"Since its initial synthesis by the German pharmaceutical company Merck in 1912, the drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA) - better known by the street terms "ecstasy" or "molly" - has lived many lives. From its brief time being tested as a top-secret truth serum in US Army trials to its dual uses as a therapeutic tool and party drug during the 1960s and 70s, the compound's propensity for making users feel profoundly empathic and euphoric."
"And most recently, the uber-wealthy conformists of Silicon Valley have jumped on the drug as well - alongside ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and "magic" psilocybin mushrooms - in hopes of monetizing it. One such billionaire, venture capitalist Antonio Gracias, also happens to be a close consigliere of serial business owner and psychedelic enthusiast Elon Musk, for whom he briefly went to work in Washington this year at the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)."
MDMA was first synthesized by Merck in 1912 and has been used in varied contexts including military testing, psychotherapy, and recreational settings. The drug produces strong empathy and euphoria, prompting therapeutic interest in the 1960s and 70s before its 1985 prohibition by the US government. The ban reduced research momentum but did not eliminate recreational use. Renewed scientific inquiry has explored MDMA's potential mental-health benefits. Recent interest from wealthy Silicon Valley investors seeks to commercialize MDMA alongside other psychedelics. A MAPS-linked pharmaceutical venture faced an FDA denial that led to major setbacks and layoffs.
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