SVG legalizes psychedelic medicine
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is looking to position itself as one of the most progressive countries on the planet for psychedelic research.
The team at Microdose, the world’s biggest medical psychedelic conference, said the country’s move to permit Med Plant Science Ltd to produce psychedelic compounds makes it the first country to legalise all psychedelic medicine.
This was accomplished via the SVG Bureau of Standards creating a Scientific Research License that allows for the cultivation, processing, import/export of psychedelic compounds for medicinal purposes and scientific research.
Right now, the list applies to Psilocybin, Ketamine, Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Mescaline, 3-4 Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine (MDMA), Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), 5-Methoxy-N, N-Dimethyltrypotomine (5-MeO-DMT), Turmeric, Aloe Vera, Papaya, Arrowroot, Soursop, Coconut, Ginger, Moringa, Iboga, Sassafras, and Peyote. With all the money being thrown at psychedelics at the moment, as new promising compounds come to light in the years to come, it probably wouldn’t be too hard to get them added to the list.
If everything works out in the production and research phase, there is a clause in the license that will be expanded to clinical trials. The eventual problems would target PTSD, addiction, alcoholism, depression, and anxiety. This would add to the wave of research beginning in the U.S. and Europe.
Med Plant Science’s CEO Angus Taylor weighed in on the news when announcing the company’s success.
“This license enables research to demonstrate psychedelic compounds are safe and effective medicines,” Taylor said. “It’s our goal to advance disruptive technologies and support novel treatment centres within the psychedelics space.”
In addition to the moves made in SVG, Taylor said the company has many exciting partnerships in the works they believe will push the rapidly developing psychedelic medicine space further. “We are engaged in discussions with different partners who share our commitment and vision to develop innovative medical solutions to mental health challenges. I’ll speak about these developments in the coming weeks as we continue to advance our biotech business thesis,” he said.
Hon. Saboto Caesar is SVG’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour. Caesar noted he was excited to see the deal with Med Plant Science come together, given where it places the country in the global development arena.
Caesar argued the whole thing is driven by science, and he hopes that science coming to SVG will bring with it scientists, researchers, academics and students from around the world.
It’s also a safe bet to presume those getting lined up for the future in SVG are also looking down the road to eventual exports. Last month, the country sent its first 110 kilos of medical cannabis to Germany. It took four years for cannabis to get to that point after the medical program that licenses legal providers kicked off in 2018.
Caesar also hinted at all this last month when he spoke on cannabis exports to Reuters, noting, “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is ready for global business in the Medicinal Wellness Industry space.” At the time, Caesar said both cannabis and psychedelics were very much a part of that more comprehensive plan.
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