Ethical Concerns about Psilocybin Intellectual Property

Summary

Psilocybin, a compound from traditional Indigenous medicines, has been patented dozens of times since 1957, often for treating depression. Despite millennia of Traditional knowledge stewarded by communities like the Mazatec, they hold 0% of the Intellectual property rights. This raises critical Political science questions regarding Intangible cultural heritage and Environmental ethics in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. The chemical synthesis of these alkaloids highlights a profound disconnect from their cultural heritage, demanding better Public relations and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and foster creativity.

Abstract

Since a 1957 exposé in Life Magazine, chemical compounds derived from Psilocybe mushrooms have been the focus of dozens of attempted and successful patents, most recently to treat depression. Regrettably, the Mazatec indigenous communities who stewarded these traditional medicines for millenia are not party to any of these patents, despite a number of international treaties asserting indigenous rights to their intangible cultural heritage.

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