Skip to content

Enroll in Vital Psychedelic Training, starting September 17!
Master the art of psychedelic practice

Learn More
  • Education Center
  • Vital
  • Shop
  • Navigators
Site Logo
  • Podcasts
    • Psychedelics Then and Now
  • Articles
  • Events
  • About

Subscribe to Our Podcast

Post Tag: Substances

Posted on December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Psilocybe Mushroom Pickers in Britain

Dr Robert Dickens

I was taught to identify and locate the Psilocybe semilanceata mushroom, or Liberty Cap, as a teenager around the turn of the millennium. In those days in Britain it was common knowledge passed down from older people and shared amongst groups of curious friends. Had I needed a guidebook though, they were certainly available, and I was only ever a few internet clicks away from accurate information. Moreover, if they remained fresh and unprocessed, it was perfectly legal for me to possess them.

Within a few years, it was equally possible for me, or anyone else throughout Britain, to enter a headshop in any season to procure some exotic varieties of Psilocybe cubensis without waiting for autumn to come around to pick native Liberty Caps. This, my friends and I did regularly. Walks in nature, free parties, garden gatherings, candlelit bedroom vigils—many occasions were enriched by them. In 2005, after decades of ambiguity, the legal sale and possession of fresh magic mushrooms was brought to an end by the New Labour government.

At the time of writing, it has now been twenty years since the law changed. The pharmacratic web of legislation, courts, medicine, and policing is, if anything, even more complicated than it was then. While some areas, notably scientific research, have become more prominent, and policing apparently less concerned with (some) drug offences, the fact remains that both picking and growing Psilocybe mushrooms remains illegal in Britain. Cases can and do get brought to court. My book, Psilocybe Pickers, is about how we find ourselves in this position today.

Psilocybe Pickers began life as just a short article. Having many years ago read Andy Letcher’s quite brilliant Shroom (2006), I wanted to explore in more detail some of the areas he described, particularly around the earliest British court cases (of which Andy necessarily only touches upon in his internationally-focused work). The hindsight that a couple of decades brings is useful, and fortunately access to sources—especially local newspapers—has greatly improved, so I am able to tell a more thorough story.

Another reason to undertake the writing of this history is in order to demonstrate that there have been at least four generations of Britons picking Liberty Caps. It is, by any sensible estimate, now something of a tradition—it has a lineage. Furthermore this is not only within any self-described countercultural movement (of which several have enjoyed being bemushroomed) but also within local, regional communities too. Here, it is a kind of rite of passage. Recreational and hedonistic to be sure but nonetheless sacred so far as local community matters.

Most of the stories and adventures that bemushroomed Britons have experienced are perished, forgotten, or kept private. This is perhaps how it should be. It is certainly a central facet of the psychedelic experience. Something inwardly profound that only reveals itself though cultural waves. Yet, this does not make the work of a historian very easy. Therefore, where I have found recollections, I have tended to include them in the book, however brief.

It is with unnamed teenagers that one finds the humour and the mischief of Liberty Cap culture. For example, when one 15-year-old was pushed by a journalist on the negative effects of mushroom tripping, they replied, ‘The only bad effect you get is backache from picking them’. Or, another, when asked why they ate mushrooms, replying, ‘You have to get your kicks somehow’. Against the very serious medical establishment warnings, it is possible to discern the playful reality of most bemushroomed people.

Therefore, through newspaper reports, archival material, interviews and published papers, I have focused on the regional and legal contexts of the Psilocybe pickers in order to tease out the way in which magic mushrooms seeded in British society, and how the Establishment reacted. Indeed, this story cannot be told without also considering scientific research, both psychiatric and mycological, alongside the extraordinary lengths the authorities went to in order to stamp out the nascent mushroom-using culture.

From book banning, court test cases on the meaning of ‘preparation’ and widespread police co-ordination, the authorities tried numerous methods to supress magic mushroom picking. Yet, in the end, it was not the field pickers that caused the eventual change in the law in 2005. Instead, it was the growth of people using mushroom grow kits, which I trace from the late 1970s, which eventually burgeoned into a vast importing/exporting business supplying Psilocybe mushrooms in head shops of Britain and Europe, particularly the Netherlands.

Psilocybe Pickers tell the story of how a culture that started life in the shadows slowly blossomed in every corner of Britain’s landscape, transforming into a staple part of recreational, regional drug scenes and being briefly normalized on the High Street—all before the ire of the law closed the fresh mushroom legal loophole. At this twenty-year juncture, it seems an important moment to tell this fascinating tale, and give space for us to reflect upon the tricksy Psilocybe mushroom’s role in recent history.


Find Dr Dickins’ new book ‘Psilocybe Pickers’ here.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 30, 2025November 30, 2025

International Conference on Assisted Dying and Other End of Life Care (ICEL5)

International Conference on Assisted Dying and Other End of Life Care (ICEL5)

The International Conference on Assisted Dying and Other End of Life Care (ICEL5) will be held in Brisbane, Australia from Wednesday 8th April – Saturday 11th April 2026. 

The Australian Centre for Health Law Research invites you to attend ICEL5 for an engaging program of interdisciplinary research on assisted dying in context. We welcome presentations illuminating empirical, ethical, legal, psychedelic and clinical perspectives on assisted dying and its intersection with other end of life issues. 

We hope you will join us for this stimulating three-day program of interest to academics, researchers, legal and health practitioners, policymakers and more. 

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on October 3, 2025October 7, 2025

Kyle Buller & Joe Moore — Breathwork, Community, Creativity, and Fresh Psychedelic Research

Joe Moore and Kyle Buller

” social=”true”]

Joe and Kyle debrief a hometown Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork weekend in Breckenridge, then sketch the next chapter for Psychedelics Today: a community-centric model (Navigators) that bundles education, live streams, book and film clubs, and small-group access. They kick around the big “creativity + psychedelics” question, contrast subjective “I feel creative” with objective task performance, and highlight new research—from DMT’s potential in stroke recovery to breathwork’s measurable effects. They wrap with quick hits on MAPS leadership, state policy moves, and what’s coming up at PT this fall.

Highlights & takeaways

  • Breathwork > substance? A reminder that profound states are accessible without drugs; benefits of facilitating at home (rested facilitators = safer, better containers).
  • What is “shamanism,” really? A functional frame: non-ordinary states, interaction with the unseen, and service (healing/divination).
  • Community > one-off courses: PT is shifting toward a monthly membership model to keep prices accessible, deepen relationships, and sustain more free content.
  • Creativity debate: Double-blind study (DMT + harmine vs harmine vs placebo) suggests impaired convergent thinking despite increased felt creativity; how to define and measure “creativity” fairly, and other research outcomes might tell a different story.
  • Whitehead & novelty: A quick tour through Alfred North Whitehead’s notion of “creativity” as the principle of novelty—useful language for mapping psychedelic insight to real-world change.
  • Neuro + clinical frontiers:
    • DMT for stroke (animal models): BBB stabilization and reduced neuroinflammation signal a promising adjunct to current care.
    • Cluster headaches: Emerging reports on short-acting DMT for rapidly aborting cluster cycles; more data coming soon.
    • Breathwork science: New imaging work associates music-supported hyperventilatory breathwork with blissful affect and shifts in blood flow.

News & culture mentioned

  • MAPS leadership: Betty Aldworth & Ismail (Izzy) Ali named permanent Co-Executive Directors.
  • Policy snapshots: Colorado Natural Medicine Board recommending ibogaine (with Nagoya-compliance requirement); Alaska signature gathering; Massachusetts activity.
  • Media & scene: Hamilton’s recent appearances; contamination concerns in some “psilocybin” products; “psychedelics tick far more neurons than expected” paper; mixed findings for postpartum depression.
Transcript

This transcript was automatically generated and may contain minor errors or inaccuracies.

Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to psychedelics today, Joe and Kyle today. Kyle, how’s it going? Pretty

Kyle Buller: good, Joe. How

Joe Moore: are you doing? Lovely. Excited to do this again. This is two weeks in a row. We get to stream together. Yeah, yeah. Well

Kyle Buller: many

Joe Moore: more to come. Yeah, that’s great. Um, so today we’re gonna do some kind of, uh, analysis on some news articles.

Joe Moore: We’re also gonna talk about a launch. We’re kicking off some future classes and, um, just kind of like the direction of where we’re thinking right now for psychedelics today. So excited to do that with you. Yeah, likewise. So, um, let’s talk about this past weekend. Yeah. Breath work.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. We had a nice breath work week weekend up here in Breckenridge.

Kyle Buller: Um, yeah. Really lovely group of folks. Um, and as I think we were mentioning last time, just yeah, know, it’s always a pleasure to be able to share this work with, with people. Um, and I’m just [00:01:00] always, you know, I, we’ve been doing this for a while, right? And we’ve seen all sorts of different experiences unfold, but, um, I think I’m always just still surprised about like how powerful like breathwork is for folks, um, without a substance.

Kyle Buller: Um, and so it just always, you know, makes me excited that we have this within us and techniques to, uh, and practices to be able to go inward without always needing psychedelics.

Joe Moore: I was chatting with, um, man Singh about his book, um.

Kyle Buller: Shaman. Oh gosh.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Uh, the most timeless religion or something like that.

Joe Moore: Uh, throw up a copy of the, uh, cover of the book, um, on the live stream if anybody’s watching the video that Yeah. Shamanism, the Timeless Religion. Cool. And we were chatting a lot about how he thinks that the, the psychedelic, um, kind of like dominance in these narratives, um, around like religion only coming from psychedelics.

