David Nutt is no stranger to controversy.

The psychedelics expert, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, infamously clashed with the British government in 2009 after comparing the harm caused by taking ecstasy to the dangers of horse-riding. Later that year, he was fired from the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs after he publicly criticized the government’s decision to tighten the legal penalties associated with cannabis: his stance, while based on evidence, was politically inconvenient for the authorities.

Fifteen years later, social attitudes to psychoactive substances are evolving, with the emergence of innovative new therapeutic uses of ketamine, growing openness around “microdosing” (taking very small doses of substances such as LSD) in the tech community, and growing numbers of countries legalizing cannabis.

Today, in addition to his professorship, Nutt chairs Drug Science, an independent nonprofit he founded to advocate for evidence-based drug policy free from political interference. He will be presenting his ideas at LaPsyConf, which is taking place in Buenos Aires on October 8, 9 and 10. More than 20 experts will debate mental health, longevity and well-being around emerging therapies.

Nutt spoke to the Herald ahead of the event about his work advocating for the lifting of an international ban on psychedelics, the therapeutic value of these substances, and how governments — including Argentina — can reduce the suffering caused by drugs.

What will you talk about at the conference?

It’s very clear what I want to say. I’m going to say that the international ban on psychedelics of the 1971 UN Convention is the worst censorship of research in the history of the world. It’s led to probably 100 million excess deaths and disorders like depression, PTSD, alcoholism and other addictions. It’s outrageous for that reason, and it should be revoked as soon as possible.

What should be in place instead?

An evidence-based regulation of these drugs........

© Buenos Aires Herald