Campaign to get MDMA de-scheduled

Under New Zealand law MDMA is classified as a Class B drug. This means that under the law the misuse (ie recreational use) of MDMA is regarded as posing a high risk of harm to individuals and society.

This classification has resulted in people, especially young people, dying and putting their lives unnecessarily in danger from adulterated MDMA. It has also resulted in those suffering from PTSD and autistic adults suffering from social anxiety being denied what is increasingly being proven to be an effective and permanent remedy.

Around one third of emergency responders suffer from PTSD. MDMA-assisted therapy has been proven to be an effective and lasting treatment for PTSD. The current classification of MDMA as a Class B drug has made it extremely difficult for sufferers of PTSD to access this treatment.

I believe very strongly that the case for MDMA’s de-scheduling is one that can be proven not just on the balance of probabilities but beyond a reasonable doubt. The downside is that it is going to take a lot of work.

Though MDMA is one of the most researched drugs in the world but this research, especially early research is often poor, unreliable, and political biased.

As part of my job one of my major tasks will be to go through this research, both good and bad, and present it in an accessible and understandable way, but also in a way that argues beyond a reasonable doubt why MDMA should be de-classified. My goal as part of this project is to create the most comprehensive human-built database on MDMA. Other tasks will include setting up and maintenance of a website, establishment of a Charitable Trust for the purpose of further fundraising and awareness raising etc.

When ready I will request the New Zealand Minister of Health under section 4 of the Misuse of Drugs Act to seek advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) regarding the scheduling of MDMA. The EACD will of course be provided with all evidence and arguments why MDMA should be declassified.

I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity and to have the opportunity to work on this project full time. However to do so I need your help. I also know how much work this involves. I am not doing this for myself but for all the young people who lives are put in danger thanks to unscrupulous dealers. I am doing it for all the people suffering from conventional-treatment resistant PTSD and for who MDMA offers real hope. I am doing it for all the people suffering from addiction caused by trauma. And I'm doing it for anyone suffering from chronic and quality of life limiting social anxiety.

How I will use the funds

Under section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act the Minister of Health may direct the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) to advise on matters of classification. My first goal is to present to the Minister a prima-facie case why MDMA should not be classified as a class B drug and direct him to seek advise from the EACD. Next will be to present a detailed report to the EACD.

That however will not be the finish as under the Misuse of Drugs Act a substance cannot be declassified without an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means lobbying, submissions, media work, setting up things like charitable trusts, organising etc. I also aim to reach out to organisations such as The Multidisciplinary

Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) (maps.org) in the US and Mind Medicine Australia (MMA) (https://mindmedicineaustralia.org.au).

Thank you

Update for week ending Sunday 21 Feb:

Published draft submission and database

Update for week ending Sunday 28 Feb:

Reached out to NormlNZ, KnowYourStuff, Anyone's Child, Mind Medicine Aus, MAPs, NZ Drug Foundation et al.