Joe Moore: Like perhaps [00:02:00] it’s the case that Sure. Plenty do, but it’s not necessarily the case that all of them do. Right. Like you and I have had plenty of experiences. Non-drug, there were quite extraordinary. Right?

Joe Moore: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Yeah, through

Kyle Buller: breath work, through meditation. My dreams are always very psychedelic and really interesting, um, drumming, right?

Kyle Buller: Like there’s just so many different ways, uh, to go inward and, and have these like connections with the numan and mystical. It doesn’t always necessarily need to be through chemical, uh, means. So

Joe Moore: yeah. And, um, one of his things, um, and I was really happy to chat with him about this, that the three kind of categories that make up shamanism being kind of a non-ordinary state, interactions with the unseen world, and then some sort of services like healing or divination and mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: And that’s just like, you know, a fascinating fundamental definition, um, for like, what is shamanism? And this is definitely [00:03:00] hotly debated, but that’s kind of what he landed on for his book and Right. I just love that.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Because it is an umbrella term, right? Like shaman shamanistic practices look different cross-culturally.

Kyle Buller: Um, but yeah, there’s, are those kind of like universals, like, you know, entering into trance states. Um, also, yeah, I think that service is a big portion. It’s like, why are you going in there? And then how are you bringing it back? I remember when I was chatting with my one teacher, um, years ago, he had a long talk with me about like service and community when doing this type of work.

Kyle Buller: It’s like, why are you doing this? Are you just doing this for yourself? Or are you doing it for the community that you’re in? And like, being of service. Um, and I think that’s also a really important point because we can kind of get caught up in the transcendence of the experiences and wanna just keep going back.

Kyle Buller: Right? And then it becomes a little self-indulgent, maybe a little bit of bypassing instead of yeah, bringing it forward to the community in a way, whatever way that is.

Joe Moore: Right. Um, and this concept [00:04:00] of the magic is already within us. Like the wonder is already within us is kind of like a concept that I love from breath work.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. And like, you know, we don’t necessarily need that magical plant or that magical person. You know, I’ve been kind of being a little shitty about this calling, like, you know, shamans like kind of interchangeably calling shamans magicians. Mm-hmm. To like kind of just say like, there’s not much difference, you know, and like sometimes diminutive, and I’m apologize if I’ve hurt anybody’s feelings here, but just trying to make a point that like you have this already in you and doesn’t necessarily require some powerful person with other worldly abilities to do it for you, with you.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Yeah.

Joe Moore: Thus breath work.

Kyle Buller: And it’s interesting just thinking about like how like psychedelic ceremonies and plant medicine ceremonies have like shifted over the years and I wonder kind of like where we’re going as a culture when it comes to these like practices and [00:05:00] techniques, right? Like before it was the shaman, the medicine women, medicine man, um, you know, going into those realms, like having years of like, training.

Kyle Buller: Um, and maybe it’s the distinction between like. What is the shamanic role versus somebody just exploring consciousness on their own? You know, and, and maybe that’s something to, to like, you know, differentiate of like how somebody is like working with these states. Um, but yeah, now a lot of people have more access to it, right?

Kyle Buller: Like before it was like the shaman going into those trans states and bringing healing, or I always like Martine Tels, um, definition of a shaman. He’s like a spiritual lawyer trying to make contracts between this world and, and the spirit world. Um, and like just trying to figure out what’s going on. You know, traditionally that’s also kind of like how things were done and now, right?

Kyle Buller: We all have like our autonomy to, to go in there with these medicines and with practices and stuff like [00:06:00] that. But does that mean by just going in there, does that make everybody a shaman? Um, and I think that’s a interesting question,

Joe Moore: right? Like there’s. I think, I think the term is useful in some ways and not useful in other ways.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, and we kind of got into that and it’s a really fun thing and I advise everybody to listen to that podcast. It’s really great. I’m excited to dig into it. Yeah. Hopefully next week if I can get it together. Um, but it’s really, really great and I’m excited about the book and I think even, uh, somebody in kind of the psychedelic press UK orbit wrote a review.

Joe Moore: Um, so if you don’t have time for the book, you could check out the review. I think it might have been Mike J who I love his work. Um, masculine book, right? Yeah. Masculine. So many others too. Um, I’m negligent. I need to catch up on his stuff too. So, um, I could say that for the rest of my life, I guess endless.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Which I’m thankful for. But yeah, breath work. It was so good. It was [00:07:00] so good to just be with people again here in our hometown so we, you know, don’t have to travel super far to do it. We have people come to a really beautiful place. Um, we well rested, you know, having to be in our, you know, our own bed.

Joe Moore: This is amazing. And then, you know, we show up really fresh and people can kind of explore nature here. Just gorgeous woods and mountains and kind of at the peak of autumn too, this past weekend.

Kyle Buller: It’s definitely peak foliage season, which is nice. Um, and yeah, it, it has been really nice kind of doing this like in the hometown versus, you know, I’ve been on the road like for the past like two years, well, I guess the past year I’ve been a little bit more settled.

Kyle Buller: But yeah, running retreats all over the place, doing stuff in like, you know, all sorts of different parts of the world. Um. Not sleeping in my own bed, you know, getting, I got really good at sleeping in hotel rooms and other people’s beds. I was like, oh man, this feels like a skill that I can finally get like a good night rest somewhere else.

Kyle Buller: But, [00:08:00] um, yeah, it just felt a lot different to be able to do that, like in your home versus having like travel and do all that stuff and be a little ungrounded at times or dealing with time zone differences and all that stuff. Yeah,

Joe Moore: right. It’s, um, it is really something and there’s, there’s pretty good data that if you’re not sleeping in your own bed, you’re kind of putting yourself at risk, um mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Over time, right? Like, it takes one or two or three days to, to kind of get to that kind of safety. It’s kind of like a natural survival response. So anyway, like when facilitators can show up rested, um, I think it really contributes to the, to the safety and the overall feel of it. So thanks for everybody that showed up for letting us do it that way.

Kyle Buller: Yep.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so I think, um, we’ll have some more dates in the near term. I think this time of year is a little tough for people to commit to. Um, but hopefully [00:09:00] we can do some in the winter and hopefully we can do some in the spring, maybe even in Denver. So stay tuned, everybody, if you want to do that kind of work with us.

Joe Moore: Um, and yeah, maybe, uh, anything else here or maybe we can pivot to the new project we wanna chat about.

Kyle Buller: Yeah, we can pivot.

Joe Moore: Cool. So we’ve largely funded psychedelics today through education, um, to date. And, um, the, the world is changing. How people want to educate themselves is, you know, always shifting. And as a result, we want to keep delivering amazing stuff to you all out there and keep being of service to the community to the best of our ability.

Joe Moore: And what we’ve landed on in part is. An online community, different tiers and monthly fees, and trying to figure out how to move most or all of our education over into this kind of monthly model, which I think could be really interesting. So folks don’t [00:10:00] necessarily have to show up and pay, you know, 200 $800 for individual trainings, which are, you know, high value.

Joe Moore: We’re trying to be as competitive in the marketplace of education as we can be, and often case we underprice ourselves. So, you know, I think. Just people are more accustomed to let me add this subscription on. Maybe I can just join for two, three months and, and bail. Which we hope you stay around. But you know, that’s always an option too.

Joe Moore: And, um, you know, how can we also develop community? Because I think what we saw in vital and navigating psychedelics and our whole breath work, um, careers is the value of community. Even if temporary community is amazing and mm-hmm. Having people with shared experiences on the same platform, maybe we got to know each other in person here or there.

Joe Moore: Like that really adds things to the, to the stock. Anything you want to add here about the why?

Kyle Buller: Well, the community piece, I think is the, [00:11:00] the big piece. And I think just to echo what you said about like, you know, what we’ve learned in vital, it’s like. That has felt just so amazing to get to know people, to like build a community, have people like, you know, participate in, in different ways, whether it’s coming back and like giving presentations or helping, you know, do some teaching and, and supporting that way.

Kyle Buller: And, um, yeah, I think we all crave it too, um, like finding like-minded others to be part of this path. Um, and so, you know, I think that’s another reason why we wanna do it. You know, we wanna connect with you guys too, right? Like, we wanna be able to create this community to be able to connect, hear what you guys are interested in, um, and also help to hopefully provide value through, you know, doing more of these live streams for you.

Kyle Buller: Um, you know, education, all that stuff. So, yeah. Yeah,

Joe Moore: I was thinking about, like, one of, one of my favorite ever conversations is a, a dear friend who’s a classist and, um, knows a lot about the Mediterranean and then another guy, mutual [00:12:00] friend. Now, um, there’s like a world class. Expert on the Mongols. We just hang out, hung out at dinner, chatting about, like, speculating about, you know, ancient drug trade, ancient, like, kind of pre silk road drug trade.

Joe Moore: And it was just fascinating. Um, and one of my favorite things and, and the idea is that when we get together with people in the psychedelic space, often we have overlapping funny interests that we don’t really get to get into in our day to day. Mm-hmm. Like can’t really talk to the. The banker or the grocery store person about this stuff.

Joe Moore: But, you know, niche interests really feed our soul, right? Mm-hmm. Like that’s why like the Star Trek conventions have such a big, you know, fan base and they’ve grown forever. And same with psychedelic conferences. Like people go ’cause they wanna talk to the other people. Um,

Kyle Buller: yeah, and like, just like what kind of friendships and connections come outta that?

Kyle Buller: Like I think about like, yeah, the connections we’ve experienced in Vital or the students have experienced among one [00:13:00] another, and it’s like, you know, we haven’t, I guess, necessarily been doing that for our general PT audience, um, because we’ve been just so focused on vital, um, and continuing to be, but wanting to expand that.

