Dr. Sasha (Alexander) and Ann Shulgin are pioneers in psychedelic research and authored the landmark books PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story and TIHKAL: The Continuation. On Tuesday, February 22, 2005 they were online to discuss topics from the "war on drugs" to the use of MDMA in psychotherapy.

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About Sasha and Ann Shulgin

Sasha (Alexander) Shulgin studied Chemistry at Harvard University and Biochemistry and Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. He has authored over 200 research papers published in peer reviewed scientific journals, been awarded some 20 patents and written four books. Sasha has been studying the chemistry and effects of psychedelics for over 30 years. He was recently featured in the New York Times Magazine, which described him "not as a scientist in the modern sense but as a different type -- what Aldous Huxley, the novelist turned psychedelic philosopher, once described as a 'naturalist of the mind.'"

Ann Shulgin is a therapist who conducted psychedelic therapy before 1985, when MDMA was effectively made illegal when it was reclassified as a Schedule I drug. Ann is a researcher and spokesperson for the beneficial use of psychedelics, including MDMA, in a therapeutic setting. The Shulgins travel and speak extensively on the topic of psychedelics.

About Ethan Nadelmann

Ethan Nadelmann is the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the leading organization in the United States promoting alternatives to the "war on drugs." He's spent many wonderful hours with Sasha and Ann over the years.

Bibliography

Buffum, JC; Shulgin, AT. “Overdose of 2.3 grams of intravenous methamphetamine: Case, analysis and patient perspective.” 2001. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 33(4): 409-12.

Shulgin, AT. “Spoils of the Drug War.” San Jose Mercury News. 10 Mar. 1998.

Galloway, G.; Shulgin, AT; Kornfeld, H.; et al. “Amphetamine, not MDMA, is associated with intracranial hemorrhage.” 1995. Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine. 12(3): 231-2.

Jacob, P. III; Shulgin, AT. “Structure-activity relationships of the classic hallucinogens and their analogs.” 1994. NIDA Research Monograph 146 (Hallucinogens: An Update): 74-91.

Shulgin, AT; Shulgin, A. “Barriers to Research.” 1993. Yearbook for Ethnomedicine and the Study of Consciousness. 2: 9-20.

Shulgin, AT; Shulgin, A.;Jacob, P. III. “Central nervous system (CNS) activity of two new psychoactive compounds.” 1991. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 23(1): 95-96.

Shulgin, A. T. “The 'social-chemistry' of pharmacological discovery.” 1987. Social Pharmacology. 1: 279-290.

Shulgin, AT.  “Reference information on MDMA.” 1987.
Analog. 1987. 9(4): 10.

Shulgin, AT. “The background and chemistry of MDMA.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 1986. 18(4): 291-304.

Shulgin, AT. “A protocol for the evaluation of new psychoactive drugs in man.” 1986. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology. 8: 313-320.

Shulgin, AT. “What is MDMA?” 1985. The PharmChem Newsletter. 14(3).

Shulgin, AT. “Profiles of psychedelic drugs: LSD.” 1980. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs. 1980. 12(2):173-4.

Shulgin AT. “Profiles of psychedelic drugs: Psilocybin.” Journal of Psychedelic Drugs. 1980. 12(1): 79.

Shulgin, AT. “Abuse of the term ‘amphetamines’.” 1976.  Clinical Toxicology. 9: 351-352.

Shulgin AT. “Drug use and anti-drug legislation.” The PharmChem Newsletter. 1975. 4(8).

Shulgin, AT. “Drugs of abuse in the future.” 1975. Clinical Toxicology. 8: 405-456.

Shulgin, AT. “Mescaline: The chemistry and pharmacology of its analogs.” 1973.  Lloydia. 36: 46-58.

Shulgin, AT. “Stereospecific requirements for hallucinogenesis.” 1973. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 25: 271-272.

Shulgin, AT. “Recent developments in cannabis chemistry.” 1969. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs 2(1): 15-29.