sense of paranoia.

Contraindications

Do not operate heavy machinery. Do not drive. Do not swim. Avoid bodies of water - At least one death has been recorded where an individual took a bath after using ketamine, and drowned.

Addiction potential

Ketamine has the potential to be psychologically addicting. Some individuals who use it regularly find it difficult to stop or control their own use.