Kyle Buller: And yeah, just seeing a lot of the connections like Blossom out of that. It’s like always really nice to see people from like cohort one still mix and mingling or like thinking about, um, the pizza party that we had at Psychedelic Science, like, you know, we have like 50 plus people there. It was like really beautiful just to see people come together.

Kyle Buller: Um, the friend and again, the friendships, the collaborations, like everything that’s kind of like blossomed out of that and it’s like, yeah, how do we bring that to the larger audience for you that, you know. You’re not gonna sign up for vital, right? It might be a big investment. It might be, you know, time that’s not your path.

Kyle Buller: Um, but you still wanna connect with others, right? You still wanna like meet other people, make friends those connections, chat about stuff. So, you know, we’re depending on, uh, doing yeah, more of these live streams q and as. Um, depending on the tiers, open [00:14:00] office book clubs, um, we’ve always had a really great time running those book clubs in Vital, so it’s like, yeah, let’s do it for the, the larger, uh, PT audience as well.

Kyle Buller: Um, yeah, and then, yeah, some of those top tiers, you get small group access, maybe one-on-one calls with us. So,

Joe Moore: yeah. And I’m excited to bring film, film, clubs and certain levels of art to the table. So, um, getting kind of behind the scenes conversations with psychedelic artists and, and sending some of the tears.

Joe Moore: Art. Um, I also love the idea of, um, figuring out together how we actually want to discuss psychedelic film, like documentaries and then literal like. Films that are heavily influenced by psychedelics. I’ll say two off the cuff that I want to include, like Blueberry, which had an alternative. Yeah, I forget the name.

Joe Moore: I forget the other name. And then there was a, I forget it

Joe Moore: too.

Joe Moore: Um, like everything by Jurowski, obviously, but then, uh, come on, enter, enter the Void. Have you seen that one? [00:15:00]

Kyle Buller: That was big during my college years and everybody was like talking about it ’cause of the crazy DMT scenes and stuff like that. Yeah, that one’s really wild.

Joe Moore: Yeah, that’s, uh, you gotta buckle up for that one. I, I came in cold to a friend’s house, like right around the time it came out and I was like very stressed out, but gripped the whole time too. Mm-hmm. Um, thankfully only seen it once, but yeah, there’s so many films coming out. There’s so much art coming out.

Joe Moore: There’s so much room for us to get together and talk about niche things, um, and help. Co evolve and co-create the future of psychedelic. You know, that’s, I think the name of the game here. Somebody asked me yesterday, like, what is the future of psychedelic community? And it’s like, oh God, you know, like I should have some special insight on this.

Joe Moore: And I don’t know, but I, but I think it’s people finding friends, finding really deep connection and then developing community around that if you can. Mm-hmm. Um, and it’s not necessarily like there’s gonna be [00:16:00] one big psychedelic community that everybody gets along. I don’t necessarily know. No,

Kyle Buller: you need, you need your diversity of community, right?

Kyle Buller: Whether it’s this like larger online community, your local community, different interests. Like, I just think about like, yeah, the different communities I’ve been part of. Like some, some of ’em are just radically different than psychedelics, right? Like, and I think that’s healthy.

Joe Moore: Yeah, absolutely. So in time, I hope that we can really, you know, get a number of folks in here.

Joe Moore: And this can be how psychedelics today can support you, support, you know, community can support us. And, you know, this is our job, this is what we do full-time, and we want to keep educating as much as possible and putting out as much free stuff as possible and cheap stuff as possible. Because, um, that’s really been our core, like 90 plus percent of what everything we’ve done has been free.

Kyle Buller: Yeah, yeah. And we love that. It’s just like we, I think we just want to keep doing that. But yeah, it’s [00:17:00] also very unsustainable to just give things away for free all the time.

Joe Moore: So if you support that idea, support us and we can hopefully keep, um, keep that going and also do more and eventually build team and, and keep, um, putting more and more out because there’s so much left to discuss here.

Joe Moore: So much left on the table for us to get into for, you know, the whole thing. Like how do we do this safe and safely and legally? What is, what even is safety? Um, what are the actual legal risks? Um, how can we operate in different countries? You know, is that the right move? Um mm-hmm. And what even does like a really, really safe personal practice look like that, you know, if you don’t have the, um, the privilege of doing it in community, what can you do privately?

Joe Moore: And then how do you build community that’s like, there’s so many things. Like what other kind of topics do you think would be useful for folks for us to like, to get into and develop?

Kyle Buller: Um, within like what we’re [00:18:00] doing,

Joe Moore: psychia generally stuff that we can support.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Um, yeah, there is so much, right? Like this is such a multifaceted field.

Kyle Buller: Um, my mind, it always kind of goes towards, I think we’re chatting about this last week, just like the whole technology development. And I think. You know, that is reason to be, I think, more connected. You know, I keep reading all these like studies about like our disconnection from nature, how alienated people are.

Kyle Buller: And I think, you know, that’s one big lesson I’ve taken away from psychedelics, right? It’s like, you know, being able to connect with nature, connect with others, everything’s like interconnected and you know, we are at this like convergence point, um, with like, you know, society, humanity, with like, you know, the way things are going, the technology.

Kyle Buller: It’s like also how does psychedelics help navigate us through that? Um, like is it a grounding rod at times or helps us to like, give some insight? Um, you know, I was just thinking, um. No, I brought this [00:19:00] up last week, but kind of digging back into like all Terrence McKenna stuff again. Um, he just kind of keeps popping online and the stuff he was talking about, you know, like back then, uh, it’s kind of where we’re at now.

Kyle Buller: Um, what he was talking about with like the internet and like computers and artificial intelligence and just like, man, yeah, he was talking about this stuff in the nineties and like, you know, how did psychedelics also impact that, you know, for him? Like, did they kind of like help him develop these ideas, think about it differently?

Kyle Buller: Um,

Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Yeah. So what was, what were some of the lines? Uh, computers of the future will be drugs and drugs of the future will be computers, is another McKenna lion around this. And you know, I guess let’s talk about that, like this idea of grounding and like in what ways, and this is kind of speculative and kind of going on a little tangent, but like in what ways can psychedelics actually be that grounding rod?

Joe Moore: Like, and then in what ways can they be kind of like the. Um, instigator for, [00:20:00] um, flights away from Nature.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. I think about this like, and I think this is something I’ve struggled with, um, and maybe Terrance also struggled with it too, with like maybe some of his experiences where my previous ex like experiences, I’d have these like deeply kind of like technological type of experiences.

Kyle Buller: Like, you know, Terrence talked about like the machine world, right? And it’s like you could see the future in which if we continue to develop that stuff, maybe that’s where we’re heading to. But then also at the other side, it’s like. Wow. The more, like, I hate looking at my phone on psychedelics, you know?

Kyle Buller: I’m like, I want to be so far away from that thing. It feels like, I don’t know, it just feels like it sucks a soul out of me. Um, and, you know, just staring at a screen. And so that helps me just to ground in nature more, helps me to like, think about my relationship, um, to technology and like, you know, where do I wanna spend my energy?

Kyle Buller: Um, but it’s also interesting right now that, you know, [00:21:00] this is how humans communicate, right? Like we communicate largely online in text, um, through, you know, these types of means. Um, and yeah, I think it’s something to consider, you know, because yeah. And some of this research that’s coming out around just like the loneliness epidemic and or disconnection to nature, and, you know.

Kyle Buller: I keep hearing all these folks talking about like, um, how human experience might be a job, um, in the future. Like paying somebody to go on a walk. You know, I hear Gary v talk about that sometimes, and I’m just like, yeah, are we gonna be so hooked in where it’s like we are looking for like human connection and we’ll be willing to pay for that in a way.

Kyle Buller: Um, and to me that’s kind of sad, but I don’t know.

Joe Moore: I remember how, um, kind of appalled people are when I, when I show them like the app job simulator or, which is just amazing. But the concept is just, [00:22:00] you know, something similar to that. It’s like robots wanting to like, experience what human life was like.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, and like, you know, it’s a jokey app, but there’s some truth there. Um, and that’s, that’s interesting. I wonder, I don’t, that’s a little too futuristic for me for right now, right? That that whole concept of paying somebody to go for a walk, but. You know, I shit like I, stuff stuff is getting stranger with AI and, and robotics and I don’t, I don’t understand what’s gonna happen.

Joe Moore: I think that, I don’t think any of

Kyle Buller: us do. I, I think even the people that like have invented it Yeah. Are kind of like confused about like where it’s going.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. So like how do we, how do we kind of just get grounded in ourselves, in nature, in our community and, you know, build the things we wanna build, whatever that is.

Joe Moore: You know, I remember there was kind of like this weird, uh, yet again, Margaret Atwood kind of apocalyptic trilogy called [00:23:00] ORs and Craig. And there were these kind of like post-apocalyptic survivors called God’s Gardeners and they made a whole cult of, um, you know, kind of permaculture survival, but kind of like biotechnology and like, um.

Joe Moore: They, all the Saints days were like, you know, Darwin Day, Gregory, Mendel, like so many different like big biologists, you know, like who’s to say we can’t develop those cultures and like create culture around that. Um, and you know, get really smart. Like, ’cause I think really we need to become really smart and we don’t, it’s smarter than we are and we need it to not be only from ai.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. I might be a, a, a nice segue into the creativity piece, right? ’cause we’re kind of touching on like creativity and intelligence, um, and all of our conversations in the past, how psychedelics can help like spark creativity. And I know like, yeah, you’ve mentioned it quite a, a you know, we’re dealing with these problems where we need creative [00:24:00] solutions.

