Research into the medicinal properties of psychedelics has been underway for decades. Scientists have found drugs like MDMA, LSD, and magic mushrooms can be used to treat anxiety, depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and even addiction. And, yet, the government continues to block research and enforce policies that criminalize the use of the drugs.

Currently, psychedelics are categorized as a Schedule I substance by the DEA, which means they are believed to have high potential for abuse and are banned for medical use. Despite this, there has been a recent resurgence of research into the potential healing properties of these substances. Earlier this year, celebrity journalist Amber Lyon left her post at CNN to start a website entirely dedicated to the benefits of psychedelics for psychological healing. And Swiss researchers also published results of a drug trialexploring possible medical uses of LSD—the first trial of its kind in nearly 40 years.

For a clearer sense of how different psychedelics work on the brain, and their potential clinical benefits, check out this handy chart from Scientific American (below). As more and more states approve medical marijuana, maybe medical acid and medical ecstasy are not so far behind.

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