“We’re All in this Together”

Who was Dr. Roland Griffiths?

Webster defines a “pioneer” as: “Develop or be the first to use or apply a new method, area of knowledge, or activity.”

Webster also defines a “hero” as: “A person who is admired or idolized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”

In the swirling cosmos of psychedelic exploration, Dr. Roland Griffiths carved out his own pulsating orbit and etched his name in the world of science and psychedelics alongside other notables such as Albert Hoffmann and Timothy Leary. 

His name is not just whispered among the clouds of academia but thunderously echoed in the realms of spiritual seekers and truth hunters alike.

Born into the chaotic tapestry of Glen Clove, New York, on July 19th, 1946, Griffiths was destined for a journey that would intertwine the threads of science and spirituality like never before seen. Almost offering a comforting bridge between matter and mystic. 

His scholarly quests led him through the hallowed halls of Occidental College and the University of Minnesota, where he absorbed the medicines of psychology and pharmacology, crafting his mind into a finely honed instrument of inquiry and wonder.

Embracing the mad dance of discovery, Griffiths found himself within the walls of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, where he delved into the enigmatic realms of sedative-hypnotics and the tantalizing potential of hallucinogens as medicine.

His relentless pursuit of truth even led him down the rabbit hole of caffeine dependence, openly declaring caffeine dependence a “clinically meaningful disorder”.

But it was in 1999 that Griffiths spread out his psychedelic banner with supreme drive, founding the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Here, amidst the flickering shadows of mortality, he sought solace for the terminally ill, probing the depths of psychedelic therapy with fervent zeal. 

In the archives of psychedelic lore, Griffiths etched his name in bold strokes with his study in August of 2006 which was later published by Psychopharmacology titled, “Psilocybin Can Occasion Mystical-Type Experiences Having Substantial and Sustained Personal Meaning and Spiritual Significance”. 

With his double-blind methodology that would make even the most hardened skeptic a believer, he unveiled the mystical potential of psilocybin, revealing a Pandora's box of spiritual revelations that rattled the very foundations of consciousness.

The purpose of the study?

To help patients deal with terminally ill diagnoses such as terminal cancer or end-of-life circumstances.

According to Griffiths, “Over eighty percent of the participants described the experience as among the most revelatory and spiritually meaningful episodes of their lives, akin to the death of a parent or birth of a child.”

Even more surprising to both Griffiths and his patients were the lasting effects of psilocybin. 

“Weeks, months, years after having their experience, our volunteers were attributing enduring, fundamental, and positive changes to that experience.”

As his legacy played out and his destiny pursued, Griffiths transcended the confines of mortal existence, establishing The Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D. Professorship Fund in Psychedelic Research on Secular Spirituality and Well-Being. 

The goal?

To “establish a world of class, rigorous, empirical program of research with psychedelic substances to advance understanding of well-being and spirituality in the service of promoting human flourishing for generations to come.”

With the passing of this visionary voyager on October 16th, 2023, we bid farewell to a titan of the psychedelic cosmos. Yet, in the swirling mists of memory, his spirit lingers, a guiding light for all who dare to dream of a world where science and spirituality intertwine in a cosmic dance of understanding. 

And with Dr. Griffiths’ tireless research, we can already see legislation start to turn its normally shy eye toward the results with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) looking to psychedelics to help veterans get the care they need by stating there is an “unstoppable narrative” when discussing psychedelics.

Rest in Peace Doctor and thank you for all your work!

Dr. Roland Griffiths, July 19th, 1946 - October 16th, 2023. 

Gone, but never forgotten.