Kyle Buller: Um, and like, how do we develop more creative solutions? Um, you know, is it gonna be just like. It’s funny. Yeah. Your, your, your comment the other day, contacting the Oracle, um, you know, contacting like GPT, um, you know, ’cause I feel like a lot of us use it, right? Just for like, creative endeavors, like asking questions and stuff like that, you know, or, you know, are we kind of, uh, moving past some of our uniqueness of being human, uh, with that creativity and, and how do we spark that if we get too reliant, um, on, on that?

Kyle Buller: And, you know, I think what, there has been some research coming out of like MIT around, um, like some cognitive decline or creative decline when you become too reliant on it. Um mm-hmm. That was creepy,

Joe Moore: right?

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah. Before we go too deep into this, just if people wanna check out what we’re doing with our community, psychedelics today.com/navigators, we’re gonna talk about it a few more times though.

Joe Moore: So [00:25:00] Yeah. Like, historically in the psychedelic arena. The, the stuff out of, um, Fatman and Harmon’s work, um, back in Palo Alto, uh, Harmon was kind of the lead on that. The idea was that they would get together people who are stuck on creative problems for, um, what was it, at least six months, maybe a year and a half.

Joe Moore: And then they would, you know, have a really tight container about, um, administering psychedelics to, to help them solve those problems. And, um, people would come out and solve the problems. And so that, that is kind of like the historical thing and they had a lot of success there. Um, and then, um, we’re, we’re seeing Center for Minds kind of pick this up and try to like figure out the fundamental neurological stuff.

Joe Moore: Like what is creativity in a really, really micro, um, neurological context. It’s kind of how I’m seeing it. Like okay, [00:26:00] and that, so we need to understand what that is and then we can see if psychedelics. M interact with that thing. Um, but creatives kind of, you know, schools of design kind of have their own metrics already that the, that Center for Minds isn’t necessarily interacting with yet.

Joe Moore: So I think that’s kind of an interesting opportunity. Um, all right. And then, so today we’re gonna talk about this study. Um. Let’s pull that up. I’m gonna try to put it on screen, Kyle. Yeah. But what, what did you, can you kind of set the stage, like describing this study?

Kyle Buller: Yeah. So there was a study that, um, was just published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, which starts to kind of challenge this widespread assumption that psychedelics enhance creativity.

Kyle Buller: And so they did a doubleblind randomized design study. Um, and, but they used kind of like a pharmac was, uh, so it was a DMT plus harmine, um, which was against Harmine alone. And the placebo conditions. Um, and some [00:27:00] of the things that they found out was that it necessarily may have not increased certain types of thinking and creative, uh, processes, uh, that like, you know, maybe we think that is happening, um, during the experience.

Kyle Buller: And I thought that was like pretty interesting to, to read. And again, you know, the, some of the limitations there was like all white, uh, men participating in the study. Um, you know, generally a small sample size. Um, but, and you know, uh, the kind of like the Woca mix, like, you know, is that, you know, I mean Fatman was what Exploring LSD, right?

Kyle Buller: Right. So it’s like you didn’t wanna test some of these other substances here. Um, but um,

Joe Moore: did you catch what school they were at? Oh, Dresden interesting. Um, and then Zurich. Yeah. So, you know, like, I think. In support of the research. Like we have to have baselines like this. You [00:28:00] know, we have to have kind of like, yeah.

Joe Moore: Doesn’t look right. Doesn’t look like we’re gonna do this. And I, I remember Robin Carhartt Harris saying a few years ago, some things along the lines of like, do you really want to be consuming psychedelics before you do x, y, Z tasks? And he is like, based on my data a little bit above microdosing isn’t necessarily gonna be helpful for a lot of things.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, and I think, I think that’s kind of a little bit clearer in the data now, but also this is, you know, how do, how do you make a creative breakthrough? And I think this is kind of like setting the stage for us to like develop this as a field, right?

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Yep.

Joe Moore: So they did the DMC in harmony and pharma was thing and Yeah.

Joe Moore: That’s interesting.

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Macro level, divergent and convergent thinking and. Macro level creative process dynamics. Yeah. Be interesting to have these folks on to talk about it.

Kyle Buller: I think we should. Yeah. Because Right. That’s [00:29:00] been a lot of like our talk track too, like talking about like the creative aspect.

Kyle Buller: Um, again, you know, it’s like a small sample size. Um, but I did find it interesting Yeah. That like, um, I think the study’s results revealed disconnection between subjective experience and objective performance. So while the participants reported feeling more creative and insightful under the influence, uh, their actual performance on creativity, uh, told a different story.

Kyle Buller: Um, so that’s interesting. Right? It’s like, I think, um, Terrance McKen of talked about how psychedelics like foster funny ideas and Right. I think like when we’re in those experiences, like some of those ideas feel really creative and genius, but then it’s also, you know, how many of them. Are actually really great ideas.

Kyle Buller: Um, and can you actually maybe also move those ideas forward? Um, does it also sound like yeah, there was impaired problem solving? So it, uh, significantly impaired convergent thinking, making participants [00:30:00] worse at structured problem solving tasks, which is like interesting compared to like the Fatman stuff, right?

Kyle Buller: Because it’s like you had somebody, you know, you had these scientists that like, um, were really kind of struggling with problem solving and then being able to kind of dig in. And it also kind of challenges the narrative that we all hear too about, um, you know, Steve Jobs, um, you know, Francis Crick, Carrie Mulli, and all these folks that have like, made these creative breakthroughs.

Kyle Buller: Um, you know, and them talking about how impactful their psychedelic experiences were, um, for some of those creative insights.

Joe Moore: Right. So I think, yeah, I think we owe it to, to ourselves and our community to really dig into that one a little bit more. And, um, I’ve always wanted to, I think this is something that we’re kind of really uniquely positioned to chat about.

Joe Moore: So let’s, let’s see what we can do.

Kyle Buller: Yeah, I don’t know. Have you feel like you’ve been really [00:31:00] creative, like on psychedelics? Um, where it’s like been useful? I wanna say yes for me, but

Joe Moore: like, it depends on our definition of creative. Well, maybe that’s an

Kyle Buller: issue too, with the study too. It’s like, how are we defining that?

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Do you remember a Whitehead’s definition of creativity?

Kyle Buller: Um, I could pull it up really quick. Um, um,

Joe Moore: uh, so here we go. In his categorical scheme, in process and reality, Whitehead explicitly states creativity is the ultimate behind all forms, inexplicable by forms and conditioned by its creatures, uh, a k the individual actual entity.

Joe Moore: So there’s a lot there that’s like probably not too easy to understand. Um, but it’s kind of like, uh, hinting at potential is what I [00:32:00] see. And like, how do we actually kind of, um, understand that there’s so many potentialities before they’re actual right? And by when we start making decisions, we kinda like collapse that tree of potentiality.

Joe Moore: And, and, and the tree of potentiality kind of keeps going in kind of big, eh, nearly infinite ways. Um, but what did, what did you find here?

Kyle Buller: I was just pulling something up, um, that I posted on our vital community actually, um, because we were talking about creativity, um, and psychedelics. Um, somebody, uh, did a presentation on kind of like, uh, creativity and flow and psychedelics, and it was really interesting.

Kyle Buller: I pulled up, I started researching creativity, and then I started finding all this stuff that like, um, Whitehead might have been, uh, you know, the c. Like the person that kind of like coined that term. I thought that was fascinating. I was like, [00:33:00] what? Um, right. But, but, uh, this is from Michael Hay, Hal Hay words, woods.

Kyle Buller: Sorry, I’m totally butchering your name. Michael. Um, so he wrote, uh, Whitehead’s development of the word creativity. Uh, namely that he coined this very term, uh, this bearing, repeating prior, uh, to his use of the word creativity and religion in the making in 1926. Uh, this word was not, uh, extent in the English language.

Kyle Buller: Creativity is a term of Whitehead’s own devising in 1925 in science in the modern world, and a year or so before his first use of creativity. He instead used the term creativeness, um, but not on, but only really in 1929 in process and reality, um, that he fully adopted the term creativity, um, as best expressing the mode, um, character and ubiquity of the role of novelty within existence.

Kyle Buller: [00:34:00] Um, so that’s interesting. Expressing the mode, character and ubiquity of the role of novelty within existence and its notion of novelty, which is key. Creativity is the principle of novelty, an actual occasion of novel entity, diverse from any entity in the many which unifies. Thus, creativity introduces novelty into the content of the many, which are the universe.

Kyle Buller: Uh, destructively. The creative advanced is the application of this ultimate principle of creativity to each novel situation. It originates.

Joe Moore: Makes me Whitehead

Kyle Buller: terminology and all that stuff

Joe Moore: makes me think about McKenna, who didn’t necessarily get Whitehead from what I understand. But I think like this idea of novelty generation, I think there’s, I think there’s a lot there.

Joe Moore: And I think like if we go really far out, we can get some really big ideas. And this is kind of like some of the [00:35:00] terminology we’ve been using lately, right? It’s like the medium-sized ideas of what we really wanna bring back. Not something that’s so radical that we’re never going to understand what’s happening, but something that’s radical enough that it could help the community, um, and be implemented.

Joe Moore: And, um, yeah, I think like everything else always needs to be like contextually, contextually appropriate, right? Like introducing ideas that would be amazing for like the 13 hundreds and x, y, z region of the world doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the case here now,

Kyle Buller: right? Yeah.

Joe Moore: Thus novelty and creativity.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. I mean, I feel like psychedelics definitely. I don’t, well I guess it’s also a bias objective perspective. Like, you know, it does create like novelty, you know? I feel like the psychedelic experience is very novel in so many different ways. Um, but I don’t know. Yeah. I’m cool. I’m interested to see if anybody else like, picks up this research and kind of [00:36:00] starts to like maybe do a larger sample size, um, maybe more reliable tests and stuff like that.

