VIRTUAL DEBATE: Should Society Legalize Psychedelics?

Psychedelics, in medical terms, is an inexact category of drugs that affect perceptions and cognition. Their proponents say 1960s-era associations have undermined exciting research in the field of neuroscience. Psychedelics should be made much more widely available, they contend, to treat a range of mental and emotional issues, as well as to ascertain a more profound sense of ourselves. Not so fast, say opponents. These are powerful substances, and society does not know enough about the broader consequences of greatly increasing access. Either way, like cannabis, the movement for wider use is growing. On Thursday, April 22, nonpartisan debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. digs into these questions with an invite-only preview screening of their latest debate, tackling the motion "Legalize Psychedelics."

Arguing in favor of the motion are Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and Bia Labate, co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies. Arguing against it are Kevin Sabet, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor under three different presidents, and Jeffrey Lieberman, former American Psychiatric Association president. The viewing audience will vote to determine the winner, based on which side's numbers improve the most between pre- and post-debate votes. Polling will close and the winner will be announced seven days after the debate.

The debate will be released publicly on Friday, April 23 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private preview screening on April 22 at 4:30pm ET that will include a live roundtable Q&A with all four debaters. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.

FOR THE MOTION - BIOS

* Rick Doblin: Founder & Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and his professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist.

* Bia Labate: Anthropologist & Drug Policy Expert
Bia Labate is a Brazilian anthropologist who is currently a visiting professor at the Center for Research and Post Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her main areas of interest are the study of psychoactive substances, drug policies, shamanism, ritual and religion. She is co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies and author, co-author and co-editor of seventeen books, one journal special edition and several peer-reviewed articles.

AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS

* Jeffrey Lieberman: Professor & Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Lieberman formerly served as president of the American Psychiatric Association (2013-2014), has authored more than 500 papers and articles published in the scientific literature, and has written and/or edited ten books on mental illness, psychopharmacology and psychiatry.

* Kevin Sabet: President & CEO, Smart Approaches to Marijuana
Kevin Sabet is the president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a non-profit organization he founded with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and David Frum. For over 20 years, he has studied, researched, written about and implemented drug policy, having served as a three-time White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor, the only person appointed to that office by both a Republican and Democrat. He is the author of the forthcoming book "Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know."

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches millions of viewers and listeners through multi-platform distribution, including public radio, podcasts, live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 180 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008.

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