EErowidA Psychoactiverow iPlantsd andEExtracts Chemicalsxtra Newslettercts May 2003 Number 4 alancing the many elements of the Erowid as part of their personal charitable Erowid Project that compete for our giving plans. Many friends of Erowid have Erowid.org is a member- Btime and attention is probably our not seen it as a possible charity to which they supported organization working to most diffi cult task overall. With the death could donate small monthly amounts or have provide free, reliable and accurate of our friend and largest contributor last as part of a corporate charity package. information about psychoactive fall, fundraising again leapt to the top of Third, and perhaps most diffi cult, we plants and chemicals. our To Do lists. are seeking an additional individual or The information on the site is With only two full-time and one half-time foundation that would like to help support a compilation of the experiences, staff, we are unable to dedicate a person to Erowid’s mission. Despite the functional words, and efforts of hundreds of fundraising. This means making hard appeal of the project—over six million individuals including users, parents, decisions about time-slicing. Over the last unique visitors in 2002—Erowid’s work health professionals, doctors, eight years, we have worked to minimize involves some extremely controversial therapists, chemists, researchers, the amount of time and money spent raising teachers, and lawyers. Erowid acts funds to keep Erowid going. From the outset, as a publisher of new information we have had the intention to grow slowly and as well as a library for the collection to try to be efficient with our income, to “To a historian libraries are food, of documents published elsewhere, avoid some of the problems inherent in rapid shelter, and even muse.” spanning the spectrum from solid expansion. We have a strong vision of where — Barbara Tuchman peer-reviewed research to creative the Erowid Project is heading and feel that writing and fi ction. some of the challenging choices we make (and believe in) would be diffi cult within a principles which make it ineligible for larger, more risk-averse, organization. funding from most mainstream sources. But, the last six months have involved a Finding new major donors is not the type of lot of re-thinking about how we can stay true work we’re used to. to our vision and still afford to keep it alive. Fundraising is about meeting people, IN THIS ISSUE . We have three primary ways we are trying to being given introductions, and showing maintain our 2002 funding level in 2003. ourselves to be trustworthy, effi cient, and Eye on the Media ................. 2 First, we are trying to reach a goal of 800 hard-working. But for us, it is an alien Escottology.............................. 3 members by the end of 2003. We currently and somewhat uncomfortable activity. have about 500 members so that would be an Responding to our reticence to do fundraising Legal Updates ......................... 4 increase of about 50 new members per month for Erowid, Bob Wallace used to tell us that Weary of Elves for the rest of the year. To that end, we have sales, in its purest sense, is simply making (Ayahuasca Experience.) ....... 6 designed a new Erowid mug and will likely people aware of the availability of a solution Myth Debunking ..................... 8 have two additional membership incentives to a problem they have. But to engineers, it by the end of the year to try to entice current often feels like a distraction from the “real Storage Tips ........................... 10 members to continue their support. work” that needs to be done. Psychoactives in History ......... 12 Second, we are trying to increase our We are absolutely amazed at how Visionary Art ........................... 18 “middle-tier” support. In 2002, we had far we’ve been able to get on voluntary only two people who donated between donations. Thank you to everyone. It is Imminent Death & Enlightenment $1,000 and $10,000 and only a few more humbling and inspiring to have so many (Mushroom Experience) .......... 20 who donated over $400. We spent time people willing to contribute to keep the Erowid’s Vision ........................ 22 this winter working on a fundraising packet project alive. targeted at this level of contributors and have Fire & Earth been working on asking people to consider EYE ON THE MEDIA by Fire & Earth Erowid CBS NEWS “EYE ON AMERICA” REPORTS ON EROWID On January 27, 2003, CBS Evening News and that he thought some of the information attract the fi ckle, distracted viewer. CBS ran a short “Eye on America” feature about on the site was not appropriate for children. News added morphing, psychedelic graphics “recreational drug websites”. Their report He went on, however, to say how he himself super-imposed onto images shown of our focused on Erowid’s role as an information found the site to be a useful resource. site; the story implied that Erowid somehow source, presented the case of a young man recommended taking MAOIs and smoking CBS News included an edited and slightly they said had harmed himself after reading 5-MeO-DMT; advertisements for the piece reworded statement that we had sent them about information on Erowid.org, and warned about children’s safety on the in email: “We are a library, with no interest questioned whether such information should internet; and Dan Rather led into the story in encouraging anything but learning and be available to everyone. with “Some websites can teach your children care.” They then included a brief on-camera how to make mind-bending drugs that can The primary focus of the story was an interview with Rick Doblin (founder of the kill them.” interview with a young man being treated Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic at the University of Massachusetts hospital. Studies, MAPS) who countered the view It is worth noting that, as of the time They described that he had overdosed on that we promote irresponsible behavior: of the story, Erowid included 7 experience an “exotic combination of chemicals and “Providing access to tools, is not the same reports from people who had combined plants”, the recipe for which he had found as encouraging people to use them.” these two substances, including reports with on Erowid. The young man was quoted as titles like “Baseball Bat to the Skull” and “A The report ended on an ominous note, saying that he thought “hallucinogens were Bad Combination”. Several other reports returning to the theme of dangers lurking fun things to do on a Friday night.” mentioned worrisome effects like blacking on the internet: “For the young man who out and vomiting. overdosed, and his parents, it’s a cautionary tale about the freedom of the internet. The Dr. Boyer believes that the young man “It’s Erowid’s reports on side effects, web gave him access to unlimited information, experienced serotonin syndrome leading to on precise doses, and its long list of but it was mixed with a brand new way to fl irt severe overheating and subsequent rhab- recipes that make it the encyclopedia with death.” domyolis (toxic muscle damage). A case of altered states.” report documenting this incident is expected *** — Wyatt Andrews, CBS in 2003. Since there is a history of traditional News Correspondent Overall, we were pleased with the story. use of South American brews that contain Although we strongly dislike the fear- both an MAOI (harmala) and 5-MeO-DMT, mongering advertisements that heralded this incident helps raise important questions No specifi cs were given about what he the piece and the overall negative tone, about potential health risks. We look forward had ingested, but through a number of other the producers of Eye on America are to to future research on this topic. sources we learned that he had purchased be commended for including elements of syrian rue seeds from which he made an balance. The few facts were reasonably extract. He ingested the extract orally accurate, they included an extremely positive “Every physician I know, every law (for its MAOI property) and then smoked quote from Dr. Boyer, did not attack us enforcement person I know who 5-MeO-DMT. personally, selected a fair quote from our wants to fi nd out the very latest in email, and included the balancing opinion The young man said that he had read drugs goes to Erowid.” of a friend of the Erowid Project. about the combination on “Erowid dot org”, — Dr. Edward Boyer, M.D. to which the interviewer replied questioningly We have an ambivalent relationship to “Erowid dot org?” and then the commentator the news media. While we certainly want stated the URL again fl atly: “Erowid dot our resources to be available to those who org.” It seemed as if the editorial intent was need them, we believe that the issues raised This was the most prominent television to advertise the location of the site as clearly by our site are not easily dealt with in one mention of Erowid to date, and it was not as possible. or two minute long news spots. With major a complete trainwreck. The extremely news sources, often stories are more like controversial nature of these issues fosters A physician from the hospital was advertisements or meme-bites than they are misunderstanding and polarization in dialog interviewed, but provided no specifi cs on functional transmissions of fact. and we are glad that CBS News chose to camera about what had happened. It is include balance as they raised valid medical interesting to note that the physician, Dr. For television news producers, there are and ethical issues for their audience.