Kyle Buller: ’cause you’re right, I think it’s also, yeah. How are we defining creativity? How are we defining all this stuff as well? Um, is it also the outcome, you know, like maybe, um, you know, some of our thinking and structure isn’t really great during it, but like also doing some like long-term follow-up, right? Like maybe somebody had an idea wasn’t fully formed, but, you know, a year or two later.

Kyle Buller: Did that, you know, come into, into being in a way? Um,

Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. I think there’s so much there. Um, and, you know, so much room for improvement in science, just generally, like, I want to see more science, I want science to be radically well funded, and I wanna see people competing for ideas and competing for who’s right.

Joe Moore: And it’s kind of like one of the fun, more fun parts about it. Um, I think I’ve been frustrated about lately, Kyle, is this idea of like, um, and I don’t know how to solve this, um, but we [00:37:00] saw, um, we see people kind of creating the same data sets and they want like, really uniform and, and they’re only using it for like one trial, right?

Joe Moore: Like, um, I was reading some on autism recently and eventually autism researchers actually had like a standard set of ways of surveying people. Then they just shared all the data and they shared this giant data pool so that they could actually mine for all sorts of insights on this giant global situation.

Joe Moore: And like, how could we develop some sort of collaborative process to make science, you know, more science come out more regularly, um, at lower cost to everybody. And I, I don’t know, like I’m, I’m kind of like dreaming pie in the sky, but it has happened elsewhere is kind of the point. And I think maybe when, when, when we were kind of like deep in the, uh, early phases of the COVID situation, we had [00:38:00] similar collaboration.

Joe Moore: Right. Hyper funding from different governments, right?

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so we’ll see. We’ll see. Maybe we can do that. Um, so let’s talk about this other one. This one’s really fun. Um, strokes. What did, what did you learn about this stroke problem?

Kyle Buller: Yeah, this was really interesting and so there’s some studies done around using DMT, uh, to, um, and this is mostly in animal models, in, in mice so far.

Kyle Buller: Um, but how it could actually help, um, post-stroke, um, so like with inflammation and, and stuff like that. Uh, and which is like really interesting ’cause I actually chatted with somebody a while ago, um, where they were talking, I think they had a mild stroke and they started actually using mushrooms, um, to help out with, with the symptoms there.

Kyle Buller: Um, [00:39:00] so yeah, uh, some of this research where this, uh. Uh, yeah. Uh, it was published in the Science Advances. Um, and here in this article it says, the results market significant step towards, uh, a, a step forward in stroke research as current, uh, treatment options for stroke remain limited. So, researchers found that DMT offers a dual mechanism of action.

Kyle Buller: It protects the blood brain barrier and reduces inflammation in the brain, um, suggesting that it could complement existing therapies, um, or form the basis of new, more comprehensive treatments. Um, so yeah, that’s, that’s really fascinating,

Joe Moore: right? Like, um, I think there is a pharma company working on this. I think they’re called, uh, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, right?

Joe Moore: Um, and I, I don’t know really anything about their status, um, but I’m, I’m just like glad it’s happening. Uh, and then. Where, where was this study happening? I [00:40:00] didn’t really recognize any of these names. Oh. At savo. So maybe this is, Hmm. I’m gonna, I’m gonna actually share this article on the screen so people can follow along.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah, it’s just really exciting to see that we’re, we’re not just, um, exclusively keeping, um, science in like this kind of couch based model, a couch therapy based model, sorry. Um, that there’s like broader horizons. And that’s really, I think, a, a thing that you and I have been excited about for ages.

Joe Moore: Right. It’s, um, yeah. You know, really great to see that it’s not just psychotherapy.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Right. There could be so many more like implications. And I’m glad like you’ve been getting loud about at court also too about like all the pain stuff and more of like physical implications with psychedelics here, um, than [00:41:00] just versus like the psychotherapy oriented approach.

Kyle Buller: Um, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I just, I just think about like, um, you know, my uncle had two strokes and he actually I think went for stem cell therapy over in Germany years ago. Um, and just thinking like, yeah, could this be helpful? Um, and it’s kind of interesting to think about, yeah, psychedelics being, um, an application for, you know, post-stroke recovery, if it’s possible, you know, I know this is still early in animal models, but,

Joe Moore: right.

Joe Moore: Um, in this, in this stuff, I, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Algernon people are actually administering it to humans at this point. But this is a different set of research that’s happening. Um, yeah. Not like I understand any of these charts at all, but, um, you know, that’s why people have scientific training and we can talk about it.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah, so I think, um. [00:42:00] Just really excited about this. Stroke is really scary. Stroke is really common. Stan Groff had a stroke. I actually wonder if his recovery was aided by his kind of history with psychedelics. Hmm. Um, yeah, I think at a certain point folks, uh, say like, you know, after 80 they’re like, I don’t know how many more times I need to do this.

Joe Moore: Um, right. You know, I have suspicions about Albert Hoffman, but, um, who knows? Um, yeah, and I, you know, I, I, the, the diseases I make jokes, like dark jokes about me getting in the future is like cancer and stroke. So just like really happy we’re looking at it here and I think, I think there could be some interesting, um, interesting, uh, things for different cardiac events.

Joe Moore: Just seeing how, like, this is kind of. Laid out, like, um, [00:43:00] uh, maybe I think that’s a little too speculative. But yeah, I’m just, you know, happy to see this is happening. Um, I love how rigorous this paper looks. Um, it looks like it’s really contributing substantially. So, thank you authors. Thank you for the whole team that did this.

Joe Moore: Oh, look at this. So there is a little bit of a tie here to Algernon. Okay. Um, company had no role in the design of the study. Um, EF and zn, I don’t, um, we’d have to look up top to see who those are, but we. But there’s only two of the total authors had like a stake in or advisors for Algernon. It probably means they’re paid cash and or have like stock or something like that.

Kyle Buller: Algin. Are they also like working with five MEO or they just strictly DMT. Oh, I thought I saw

Joe Moore: some stuff about like, these folks never gave us money. Everybody. Um, we’re just looking it up. ’cause like this is somebody that, uh, so they’re [00:44:00] looking at Alzheimer’s, which is great. Um, their pipeline looks like they’ve got two drugs.

Joe Moore: They’ve got a DMT here. Um, you know, obviously, I don’t know, like these, these code names are just like, what, what biotechs do? AP 180 8, right? Like, what are you talking about? I think that’s just how they make patents so they can like get investors, um, yeah. To do this stuff. But it looks like they’re doing just straight up dimethyl tryptamine and end dimethyl tryptamine.

Joe Moore: Um, and then let’s see what this other drug is. Um, chronic kidney disease, so they’re doing something with kidneys, um, that doesn’t appear to be anything we know about. So, um, yeah, excited to see, um, see how they’re, how they’re looking. I think, I don’t know. Like I, I pretty sure they’re in people. Yeah. See phase one.

Joe Moore: So they’re already in people. Um, they’re about to, looks like phase two starting soon, which is wild. Um, [00:45:00] cool. So that’ll be in more people. I always think the consent conversation here around stuff like this is fascinating. Like, how are you actually getting stroke victims consent if they’re unconscious?

Joe Moore: And I, I think, um, you know, after a stroke you could be really impaired, so how are you, how are you doing that? So I’m sure they’ve worked that out. I would love to chat with them to see how they’re doing that.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. I imagine they’re probably working with people that are able to give consent, but who knows,

Joe Moore: right?

Joe Moore: It could be families, right. Right. Um, but who knows? We’ll learn more in the, in the future, and this is pretty good news. Um, maps decided to finalize their executive team. So the board of directors, I think, um, named Betty Aldworth and Izzy Ali, co-executive directors, they’re no longer interim co-executive directors.

Joe Moore: This is a permanent thing for them. That’s great. Um, I, I remember a while ago, um, when they were both just, um, interim, I was like, [00:46:00] I don’t, I don’t know who they could put in that would make me feel really good about maps. Mm-hmm. Other than Izzy, um, like, because I didn’t think they were gonna keep the, uh, co-ed thing.

Joe Moore: I always thought they were gonna go for one. Right. But I was, I was chatting with Betty, who I, I really appreciate, so smart, so passionate. Been at this for so long, this drug policy thing forever and ever. Um, chatting with her, um, at the Santa Fe conference recently. She’s like, I don’t, I don’t know that I would ever actually want to be the sole ed ever again.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Of an organization. ’cause her last, um, it’s a lot thing before MAPS was SSDP, I think Ed there. And that’s like a handful. It’s a lot. Yeah. And like, um, Betty and Izzy have just a long career kind of working together too. Izzy was a, I think on the board of SSDP for a while. Um, yeah. And I, I don’t know, do you remember, do you remember this story?

Joe Moore: I, I met, um, Betty in 2017 at the Oakland conference, [00:47:00] like one of the after parties. Um, we were just like hanging out, shooting the shit. I didn’t even know who she was. I’m just shooting the shit at the back of some like, dance floor DJ thing. Um, you know, I just, um, making jokes about hula hoops or whatever and I was like dying and she was so, so great and she’s always been like.

Joe Moore: Really, really helpful to us. Yeah, so Izzy’s always been really helpful. I’ve actually called Izzy on a few emergencies and Thank you Izzy. Um, like help, I don’t know which way is up anymore. Um, like, what do I do here? He’s always been so helpful too. So just really excited that those two are leading the charge and I think their vision is really robust and excited to see what they wanna do.

Kyle Buller: Yeah, huge. Congratulations, Betty and Izzy. You guys will kill it and, um, yeah, hopefully steer the ship in, in a really awesome way.

