About Roland:
Dr. Roland Griffiths (1940–2023) was one of the world’s most influential scientists, credited with leading the movement to restart rigorous research into psychedelic drugs after a 40-year ban in the United States. For over two decades, he was a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His work focused on the careful study of mood-altering compounds like psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”). Roland developed a scientific approach to understand and measure the profound mystical experiences these substances could create in volunteers. Roland’s groundbreaking studies demonstrated the remarkable therapeutic potential of psilocybin, showing it could effectively treat difficult conditions like severe anxiety and depression in cancer patients, as well as nicotine addiction. His early success led to the launch of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which he founded and directed, securing millions of dollars in funding to establish the field. Through his dedication to rigorous, open science, Roland published more than 400 articles and fundamentally changed how the medical community views these compounds, paving the way for a new era of mental health treatment. His work continues to shape clinical practice and policy worldwide.
