Far Out: The Companies Leading the Psychedelic Drug Revolution

Psychedelic drugs have been largely misunderstood for years. However, it appears that’s quickly changing thanks to new evidence from the medical community. in recent months, Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research to study compounds like LSD and psilocybin to treat a range of mental health problems, including anorexia, addiction and depression.

A 2017 study featured in the journal, Nature -- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms – showed that 47% of treatment-resistant patients with depression showed positive responses five weeks after psilocybin treatments.

Researchers at New York University found psilocybin mushrooms caused a “rapid and sustained” reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, as reported by the Financial Post. In addition, researchers from the University of California David found that micro-dosing with psychedelic drugs for a prolonged period of time showed promise. “Our study demonstrates that psychedelics can produce beneficial behavioral effects without drastically altering perception, which is a critical step towards producing viable medicines inspired by these compounds," said David Olson of UC Davis, as quoted by Esquire.

As studies advance, some of the top beneficiaries include Media Central Corporation (CSE:FLYY), Mind Medicine Inc. (OTC:MMEDF), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GWPH), and Champignon Brands Inc. (OTC:SHRMF)(CSE:SHRM).

Media Central Corporation (CSE:FLYY) BREAKING NEWSMedia Central Corporation Inc. announced that its wholly owned property Canncentral.com will provide ongoing coverage of the burgeoning psychedelics sector. Canncentral is a digital magazine dedicated to covering the latest in cannabis news and lifestyle and is an authoritative voice in the complementary wellness market. Canncentral’s psychedelics reporting will focus on the wide range of therapeutic and medical applications as well as business news, trends and legislative changes in the rapidly emerging area.

“The world of psychedelics is a natural extension of the content we produce at Canncentral.” said Brian Kalish, CEO of MediaCentral. “Our 6.5 million audience of engaged influential readers have their fingers on the pulse of emerging trends and are eager to consume up-to-date information from our award-winning editorial teams. Early signs point to the huge impact that psychedelics will have on society from a cultural, medical and business perspective. This focus on psychedelics is a natural progression of our ongoing strategy to leverage our considerable audience and capitalize on the latest in material trends as we move to further monetize our titles.”

The topic of psychedelics and medical psychedelics has gained worldwide momentum. In late 2018, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided “breakthrough therapy” status to a psilocybin (magic mushroom) treatment for clinical depression, pushing the industry into the spotlight. Over the last twenty four months several U.S cities have decriminalized psychedelics for medicinal purposes such as in mental health treatment, and a number of companies including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., and Pfizer have commenced clinical trials to research how psychedelics like LSD, MDMA and ketamine can target a range of medical aliments from cancer to PTSD, to depression to opioid addiction. As testament to the rising significance of the industry, John Hopkins University recently launched a dedicated research center for psychedelic studies called the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

A recent study by Data Bridge Market Research indicates the psychedelics market is experiencing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 16%. This is driven in part by the efficacy and impact expected from chemicals such as LSD and Ketamine in the antidepressant drug market alone, which is anticipated to exceed US$15.98 billion by 2023. As a result, many analysts have forecasted the potential of the psychedelics market to outpace cannabis as an investment class.

Canncentral will provide regular coverage on all things psychedelics and will distribute stories omnichannel to its growing audience through its own platform and MediaCentral’s other titles including NOW Magazine in Toronto and Georgia Straight in Vancouver. Content around psychedelics will be integrated across the Company’s full spectrum of three digital platforms, two print publications, three newsletters and nine social media channels accounting for nearly a million total followers.

Launched in fall 2019 Canncentral was the first original digital platform from MediaCentral. Earlier this week, MediaCentral announced that the Company has begun a beta-launch of ECentralSports.com, set to target the explosive eSports and egaming industry. The continued expansion of MediaCentral’s news and information platforms is part of its ongoing strategy to produce and acquire existing high-quality publications across the U.S and Canada, with the goal of consolidating, digitizing and monetizing an audience of over 100 million of the most influential consumers in North America.

Other related developments from around the markets include:

Mind Medicine Inc. (OTC:MMEDF) in collaboration with University Hospital Basel’s Liechti Laboratory, has discovered and filed a patent application in the United States (preserving all worldwide rights) for a neutralizer technology intended to shorten and stop the effects of an LSD trip during a therapy session. This discovery, when further developed, may act as the ‘off-switch’ to an LSD trip. MindMed is the leading psychedelic pharmaceutical company and the Liechti Laboratory is the leading research center focused on the pharmacology of psychedelic substances. This is the latest discovery based on surprising experimental results from work and collaboration conducted at the lab. The invention may help reduce the acute effects of a psychedelic drug and help shorten the hallucinogenic effects when required by a patient or medical professional.  One of the many fears and stigmas associated with psychedelics are rare occurrences of ‘bad trips.’ MindMed is seeking to equip therapists and other medical professionals with the resources and technology to better control the effects of dosing LSD in a clinical setting to improve the patient experience and patient outcomes. This advancement paves the way for greater therapeutic applications of LSD and shorter-acting psychedelic therapy treatments. MindMed believes this technology, when further developed, may one day be marketed as an added feature to shorten a therapy session and stop a session if the patient is not comfortable.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a 6.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate, from $0.95 per share to $1.01 per share. “In recognition of our 2019 results, strong financial position and confidence in the future of Johnson & Johnson, the Board has voted to increase the quarterly dividend for the 58th consecutive year,” said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company. At the new rate, the indicated dividend on an annual basis is $4.04 per share compared to the previous rate of $3.80 per share. The next quarterly dividend is payable on June 9, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 26, 2020. The ex-dividend date is May 22, 2020.

GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GWPH) will announce on May 11th, 2020 its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31st, 2020. GW will also host a conference call the same day at 4:30 p.m. ET. Conference call information will be provided in the financial results press release. A replay of the call will also be available through the Company's website.

Champignon Brands Inc. (OTC:SHRMF)(CSE:SHRM) announced its placement in an editorial published by NetworkNewsWire. “The expansion of the functional food and drinks sector has created a new opportunity. While cannabis and CBD have taken these consumables beyond the traditional active ingredients of alcohol and caffeine, this diversification of the market has opened up consumers to new possibilities. Among those possibilities is the use of natural ingredients found in mushrooms.”

Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media which has a partnership with WallStreetNation.com is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media, which has a partnership with WallStreetNation.com, is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement between Winning Media (partners of WallStreetNation.com) and Media Central Corporation, Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for Media Central Corporation. We own ZERO shares of Media Central Corporation. Please click here for full disclaimer.

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