Joe Moore: Yeah, I know it probably hasn’t

Kyle Buller: been easy in the past, like year or two, three years, however, yeah.

Joe Moore: Oh, incredible amount of work. Um, so I, [00:48:00] I know Betty was kind of like comms director for a long time at Maps, so we had some conversations and like would kind of get like, uh, embargoed news and, and things like that.

Joe Moore: And, and I, I would, I would call for strategy and, and sometimes offer my unsolicited opinion. And, uh, it was really just a, a, I don’t know, lovely relationship and I’m hoping I’m in touch with, um, somebody over there to get them on, uh, the show in the near term. And I, I’m excited about that and we’ll hopefully get some intel on, on what they’re up to in the near term.

Joe Moore: Sweet.

Kyle Buller: Awesome. Yeah, I would love

Joe Moore: to

Kyle Buller: hear some direct updates from, from those folks.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so any other news that you thought, like, interesting to point out?

Kyle Buller: I haven’t been keeping up with much of the news, uh, cycles yet. Um, I feel like I need to, you know, dig in, but you just released a whole bunch in our recent, um, email you just sent out like a bunch of psychedelic news.

Joe Moore: Yeah, this week’s, [00:49:00] um, this week’s news roundup. Let me see, let me see how I can share this list. Um, I, I just was like really, really excited to be able to do this. Um, and yeah, I found, uh, found out that it’s not, not like a really intense amount of work for me to do this and I actually appreciate it ’cause I get to stay, um, in the loop on what’s happening in the world.

Joe Moore: Um mm-hmm. Yeah.

Kyle Buller: Um, there was this interesting article that just came out in, on September 2nd, so I guess a month ago. Um, I haven’t dug into this at all, so I don’t know if I wanna chat about it, but, um,

Joe Moore: go for it

Kyle Buller: sis. Scientists reveal how breath work unlocks psychic bliss in the brain. So high ventilation breath work while listening to music was associated with ports of blissful states, reduced negative emotions accompanied by increased blood flow to emotional processing.

Kyle Buller: Repeat the brain. [00:50:00] Um, so yeah, super fascinating. Um, so this was, um, yeah, so just saying breath work while listening to music may indu blissful states, um, in practitioners accompanied by changes in blood flow to emotional processing in the brain. According to a study published on August 27th, 2025, in an open access, uh, journal, PS.

Kyle Buller: OS one by, uh, Amy Amol, uh, Carter. Um, so yeah, I’m excited to dig into this one a little bit more. I’ve been just trying to dig into more breath work research. We just had a short at, well, I guess not short for online, an hour breath work session within Vital yesterday. Um, and getting a lot of these questions too around like, you know, how can psychedelics like produce these, or how can breathworks produce these psychedelic like states?

Kyle Buller: Um, so I’m excited to, to dig in, uh, to, to more of this.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I think, um, the [00:51:00] breathwork science is coming. Yeah. You already have a good amount of it. Um, but it’s, it’s coming. Yeah. So here’s just kind of like what I sent out. Um, yeah, just, just so people know what it looks like. There’s a big list of news articles, kind of mostly chronological.

Joe Moore: Um, there’s this really interesting, um, I. The fact that Hamilton was on Vice, again with Shane, I found really fascinating ’cause he is always had so many critiques about the news the Vice will put out. Um, but Hamilton was also on, um, the five cast. Interestingly, I don’t know if you saw this drama, Kyle, they actually put it up about a month ago.

Joe Moore: Um, they

Kyle Buller: took it down.

Joe Moore: They took it down, and then they put it back up. Um, on, on, uh. I think Saturday of our breathwork weekend. Yeah. Um, so I wonder what they pulled out? They were making jokes about getting sued. Um,

Kyle Buller: right. Yeah. That’s what I was like. They started off with stuff like that or they used that little like clip to start off.

Kyle Buller: So Yeah, I [00:52:00] imagine, I wonder if they were getting into some like pretty heavy things here and there that they needed to clip out, um, for li liability reasons. Right,

Joe Moore: right. You know, some people have a lot of money for attorneys. Um. Yeah. And so, you know, all sorts of stuff. So, uh, there’s just headlines, right?

Joe Moore: Colorado Natural Medicine Board recommends ibogaine for therapeutic use. So it’s looking like that’ll be coming sooner than later. Um, there is also the whole thing about Colorado requiring Nagoya compliant Ibogaine. Mm-hmm. Um, as of now, AMBIO is the only people with, apparently publicly. I got, I got kind of some funny conversations about this.

Joe Moore: The only company with, uh, Goya compliant Iboga. I’m like, eh, is that real? Like, I don’t know. I’ve, I’ve not done done enough digging, but they’re very insistent. But it’s people who are like deeply in that world. But then there’s the whole thing, like how do we get Iboga in? Um, there’s, uh, a new Iboga doc coming out really soon.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, I think later this month or in November, [00:53:00] um, that’ll be on Netflix. Um, Alaska is working to gather more signatures for their legalization bill. Um. A cluster headache study was funded psilocybin trial. It’s gonna be great. Um, but they’re using like DMT pens now. I think I told you that one, right?

Kyle Buller: I don’t think so. They’re using that for cluster headaches. Oh my God.

Joe Moore: Totally. So you have a cluster coming on at any point in the day. Could be in the middle of the night, you’re like, oh my God, this is gonna be a nightmare. How am I gonna do this? And like, I have to go eat like two, three grams of mushrooms or something, whatever the dose is.

Joe Moore: Could even be a gram and a half. But it, you know, that sucks to have to do it one in the morning to ab poor cluster. Um, and, uh, they’re having How do you even prepare for

Kyle Buller: that? You’re just like, I’m gonna, like, you don’t, you’re just like,

Joe Moore: it’s cluster headaches are so horrible that anything’s better. Yeah, yeah.

Joe Moore: Like these, it’s so bad that often you’re just bashing your head against the wall and or killing yourself. Right? Yeah. So like it is, um, the most painful condition we [00:54:00] know. Um, it’s up there with, uh, like it’s hard to rank these things. Chronic regional pain syndrome might be on par, um, but yeah, it’s really, really nightmare.

Joe Moore: But DMT smoke it. They can go right back to bed. Aborts it right away.

Kyle Buller: So fascinating. And that seems so, yeah, like, so accessible, right? Like not having to, because I’ve had friends that would like dose for migraines, um, and they said they would take like anywhere between like two and a half, three grams like every month or something like that, just to help to manage.

Kyle Buller: But yeah, it’s also, you know, a lot like what happens if you don’t really wanna go on these like, huge trips every month, uh, just to manage like migraine pain, but to have like a shorter acting, uh, psychedelics. I hear Ds in the background there. Lower, um, yeah, like a shorter acting and accessible, right?

Kyle Buller: Just taking like a hit, like that sounds really awesome. Um, to be able to like have that as an option for people that really struggle. Do they [00:55:00] understand like the mechanism of like cluster headaches, of like what’s going on there?

Joe Moore: It is an orphan condition with not enough research. Um, so yes and no. Um.

Joe Moore: But yeah, so I, I think Yale’s coming out with some data in the near term on the d the DMT pen thing, so they’ll have even more data. Um, no, like there’s, there, it’s, it’s such a rare disease that like people haven’t really funded it all that well. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah. So in time we’ll get more. Yeah, I’ll, I’ll try to get somebody on to talk about that.

Joe Moore: ’cause DMT pens are really fascinating. There’s a new, um, new book on, um, one of Leary’s, um, closest confidants. Rosemary, I’m really excited to read that one. Um, yeah, what, I think you covered this, a kind of crazy amount of contaminants in Oh yeah. Um, mushrooms, uh, well, product sold as mushrooms commercially.

Joe Moore: Um, and there’s another one last week. Yeah. [00:56:00] This other one here. I think. Um, let’s see. Uh. And this one is a good headline. Psychedelics picked far more neurons than expected. Mm-hmm. There is one about, um, psychedelics not helping postpartum moms as well as we thought initially. Thought. Um, come on, where is it?

Joe Moore: Um, it’s in here. There’s just roundup. Yeah. Which is

Kyle Buller: like crazy, you know, like when we started off like doing this stuff, like it was really hard to find news articles about, you know, what’s going on and, um, I mean, yeah, it just shows the interest is really increasing, uh, over the years.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Athletes turn to band IGA for CTE and concussion relief.

Joe Moore: Um, a lot of really interesting things there. Uh, I may or may not be one of those athletes. Um, and yeah, there’s so much happening. Massachusetts is getting active again and um, that’s good. Yeah. Let’s work towards wrapping up here, Kyle, I think like [00:57:00] we have this advanced shadow work class coming up. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Kyle Buller: Yeah. So, uh, October 20th, as a Monday, we’re gonna kick off an eight week course with Dr. Ito Cohen. Um, we run this every fall around spooky time of the year. Um, seems like it aligns. Um, and we’ll cover the shadow. What is the shadow we’ll get into how to work with the shadow, um, more from yeah, this Jungian depth oriented approach.

Kyle Buller: Um, and this time around, um, you know, we wanna make it a little bit more practical for folks. Um, and so we’re gonna make it, yeah, more advanced than, uh, say in the past in, in what we’ve been doing. Um, so yeah, if you’re interested in digging into the shadow, learning how to work with the shadow, learning how to work with it with clients, um, and not just the shadow, but also the golden shadow, which maybe you’ve heard me and Ido talk about in the past.

Kyle Buller: Um. Yeah, we only have, I think a few more seats [00:58:00] left. We’re, we’re getting to capacity, so if you’re interested in, in digging into all the shadow material, um, during Yeah, the, the fall, which the shadow season is upon us soon. Um, yeah, we would love to have you there. I always love teaching with Dr. Yo Cohen.

