- Strong match: 3 shared modalities
- Strong match: 2 shared learner audiences
- Also shares: professional level
- Also shares: hybrid delivery
Back to StakeholdersPrimary Community Link Primary Access Link Alchemy Beckley Academy Integrative Mental Health University Modern Spirit
Categories
5 domains / 11 areas / 9 specializations
MAPS
Data updated
Santa Cruz, California, United States
12 Trials2 Papers
MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 1986. It works nationally and with a broader global audience to develop medical, legal, and cultural contexts for the careful use of psychedelics and marijuana. Its core activities include research, education, advocacy, and convening the field through large public events.
In psychedelic medicine and policy, MAPS positions itself as an advocate for legal access, drug policy reform, harm reduction, and health equity. Its Policy & Advocacy work includes legislative advocacy, community organizing, and impact litigation, and it has also launched work on access for system-impacted people and broader health equity in the legal psychedelic ecosystem. Current documented initiatives include the Psychedelic Science conference series, the Health Equity Program, The Zendo Project, and Ask MAPS, which handles public inquiries about therapy, research, and policy reform.
ProfessionalHybridMid costPsychedelic-assisted therapy trainingIntegration trainingHarm reductionContinuing educationAcademic programmeOtherAspiring practitionersLicensed cliniciansFacilitatorsOther
Blossom’s read
MAPS is best understood as a flagship psychedelics organisation rather than a conventional course provider: it sits at the centre of the field through research, policy, public education, convening, and therapist training. Its reputation is closely tied to the MDMA-assisted therapy programme and the wider psychedelic science movement, with a clear emphasis on equity, harm reduction, and clinical professionalism. The strongest fit is for clinicians and trainees who want exposure to MAPS’ lineage in MDMA therapy and crisis-support work, rather than a generic introductory course shop.
Who is MAPS for?
Best for licensed mental health professionals, residents and interns seeking licensure, and experienced behavioural health practitioners who want training in MDMA-assisted therapy, psychedelic crisis response, or harm reduction. It also suits volunteers and the broader public for introductory education and event support.
What do you need before you start?
For the MDMA Therapy Training Program, MAPS states that applicants must be licensed mental health providers, enrolled in a post-graduate mental health training or residency programme, or have over 1,000 hours of behavioural health experience, and prior therapy or counselling experience with adults affected by trauma is required. Other offerings, such as Zendo Project peer support and event volunteer training, are open to volunteers and community participants.
Is MAPS accredited?
MAPS has offered continuing education and CME-eligible activity in the past, and some crisis-response trainings are being positioned for Continuing Education credit. MAPS also describes its MDMA Therapy Training as culminating in a MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy credential, but it does not present this as a professional licence or state accreditation.
How much does it cost?
MAPS does not publish a single standard tuition across all training. It has offered tuition scholarships for eligible practitioners, including full and partial scholarships via the Health Equity Fund, and some international events bundle tuition, accommodation, and meals. Historically, MAPS has described MDMA therapy training as anticipated at $3,500, while more recent international events list separate package prices such as USD 4,200 with lodging and meals included.
What do you walk away with?
Learners may gain a MAPS training credential in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, practical competence in psychedelic-assisted therapy frameworks, crisis de-escalation and peer support skills, and pathways into MAPS-aligned clinical and community networks. For some programmes, the outcome is professional education rather than a formal academic qualification.
Non-Clinical Facilitation Snapshot
Retreat OrganizationsOrganization Model
Retreat Center Operator
Organization Status
Active
Facilitation Status
Active Facilitation Services
Access Posture
Unknown / Unclear
Community Networks & Outreach Snapshot
Organization Model
Not set
Organization Status
Not set
Psychedelic Focus
Not set
Last Verified
Apr 17, 2026
Engagement Channels
Engagement channels not set yet.
Audience Focus
Audience focus not set yet.
Verification
Verified
Jurisdiction
Not set
Coverage
Coverage not set
Verification Notes
Seeded from curated community.xlsx list; requires source-level verification pass. Wave 3 web verification (2026-04-17): detected terms [psychedelic, psychedelics, ayahuasca, ibogaine, mdma, harm reduction, community, peer support] on https://maps.org/.
