Operation 369 is a plan to crowdfund research into the effectiveness of psilocybin and DMT on individuals with PTSD and/or Major Depressive Disorders. Our intent is to put together a body of work---eventually peer-reviewed---convincing enough to meaningfully contribute to efforts already under way to decriminalize these medicines, particularly in states/locales where decriminalization bills are currently under review in their respective house legislatures (New York, Nevada, California, etc). We will work in conjunction with the likes of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research and the UC Berkley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, where studies like this currently underway have already yielded statistically significant (and overwhelmingly positive) results.

A study done by Johns Hopkins found that two psilocybin sessions provided significantly sustained reduction in Major Depressive/PTSD symptoms at the one-year mark post treatment. (Davis et al., 2021). Approximately 75% of participants reported a significant reduction in depressive symptoms with 58% reporting complete remission (Davis et al., 2021). A comparative study found that psilocybin offers more long term benefits than the common SSRI, which must be taken daily (Carhart-Harris, 2022). A study done at UC Berkeley using MRI found that psilocybin induced neural changes that allow for an increase in emotional processing. (Carhart-Harris et al., 2016).

Moreover, a survey of 362 individuals with chronic PTSD conducted by Johns Hopkins reported that around 80% had a lessening in anxiety and depression after a using 5-MeO-DMT (Davis, A.K. et al.,2019). This compound is closely related to N,N-DMT, which is decriminalized in Colorado, and will be in other states if related state-level propositions are passed into law. These statistics are clinically significant and require more studies to solidify their place as an effective treatment modality.

Operation 369 will start as a grassroots crowdfunding campaign, leveraging the power of social media (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, tik-tok, etc) to gain awareness. We will start with our connections in the veteran community, expanding on from there. Through personal connections in the veterans’ apparel business, we intend to run/sell lines of shirts, hats, stickers, and other merchandise to help raise awareness for the cause.

Operation 369 aims to do a national media tour, starting with local media, podcasts, and in time, national level podcasts and media. Our initial goal is to raise $369,000, $3,690,000 secondarily, and ultimately $36,900,000.

Allocation of Funds:

$0-$369,000 will help us to obtain a facilitator license in Colorado and to acquire a commercial space there to hold these studies. We will also be able to reach-out to leaders in the psychedelic medicine space, and begin assisting individuals in conducting research.

$369,000-$3,690,000 will allow us to survey and find individual subjects for this study. We will also reach out to VA PTSD programs and find combat veterans who could benefit from our efforts.

$3,690,000-$36,900,000 will serve as a psychedelic research slush-fund, to be utilized to research other indications for these medications, including major depressive disorder and non-combat related PTSD

Initially we will sponsor 96 veterans currently undergoing psychiatric care for PTSD/Major Depressive Disorder. This sample size will allow us to obtain our own data set, which we can use to lobby for the decriminalization of these medicines in other states.

This crowdfunding will also allow for the founding and creation of Ascension Wellness Center, a privately funded psychedelic research and treatment center, offering services to the public in compliance with Colorado law. Upon profitability, 9.6% of revenue from said center will continue to be used to sponsor individuals in need---veteran or civilian---with psilocybin and/or DMT based mental health treatments. Ascension will then continue to expand, opening branches in other locales as additional states decriminalize these natural medicines.

Operation 369 is a labor of love for me. For over 15 years I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, unable to cope with and process some of the situations which occurred while deployed overseas in 2006. After an overdose in November 2020, upon awakening from a medically-induced coma, I turned to natural psychedelic medicine. It has allowed me to process traumatic experiences in a way which pharmaceuticals and therapy alone could have never accomplished. Furthermore, I am so tired of losing friends to drugs/alcohol and suicide secondary to PTSD. There’s a way to find healing and I don’t want there to be verterans out there suffering as I was.

This project is dedicated to brothers in arms David Peck and Jason Lemaster. Two close friends and gentle souls who took themselves out of the fight too soon. Til Valhalla brothers…. This is all for you.