HuffPo

In the years since, members of the medical community have continued to argue that MDMA doesn’t belong in Schedule I. Some recent studies, also approved by the DEA, have found that the drug could be an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder when administered under proper supervision.

The latest study is being sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit organization that funds research on beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS sees the DEA’s approval as a sign of change.

“The smooth process of regulatory approval for this study indicates that stigma is no longer standing in the way of regulatory approval for research into the therapeutic uses of MDMA and other psychedelics,” Brad Burge, communications director for MAPS, told The Huffington Post. “Now, the main challenge has become finding the funding necessary to complete the research. As these studies move forward, we’ll start seeing support for psychedelic research as an opportunity, rather than a risk.”

MAPS said that 18 patients diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses will undergo MDMA-assisted psychotherapy sessions under the supervision of Dr. Philip Wolfson, the study’s principal investigator, at an office in Marin, California. The year-and-a-half study will test the drug’s potential applications for treating anxiety and stress disorders related to the end of life. MAPS will begin recruiting subjects as soon as final preparations are made, hopefully within about two months, Burge said.

This pretty much stands on its own as yet another example of government finally waking up and realizing that the war on drugs has also (perhaps even mostly) been a war against medical research and treatment.

This particular drug is insanely potent giving the therapist close to God-like powers to define the person but, in some cases, the alternative may be life long torment.

Even if it is found to be too potent though, the above willingness to finally allow science to continue is still a breath of fresh air.