In Memoriam: Roland R. Griffiths (July 19, 1946–October 16, 2023)

We are writing this memorial to Roland R. Griffiths with deep sadness and enormous gratitude. We share in this opportunity to reflect on his decades-long contributions as a scientist, mentor, and benefactor to humanity. Dr. Griffiths was Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,

Neuropharmacology, the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, and the 2023 inaugural recipient of The Oliver Lee McCabe, III, Professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness.

Our memoriam flows-out from our collaboration with him on the recently published online article in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: Psychedelic Science, Contemplative Practices, and Indigenous and Other Traditional Knowledge Systems: Towards Integrative Community-Based Approaches in Global Health (Urrutia et al. 2023).

Dr. Griffiths’ initial interest in research with psychedelics emerged following more than a decade from his personal meditation practice. He developed a keen interest in analyzing the similarities between the consciousness experience of those who went through his research protocols that incorporated the use of psilocybin and his own awareness of consciousness achieved through meditation. Dr. Griffiths’ earlier years of research contributed to the understanding that widely used recreational substances included in the US Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and international drug control conventions could produce euphoria under some conditions, though their primary reasons for use and relative rewarding and “addictive” effects could vary widely. These differences contribute to differing levels of overall addiction potential and abuse-related risks, thus impacting how therapeutically recognized drugs are differentially scheduled under the CSA and international drug control conventions. For example, Dr. Griffiths’ research supported less restrictive scheduling of benzodiazepine-type sedatives (Schedule IV) compared to amphetamine-type stimulants and morphine-type opioids (Schedule II). His research in psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, suggested an overall lower abuse potential than Schedule II stimulants and opioids as well as provided insights into the diverse factors that may incentivize psychedelic substance use.

Dr. Griffiths understood that classic hallucinogenic drug substances such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide-25 (LSD), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) could produce some observable effects in common with various types of meditation and spiritual practices. He further explored this in his seminal 2006 study that employed some of the same elements and measures of human abuse potential studies along with psychometric instruments used to explore spirituality, consciousness, and mystical experiences by comparing and contrasting the effects of methylphenidate to those of psilocybin (Griffiths et al. 2006). Both drugs could produce euphoria and other transient effects; however, psilocybin produced profound and lasting effects on mystical measures and ratings of life-changing experiences that were evident 12-months post-session.

Dr. Griffiths and other collaborators in the (Urrutia et al. 2023) article agreed that many of the findings by Griffiths et al. (2006) were similar to the self-transcendent and positive experiences that can contribute to healing, well-being, and prosocial behavioral changes achieved through individual contemplative practices such as meditation, mindfulness prayer, and yoga. Moreover, these observations are anthropologically documented in Indigenous/Tribal ceremonial or ritualistic practices globally. Psychedelic plants and fungi that are integral to their traditional knowledge systems support individual and community-based healing practices, which continues to rapidly gain the attention among scientists, practitioners, and governments worldwide.

The pursuit of health and human flourishing through clinical trials and new medicines development have come full circle, intersecting with global traditional Indigenous/Tribal practices and knowledge systems. This global reality underscores the need for respectful co-existence between regulatory and cultural path wisdom sharing as discussed by Dr. Griffiths and collaborators in (Urrutia et al. 2023). Being able to acknowledge this aligns with the spirit of The Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D. Professorship in Psychedelic Research on Secular Spirituality and Well-Being, which was subsequently granted to Dr. David B. Yaden, also a coauthor on the (Urrutia et al. 2023) article.

The following are Dr. Griffiths’ own words when describing his inspiration for the establishment of the Professorship (Johns Hopkins University, 2023).

We know from research and experience that psychedelics can occasion profound awakenings that have substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. We also know, based on research and observation, that such experiences can produce enduring positive changes in prosocial attitudes and behavior, opening individuals to the realization that we are all in this together with the attendant impulse toward mutual caretaking in service of human flourishing.

We collectively agree and are most grateful for being inspired by his insights. We now go forward, carrying that message of our dear friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Roland R. Griffiths.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).