In a strange twist the US Drug Enforcement Agency have approved the first Western clinical study using MDMA to treat “anxiety among people with life-threatening illnesses” researchers have told Aljazeera America.

Brad Burge, the director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies believes the stigma is changing surrounding the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs and their potential purpose within medicine.

Unlike it’s street variants dubbed Molly or Ecstasy pure MDMA has been proven to be “sufficiently safe” when taken in moderate doses a limited number of times according to MAPS.

Burge states that MDMA can be useful in psychotherapy for people suffering from anxiety due to life-threatening illnesses because it produces in users a sense of calm, trust and confidence. He added;

“It opens them up and makes them more comfortable with the therapist while reducing fear and making them more able to talk about difficult emotions.” 

The moderated trial will happen in Marin, California, in a psychologist’s office unlike it’s usual hospital setting with a therapist near by for “support and conversation”.

Within the trial will be 18 subjects diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, they will be given doses of MDMA over a few sessions during months of psychotherapy to gauge if the psychedelic has helped reduce people’s anxiety.

If the results prove affective it’ll allow MAPS to attain a better understanding of the basics of the drug and establish safety and effectiveness with the end goal an FDA approved medicine by 2021.

This if course doesn’t mean you’ll be able to grab some government quality gear anytime soon but forward steps in breaking down the myths surrounding the drug and its potential use in helping people.