Ease rules on research into psychedelic drugs, urges David Nutt

Ex-government adviser says substances such as psilocybin could have medical value

Restrictions on the use of psychedelic drugs in research should be relaxed to help find new treatments for conditions including mental health disorders, the former government adviser Prof David Nutt has said.

Nutt was sacked as chair of the advisory committee on the misuse of drugs in October 2009 over his views that ecstasy and LSD are less dangerous than alcohol.