Kyle Buller: Um, and it’s gonna be a fun class, so, yeah.

Joe Moore: Great. And then, um, finally, let’s just circle back to navigators. Everybody. We’re really excited about this navigators program and, um, I think it’s, it is kind of gonna be a huge part of the future of psychedelics today and vital, and we really want to invite you to be a part of it.

Joe Moore: There’s a number of tiers of, of getting in starts at 9 99 a month, and, and you can go up from there. Um, if anybody, uh, you know, has questions, psychedelics today.com/navigators, you can email us, ask some questions there. Um. And like info at psychedelics today would be a good way to get us. [00:59:00] And then, um, yeah, we would love to see you in the community book clubs, film clubs, regular group meetings, um, early access to content, ad free podcasts.

Joe Moore: So much more so, you know, check it out. Um, anything you want to add about it?

Kyle Buller: Yeah, I would love to see everybody there. Um, again, we’re really wanting to build out the, the community there, get in, get involved in all sorts of different ways, connect with you, host events that you guys might be interested in.

Kyle Buller: So yeah, a show saying the book club ad free podcasts. We’ll do these live streams where you can jump in and do some q and a. We’ll probably have some exclusive live streams with folks that, um, you know, you guys can do. Again, I look at the tiers, it’s all kind of tiered out that way as well. Um, and, uh, yeah, really excited to, to be launching this and developing the community on the PT side of things.

Kyle Buller: Like obviously we’ve been doing that through the podcast, through events, um, but I feel like a lot of our community building has been really focused and vital. And so to be able to [01:00:00] expand the things that we’ve learned about that, um, to our wi wider audience, for those that, you know, vital ISS a big investment that might not be part of your path, um, to really start to bring it to the larger.

Kyle Buller: Larger PT community and our supporters and listeners. So yeah, if you wanna support us, if you wanna join our community, second alex today.com/navigators and we’re excited to, to launch this and meet you

Joe Moore: over

Kyle Buller: there.

Joe Moore: Alright everybody, thank you so much for tuning in. Uh, we’ll get this out on a regular podcast soon and just really appreciate you all being part of this project that’s been amazing over the last nine and a half years.

Joe Moore: So coming up on 10 soon. Crazy. And um, good god. Yeah. Learned a lot. Yeah. Um, yeah. So thank you Kyle. Thank you everybody and we’ll see you all in the next episode.

Kyle Buller: Alright, thank you everybody. Take care.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 30, 2025October 7, 2025

Mary Carreón — Censorship, Psychedelic Media & Policy Crosscurrents

Joe and Mary dive into how platform censorship and shifting algorithms have reshaped psychedelic media, why DoubleBlind moved to a “newsletter-first” model, and what that’s revealed about true audience engagement. They reflect on the post-2024 MDMA decision headwinds, state-level policy moves (wins and losses), and how funding, politics, and culture continue to reconfigure the field. They also explore alternatives to alcohol, chronic pain research, reciprocity around iboga/ibogaine, and lessons from PS25 (MAPS’ Psychedelic Science 2025).

Highlights & themes

  • From platforms to inboxes: Social and search suppression (IG/FB/Google) throttled harm-reduction journalism; DoubleBlind’s pivot to email dramatically improved reach and engagement.
  • Post-MDMA decision reality: Investment cooled; Mary frames it as painful but necessary growth—an ecosystem “airing out” rather than a catastrophic pop.
  • Policy pulse: Mixed year—some state measures stalled (e.g., MA), others advanced (e.g., NM; ongoing Colorado process). Rescheduling cannabis may add complexity more than clarity.
  • Censorship paradox: Suppressing education makes use less safe; independent outlets need community support to keep harm-reduction info visible.
  • Chronic pain & long COVID: Emerging overlaps and training efforts (e.g., Psychedelics & Pain communities) point beyond a psychiatry-only frame.
  • Alcohol alternatives: Low-dose or occasional psychedelic use can shift habits for some; Mary stresses individual context and support beyond any single substance.
  • Reciprocity & iboga: Rising interest (including from right-leaning funders) must include Indigenous consultation and fair benefit-sharing; pace of capitalism vs. community care is an active tension.
  • PS25 field notes: Smaller, more manageable vibe than 2023; fewer “gold-rush” expectations; in-person dialogue beats online flame wars.

Notable mentions

  • DoubleBlind: Newsletter-first publishing; nurturing new writers and reported stories.
  • Psychedelics & Pain Association / Clusterbusters: Community-driven models informing care and research (cluster headache protocols history).
  • Books & media: Body Autonomy (Synergetic Press anthology); Joanna Kempner’s work on cluster headaches – Psychedelic Outlaws; Lucy Walker’s forthcoming iboga film.
  • Compounds to watch: LSD (under-studied relative to MDMA), 2C-B, 5-MeO-DMT (synthetic focus), and broader Shulgin-inspired families.
Transcript

This transcript was automatically generated and may contain minor errors or inaccuracies.

Mary Carreon: [00:00:00] Okay, I’m gonna send it to my dad because he wants to know. Here

Joe Moore: we go. Yeah, send it over. So, hi everybody. We’re live Joe here with Mary Anne, how you doing today?

Mary Carreon: I’m great Joe. How are you?

Joe Moore: Lovely. I actually never asked you how to pronounce your last name does say it right?

Mary Carreon: Yes, you did. You said it perfectly

Joe Moore: lovely.

Joe Moore: Um, great. So it’s been a bit, um, we are streaming on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitch X and Kick, I guess. Yeah. Kick meta. Meta doesn’t let me play anymore. Um,

Mary Carreon: you’re in forever. Timeout. I got it. I got it. Yeah.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I think they found a post the other day from 2017. They didn’t like, I’m like, oh cool. Like neat, you

Mary Carreon: know, you know.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. That happened to me recently, actually. Uh, I had a post taken down from 2018 about, uh, mushroom gummies and yeah, it was taken down and I have strikes on my account now. So

Joe Moore: Do you get the thing where they ask you if you’re okay?

Mary Carreon: Yes, with, but like with my searches though, [00:01:00] like if I search something or, or someone’s account that has, uh, like mushroom or psychedelic or LSD or something in it, they’ll be like, mm-hmm are you okay?

Mary Carreon: And then it recommends getting help. So

Joe Moore: it’s like, to be fair, I don’t know if I’m okay, but Yeah, you’re like, probably not. I don’t really want your help. Meta. Yeah.

Mary Carreon: You’re like, I actually do need help, but not from you. Thanks. Yeah,

Joe Moore: yeah, yeah.

Mary Carreon: So not from the techno fascists.

Joe Moore: Oh, good lord. Yeah. Uh, we’ll go there.

Joe Moore: I’m sure.

Mary Carreon: I know. I just like really dove right there. Sorry. Yeah. All right, so let’s,

Joe Moore: um, before we go, let’s give people like a bit of, you know, high kicks on, on who is Mary, where you working these days and what are you doing?

Mary Carreon: Yeah, thank you. My name is Mary Carryon and I am forever and first and foremost a journalist.

Mary Carreon: I have been covering, I say the plant legalization spaces for the past decade. It’s, it’s been nine and a half years. Uh, on January 3rd it will be [00:02:00] 10 years. And I got my start covering cannabis, uh, at OC Weekly. And from there went to High Times, and from there went to Mary Jane, worked for Snoop Dogg. And then, uh, I am now.

Mary Carreon: Double blind. And I have become recently, as of this year, the editor in chief of Double Blind, and that’s where I have been currently sinking my teeth into everything. So currently, you know, at this moment I’m an editor and I am basically also a curator. So, and, and somebody who is a, uh, I guess an observer of this space more than anything these days.

Mary Carreon: Um, I’m not really reporting in the same way that I was. Um, but still I am helping many journalists tell stories and, uh, I feel kind of like a story midwife in many ways. Just like helping people produce stories and get the, get the quotes, get the angles that need to be discussed, get the sentences structures right, and, um, uh, helping [00:03:00] sometimes in a visionary kind of, uh, mindset.

Mary Carreon: So yeah, that’s what I’m doing these days.

Joe Moore: Oh, there it is. Oh, there you are. Love that. And um, you know, it’s important to have, um, editors who kind of really get it from a lot of different angles. I love that we have a lot of alignment on this kind of, and the drug war thing and kind of let’s, uh, hopefully start developing systems that are for people.

Joe Moore: Yeah, absolutely. If you wanna just say that. Yeah, absolutely.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, absolutely.

Joe Moore: So, um, yeah, I almost 10 years in January. That’s great. We um, it’s so crazy that it’s been that long. I think we just turned nine and a half, so we’re maybe just a few, a few months shorter than your I love it. Plant medicine reporting career.

Joe Moore: That’s great. I love it. Um, yeah, so I think. I think one of the first times we chatted, [00:04:00] um, I think you were doing a piece about two cb Do you, do you have any recollection of doing a piece on two cb?

Mary Carreon: I do, yes. Yes. Wait, I also remember hitting you up during an Instagram live and I was like, are you guys taking any writers?

Mary Carreon: And you guys were like writers, I mean, maybe depending on the writer.

Joe Moore: And I was like, I was like, I dunno how that works.

Mary Carreon: Like me. Yeah.

Joe Moore: Yeah. It was fun. It was fun to work with people like yourself and like get pieces out there. And eventually we had an awesome editor for a bit and that was, that was really cool to be able to like support young startup writers who have a lot of opinions and a lot of things to point out.