Reimbursement & Market Access Snapshot
Health EconomistsService Model
Health Economics Research Group
Jurisdiction
National
Coverage
1 country
Last Verified
Jul 11, 2026
Focus Areas
Cost-Effectiveness Modeling
Market Access Notes
MAPS's health-economics role is evidence generation rather than payment or coverage decisions: the cost-effectiveness analyses of MDMA-assisted therapy by Elliot Marseille and colleagues drew on MAPS-sponsored trial data, and MAPS's Health Equity Program addresses affordability and access. It appears in this category for that evidence-generation role.
Verification
Verified
Psychedelic Focus
Explicit Psychedelic Focus
Engagement Status
Active
Media & Communication Snapshot
Conferences & EventsCadence
Event-Based
Access
Freemium
Psychedelic Focus
Explicit Psychedelic Focus
Verification
Verified
Audience
Clinicians / PractitionersResearchersGeneral PublicPolicymakers
Coverage Focus
Research & ScienceClinical PracticePolicy & LegalCulture & Community
Media Notes
In its media and events role, MAPS produces the Psychedelic Science conference series, billed as the largest psychedelic gathering in history, alongside the MAPS Bulletin publication, the MAPS Podcast and an active newsroom. These channels serve mental-health professionals, researchers, policymakers and the general public with education and community engagement. Online content and communications are freely accessible, while conference attendance is paid, making the overall model freemium.
Investor Context
Social-Impact InvestorsInvestment Context
This stakeholder is listed as a Social-Impact Fund within Social-Impact Investors. Its public geography context is global. Public stage focus is not listed yet. Psychedelic-market posture: Explicit Psychedelic Focus.
Public Portfolio Examples
- NuminusBought-deal public offering (units) - $6 million (50,000,000 units at $0.12; up to $900,000 additional via over-allotment) - Feb 16, 2024
MAPS appears as an investor for its documented lead order in Numinus's February 2024 bought-deal offering; investing is incidental to its non-profit research and advocacy mission.
Investor Type
Social-Impact Fund
Geographic Scope
Global
Psychedelic Focus
Explicit Psychedelic Focus
Engagement
Active
Investment Stage Focus
Stage focus is not listed yet.
Investment Focus Areas
Focus areas are not listed yet.
Recorded Investments
Numinus
Feb 16, 2024
Bought-deal public offering (units) - $6 million (50,000,000 units at $0.12; up to $900,000 additional via over-allotment)
Numinus Wellness Inc. Announces $6 Million Bought Deal Public Offering with Leads Orders from MAPS and Integrated V.C.Ecosystem
3 connectionsInvestors
Tim Ferriss
philanthropic challenge grant
Jun 12, 2020
$10 million challenge
Tim Ferriss Announces $10 Million, 90-Day Challenge to Fund Final Stages of Making MDMA a Medicine for PTSDPhilanthropic Funders
atai Impactatai Impact donates to MAPS
Donation supporting MAPS operations and health equity programming
Jan 1, 2022
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Quick Facts
- Type
- nonprofit
- Founded
- 1986
- HQ
- Santa Cruz, California, United States
- Website
- Visit
Research Landscape
What the 12 registered trials MAPS sponsors or participates in look like when you line them up. Counts come from Blossom’s trial records as of July 2026.
How fast is MAPS research growing?
SourcedRegistered trials by recorded study-start year; 3 earlier trials began before 2010. Click a year for the running total.
Don't read as total research effort: only registered trials with a recorded start date are counted (12 of 12 tracked). Recent years under-count because of registration lag; striped bars are still filling in or are planned starts.
What's live right now, and what stopped?
SourcedRegistry status of all 12 MAPS trials Blossom tracks. Orange marks trials recruiting or opening.
Don't read stopped trials as failures: trials end early for funding, recruitment, and strategy reasons too. Status is as last synced from the registry; some 'recruiting' trials may already have finished.
Which conditions does MAPS run trials on?
SourcedTrials per primary indication. Orange marks the largest research focus.
Don't read shares as adding to 100%: a trial with several primary indications counts once per indication. Trial volume signals research attention, not evidence quality.
Which compounds appear in MAPS trials?
SourcedTrials per compound. Orange marks the most-studied compound.
Don't read shares as adding to 100%: a trial testing several compounds counts once per compound, and placebo comparator arms are not shown. Trial volume signals research attention, not evidence quality.