Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization founded in 1986 by Rick Doblin, Ph.D. Headquartered in San Jose, California, MAPS is dedicated to developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts that allow individuals to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. Its core mission is to foster a post-prohibition future where these substances are safely and legally accessible for beneficial uses, underpinned by rigorous scientific evaluation of their risks and benefits.

MAPS's key activities include sponsoring and conducting scientific research into the therapeutic potential of various controlled substances. This research encompasses MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), LSD and psilocybin for anxiety and depression, ibogaine for opiate addiction, and ayahuasca for addiction and PTSD. The organization also engages in policy reform advocacy, harm reduction initiatives, and public education to promote an honest understanding of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS incubated Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS Public Benefit Corporation), a drug-development public benefit company, and The Zendo Project, which focuses on psychedelic harm reduction.

Rick Doblin serves as the Founder and President, with Betty Aldworth and Ismail L. Ali, J.D., as Co-Executive Directors. MAPS has raised over $140 million for psychedelic research and education over its 37-year history. In January 2024, Lykos Therapeutics, a former MAPS subsidiary, secured Series A financing and underwent a name change, with MAPS retaining shared ownership. However, the FDA's rejection of the New Drug Application for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD led to subsequent layoffs at MAPS.