Betty Aldworth: MAPS, MDMA, and the Battle Over Psychedelic Medicine

In this episode of Divergent States, 3L1T3 sits down with Betty Aldworth, the new co-president of MAPS, as she steps into shared leadership with Ismail Ali following Rick Doblin’s four-decade run.Betty brings decades of experience in drug policy reform, from Colorado’s 2012 cannabis legalization campaign to leading Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and now helps guide MAPS through one of the movement’s most pivotal moments: the FDA’s rejection of Lycos Therapeutics’ MDMA-assisted therapy application.We unpack the tension between science and advocacy, urgency and rigor, and explore what real access means for people living with PTSD. Betty offers a candid, emotionally grounded look at the FDA’s critique, the role of stigma, and how MAPS plans to keep pushing forward through education, policy, and global research initiatives.Later, the conversation turns to the larger movement: political support from both sides of the aisle, state-level reform models, and MAPS’ upcoming 40th anniversary in 2026.Key PointsBetty’s path from SSDP to co-president of MAPSThe FDA’s rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy: what it really meansHow “positive adverse events” became a sticking point in the FDA reviewDurability of treatment effects and the debate over long-term dataBalancing activism, science, and education under MAPS’ new leadership modelThe growing divide between regulatory caution and patient urgencyGrassroots and state-level psychedelic reform gaining groundThe stigma that still shadows MDMA despite decades of dataHarm-reduction advice for those seeking underground healingWhat’s ahead for MAPS’ 40th anniversary and new research directions⏱ Chapter Markers00:00 – Intro — Bryan’s stage play, today’s guest: Betty Aldworth02:00 – MAPS’ new leadership and legacy after Rick Doblin05:00 – Betty on stepping into the role and the three MAPS pillars08:00 – From activism to leadership — lessons from SSDP11:45 – Balancing research, advocacy, and education14:00 – FDA rejection letter — what really happened16:00 – “Positive adverse events” and the question of abuse potential22:30 – Durability of treatment and COVID-era data gaps26:30 – Prior MDMA experience and bias — myth or factor?29:20 – Politics, science, and the credibility dilemma32:30 – RFK Jr., AOC, and politicization of psychedelics35:00 – Echoes of the 1980s scheduling fight36:20 – What comes next — Phase III, audits, and resilience38:30 – MAPS’ evolving research priorities & global work41:00 – Normalization, decriminalization, and stigma43:45 – Science vs activism — carrying both forward48:00 – State-level reform and slow federal process50:30 – Cannabis rescheduling and broader reform52:00 – A message to people living with PTSD55:00 – MAPS’ 40th anniversary — what’s ahead57:00 – Closing reflections — stay weird, keep exploringThanks to Dyl👽Alien for the music!Send us Fan MailFiresideProject.orgDownload the app or text/call 62-FIRESIDEZendo ProjectOur listeners get 10% off the Zendo Project SIT Program with the code DIVERGENTS10Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showSpecial Thanks to our Macrodosers, Super D and Mike, and our Thumbprint Tier member, Angie on Patreon!  https://linktr.ee/3L1T3Mod