Harvard Scientists Investigate Ecstatic Last Rites

American scientists are to give MDMA to people suffering from terminal cancer, to test whether the drug can help people cope with the final days before death, in a new study that's gained approval from US authorities.

"End of life issues are very important yet there are very few options for patients who are facing death," study chief Dr John Halpern told the Telegraph. "I'm hoping we can find something that will be of use to people in their remaining days of life."

The study coincides with another project already underway, which is examining the usefulness of magic mushrooms for terminally ill patients. Chief scientist Charles Grob, a psychiatrist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles told the Washington Post this week, that the shroom trials are already showing encouraging results.

"So far they have had very impressive results in terms of amelioration of anxiety, improvement of mood, improved rapport with close family and friends and, interestingly, significant and lasting reductions in pain," said Mr Grob.

"These are extraordinary compounds that seem to have an uncanny ability to reliably induce spiritual or religious experiences when taken in the right conditions," he claimed.
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• ecstasy