Research on the use of psychedelic therapy - including psilocybin - thrived from the 1950s to the early 1970s. During that time a number of studies showed there could be benefits for certain mental health conditions and addictions. Unfortunately, in the 1970s psychedelic substances were classified as “drugs of abuse” with no recognized medical value.
Over the past few decades, research has resumed to examine how psychedelics work using modern brain imaging and to study their therapeutic potential in treating various conditions. It’s important to note that naturally occurring psychedelics such as psilocybin have been, and continue to be used in other cultures as part of traditional practices for centuries.