Rick Doblin

Rick Doblin
Doblin, 2014
Born	(1953-11-30) November 30, 1953 (age 71) Chicago, Illinois, US
Alma mater	New College of Florida (BSc, 1987) Harvard University (PhD, 2001)
Occupation	Founder and Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Known for	Psychedelic therapy, MAPS
Scientific career
Fields	Psychology, Public policy, Political science
Thesis	Regulation of the medical use of psychedelics and marijuana  (2000)
Doctoral advisor	Frederic M. Scherer

Richard Elliot Doblin (born November 30, 1953) is an American psychedelic drug advocate who is the founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Rick Doblin grew up in Skokie, Illinois as the oldest of four children in a Jewish family.[4] He first enrolled in Florida's New College (now New College of Florida) in 1971, but dropped out after one semester, later re-enrolling and completing a bachelor's in psychology. Doblin later went on to get his doctorate in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, graduating in 2001.[5] Doblin's PhD thesis is titled Regulation of the Medical Use of Psychedelics and Marijuana, and was published in June 2000.[6]

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Doblin established MAPS in 1986 to research MDMA and other psychedelics through legal clinical trials. MAPS pursued a lengthy FDA approval process, hoping mainstream acceptance of MDMA therapy could positively impact access to other treatments.[7] Over decades, MAPS collaborated with scientists, raised funds through philanthropic means, and worked to change public perceptions of psychedelics.

In January 2023, Doblin quietly transitioned from executive director of MAPS to president of the organization.[3] Kris Lotlikar replaced Doblin as executive director.[3]

Controversy

As director of MAPS, Doblin has given comment on the publicized serious allegations of sexual assault by MAPS-employed therapists engaging in a clinical trial trialing psychedelic MDMA as therapy for survivors of sexual assault. Four years after Meaghan Buisson submitted a formal complaint to MAPS regarding the series of incidents, Doblin defended the organisation failing to review all videos of the sessions, stating "This unethical sexual misconduct happened after the therapy was over … So that made us think that we didn't need to review the video."[8]

An independent advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration rejected the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder on June 4, 2024. Just before they voted on Tuesday, the advisory panel heard from more than 30 speakers. Several of those focused on Doblin. Brian Pace, a lecturer in plant pathology at Ohio State University, criticized Mr. Doblin’s public comments, including a belief that legalizing and regulating them would bring about world peace.[9][10]

See also

• Psychedelia – Film about the history of psychedelic drugs
• Lykos Therapeutics
• Matthew J. Baggott

References

1. Elton, Catherine (10 September 2019). "The Interview: MDMA-Therapy Expert Dr. Rick Doblin". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
2. Gilbert, Daniel (27 August 2024). "Psychedelic pioneer is unfazed about MDMA's prospects, despite FDA setback". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
3. Silman, Anna (13 May 2024). "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 7 February 2025. At the beginning of 2023, [...] Doblin was replaced as MAPS's executive director (though he stayed on as president). [...] In January 2023, Lotlikar quietly replaced Doblin as MAPS's executive director, with Doblin taking on the role of president. [...] Correction: May 17, 2024 — An earlier version of this story omitted the fact that Rick Doblin was appointed president of MAPS when he was replaced as the organization's executive director.
4. Rowland, Katherine (2024-02-29). "Thanks to this man, MDMA could soon be legal for therapy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
5. Silman, Anna. "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
6. Doblin, Richard (2000). Regulation of the Medical Use of Psychedelics and Marijuana (PDF) (Thesis). Retrieved 2024-11-07.
7. Silman, Anna. "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
8. "Meaghan thought psychedelic therapy could help her PTSD. Instead it was the start of a nightmare". ABC News. ABC News (Australia). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
9. "Brian Pace | Plant Pathology". plantpath.osu.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
10. Jacobs, Andrew (2024-06-04). "F.D.A. Panel Rejects MDMA-Aided Therapy for PTSD". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-05.

• The MAPS Staff
• Erowid character vaults
• Miliard, Mike: This is your brain on drugs: Rick Doblin thinks pot, ecstasy, and other psychedelics could unlock the human mind — and he wants to bring them to Harvard, the FDA, and a doctor's office near you, The Boston Phoenix, Oct. 8–14, 2004.
• New York Times:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/health/fda-mdma-therapy-ptsd.html
• Bleyer, Jennifer (October 8, 2013). "Can Ecstasy, Primarily Known as a Club Drug, Help People Suffering From Trauma?". Tablet.
• Cox, Billy (14 August 2008). "Had a nice trip. Wish you could, too". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2012.