A Singapore-based language and linguistics professor from China is facing an investigation by the National University of Singapore for making comments supportive of psychedelic use.
In a personal blog post, Associate Professor Shi Yuzhi commented on Steve Jobs’ use of LSD, mentioning: “Can this society be more open … to not immediately dismiss the use of psychedelic drugs? … To produce a master in inventions, we need an open-minded environment… Without harming personal health, allowing young people to consume hallucinogenic drugs is not necessarily a bad thing”.
The blog post in question was titled “Why China cannot produce a Steve Jobs” and, obviously, was written in reference to Chinese (and not Singaporean) society. Dr Shi’s comments were written in response to Jobs’ public openness about the positive, creative influence that LSD had on his life. The blog post caused much controversy online and in the local news media, resulting in Dr Shi’s employer, the National University of Singapore, publicly distancing themselves from his comments and leading an investigation of the matter. Dr Shi has since removed all his blog posts relating to psychedelics in response to this pressure, despite his insistence that he brought up the topic in order to foster academic discussion.
from alternet.org: Slowly but surely, we may be reaching success in a determined and long-time legal effort to unleash the curative powers of psychedelic drugs in America. There is a tremendous need for alternative approaches to the existing models of drugs and therapy. But for years, scientific inquiry into the curative powers of psychedelic drugs has been blocked by political fears, the result of drug hysteria generated by anti-drug forces, law enforcement and Nancy Reagan’s “Just say no” campaign. Many industries, particularly the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries, and in some cases the prison guard unions, have employed a phalanx of well-connected lobbyists to protect the financial interests of their clients, regardless of the negative effects on the rest of us… What follows is the transcript of a highly illuminating panel discussion from the bi-annual conference of the Drug Policy Alliance in Los Angeles late last year, where some of the world’s foremost researchers in psychedelics described the history, process and results of their work thus far.
from alternet.org: Slowly but surely, we may be reaching success in a determined and long-time legal effort to unleash the curative powers of psychedelic drugs in America. There is a tremendous need for alternative approaches to the existing models of drugs and therapy. But for years, scientific inquiry into the curative powers of psychedelic drugs has been blocked by political fears, the result of drug hysteria generated by anti-drug forces, law enforcement and Nancy Reagan’s “Just say no” campaign. Many industries, particularly the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries, and in some cases the prison guard unions, have employed a phalanx of well-connected lobbyists to protect the financial interests of their clients, regardless of the negative effects on the rest of us… What follows is the transcript of a highly illuminating panel discussion from the bi-annual conference of the Drug Policy Alliance in Los Angeles late last year, where some of the world’s foremost researchers in psychedelics described the history, process and results of their work thus far.
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