Joe Moore: There’s so much happening. Um, there was so much fraud in like wave one. Of kind of the psychedelic investment hype. There’s still some, but it’s lesser. Um, and it’s really a fascinating space still. Like changing lives, changing not just lives, right? Like our [00:05:00] perspective towards nearly everything, right?

Joe Moore: Yeah.

Mary Carreon: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, it’s interesting because the space has matured. It’s evolved. It’s different than it was even, what a, I mean, definitely nine years ago, but even five years ago, even four years ago, even last year, things are different. The landscape is different than it was a year ago.

Mary Carreon: And I, it’s, it’s interesting to see the politics of things. It’s interesting to see who has money these days given like how hard it is just to kind of survive in this space. And it’s interesting just to. Bear witness to all of this going down because it really is a once in a lifetime thing. Nothing is gonna look the same as it does now, as it, uh, then it will like in a, in a year from now or anything.

Mary Carreon: So it’s really, yeah. It’s interesting to take account of all of this

Joe Moore: That’s so real. Uh, maybe a little [00:06:00] too real, like it’s serious because like with everything that’s going on from, um, you know, governance, governments, ai Yes. Drug policy shifts. Drug tech shifts, yes. There’s so much interesting movement. Um, yes.

Joe Moore: You, you know, you, you kind of called it out and I think it’s really actually worth discussing here since we’re both here on the air together, like this idea that the psychedelic market, not idea, the lived experience of the psychedelic market having shifted substantially. And I, I, I think there’s a lot of causes.

Joe Moore: But I’ve never had the opportunity to really chat with you about this kind of like interesting downturn in money flowing into the space. Mm-hmm. Have you thought about it? Like what might the causes be? I’m sure you have.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Yeah, I have. Yeah. I’ve thought about it. I mean, it’s hard. Well, I don’t know. I am really not trying to point fingers and that’s not what I’m [00:07:00] trying to do here.

Mary Carreon: But I mean, I think a lot of people were really hopeful that the FDA decision last June, not last June, the previous June, a year ago, 2024, June was going to open the floodgates in terms of funding, in terms of, um. In terms of mostly funding, but also just greater opportunities for the space and, uh, greater legitimacy granted to the psychedelic medicine space.

Mary Carreon: Mm. And for those who might not know what I’m talking about, I’m talking about the, uh, FDA decision to reject, uh, MDMA assisted therapy and, um, that whole, that whole thing that happened, I’m sure if it, you didn’t even have to really understand what was going on in order to get wind of that wild situation.

Mary Carreon: Um, so, so maybe, yeah. You probably know what I’m talking about, but I, I do think that that had a great impact on this space. Do I think it was detrimental to this space? [00:08:00] I don’t think so. We are in a growth spurt, you know, like we are growing and growing pains happen when you are evolving and changing and learning and figuring out the way forward.

Mary Carreon: So I think it was kind of a natural process for all of this and. If things had gone forward like while, yeah, there probably would be more money, there would be greater opportunity in this space for people wanting to get in and get jobs and make a living and have a life for themselves in this, in this world.

Mary Carreon: I don’t know if it was, I don’t know if it would necessarily be for the betterment of the space in general for the long term. I think that we do have to go through challenges in order for the best case scenarios to play out in the future, even though that’s difficult to say now because so many of us are struggling.

Mary Carreon: So, but I, but I have hope and, and that statement is coming from a place of hope for the future of this space and this culture.

Joe Moore: Yeah. It’s, um, I’m with [00:09:00] you. Like we have to see boom bust cycles. We have to see growth and contraction just like natural ecosystems do.

Mary Carreon: Absolutely, absolutely. It has to be that way.

Mary Carreon: And if it’s not that way, then ifs, if. It’s, it like what forms in place of that is a big bubble or like a, a hot air balloon that’s inevitably going to pop, which, like, we are kind of experiencing that. But I think that the, I think that the, um, the, the air letting out of the balloon right now is a much softer experience than it would be if everything was just like a green light all the way forward, if that makes sense.

Mary Carreon: So,

Joe Moore: right. And there’s, there’s so many factors. Like I’m, I’m thinking about, uh, metas censorship like we were talking about before. Yes. Other big tech censorship, right? Mm-hmm. SEO shifts.

Mary Carreon: Oh. Um, yes, absolutely. Also, uh, there were some pretty major initiatives on the state level that did not pass also this past year that really would’ve also kind of [00:10:00] helped the landscape a little bit.

Mary Carreon: Um. In terms of creating jobs, in terms of creating opportunities for funding, in terms of having more, uh, like the perception of safer money flow into the space and that, you know, those, those things didn’t happen. For instance, the measure for in Massachusetts that didn’t go through and just, you know, other things that didn’t happen.

Mary Carreon: However, there have been really good things too, in terms of, uh, legalization or various forms of legalization, and that’s in New Mexico, so we can’t, you know, forget that there, and we also can’t forget just the movement happening in Colorado. So there are really great things happening and the, the movement is still moving forward.

Mary Carreon: Everything is still going. It’s just a little more difficult than maybe it could have been

Joe Moore: right. Yeah. Amen. Amen. Yes. But also, we

Mary Carreon: can’t forget this censorship thing. The censorship thing is a horse shit. Sorry. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to cuss, but it is, [00:11:00] but it is

Joe Moore: calling it out and it’s important to say this stuff.

Joe Moore: And you know, folks, if you want to support independent media, please consider supporting Doubleblind and psychedelics today. From a media perspective, absolutely. We wanna wanna put as much out as we can. Yes. The more supporters we have, the more we can help all of you understand what’s happening and yes.

Joe Moore: Getting you to stay safer.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, absolutely. And that’s the whole difficulty with the censorship is that psychedelics today, and Doubleblind for instance, but also Lucid News, also other, uh, other influencers, other creators in the space, they like. What all of us are doing is putting out information that is ultimately creating a safer user experience.

Mary Carreon: And so with the censorship, we are not able to do so anymore, which creates actually a lot of danger. So. Yeah, it’s, it’s difficult. The censorship is difficult, and if you are somebody who posts about psychedelics, I know that you know this and I am preaching to the choir.

Joe Moore: Yeah. So can you talk a [00:12:00] little bit about you all at Double Blind made a major shift in the last number of months towards, uh, kind of not necessarily putting everything out there and, and kind of like, um, actually I don’t even know the language you use.

Joe Moore: What’s the, what’s the language you use for the kind of model shift you took on?

Mary Carreon: Yeah, I mean, it’s great. It’s been a wild shift. It’s been a wild shift. Um, what we are currently doing is we went to a newsletter first model, which instead of just posting onto a website for everyone to see, and then, um, you know, hopefully getting SEO hits and also posting on their, then posting those stories onto Instagram and Facebook and Twitter, and hoping to get traffic through social media.

Mary Carreon: Uh, we decided that that was no longer working for us because it wasn’t, um, because the censorship is so bad on, on social media, like on Instagram, for instance, and Facebook and Twitter, well, less on Twitter, [00:13:00] but still, nonetheless on social media, the censorship is so bad. And also the censorship exists on Google.

Mary Carreon: When you Google search how to take mushrooms, double blinds is not even on. You know, our guide is not on the first page. It’s like, you know, way the heck, way the heck down there. Maybe page 2, 3, 4, 5. I don’t know. But, um, the issue, the issue with that, or, or the reason why rather that it’s that way is because Google is prioritizing, um, like rehabilitation centers for this information.

Mary Carreon: And also they are prioritizing, uh, medical information. So, like WebMD for instance. And all of these organizations that Google is now prioritizing are u are, are, are, are organizations that see psychedelic use through the lens of addiction or through drug drug abuse. So [00:14:00] again, you know, I don’t know, take it for how you want to, I’m not gonna say, I’m not gonna tell anybody like what is the right way to use their substances or whatever.

Mary Carreon: However, it’s really important to have the proper harm reduction resources and tools available. Uh, just readily available, not five pages down on a Google search. So anyways, all of that said double blind was our traffic was way down. And it was looking very bleak for a while. Just we were getting kicked off of Instagram.

Mary Carreon: We weren’t getting any traffic from social media onto our website, onto our stories. It was a, it was a vicious kind of cycle downward, and it wasn’t really working. And there was a moment there where Doubleblind almost shut down as a result of these numbers because there’s a, like you, a media company cannot sustain itself on really low page views as a result.

Mary Carreon: So what we [00:15:00] decided to do was go to a newsletter first model, which relies on our email list. And basically we are sending out newsletters three days a week of new original content, mostly, uh, sometimes on Wednesdays we repost an SEO story or something like that. Um, to just to engage our audience and to work with our audience that way, and to like to actually engage our audience.

Mary Carreon: I cannot emphasize that enough because on Instagram and on Facebook, we were only reaching like, I don’t know, not that many people, like not that many people at all. And all of that really became obvious as soon as we started sending out to our email list. And as soon as we did that, it was wild. How many, how many views to the website and also how many just open like our open rate and our click through rate were showing how our audience was reacting to our content.

Mary Carreon: In other words. [00:16:00] Social media was not a good, in, like, was not a good indicator of how our content was being received at all because people kind of weren’t even receiving it. So going to the newsletter first model proved to be very beneficial for us and our numbers. And also just reaching our freaking audience, which we were barely doing, I guess, on social media, which is, which is wild, you know, for, for a, an account that has a lot of followers, I forget at this exact moment, but we have a ton, double blind, has a ton of followers on, on Instagram.

Mary Carreon: We were, we, we get like 500 likes or, you know, maybe like. I don’t know. If you’re not looking at likes and you’re looking at views, like sometimes we get like 16 K views, which, you know, seems good, but also compared to the amount of followers who follow us, it’s like not really that great. And we’re never reaching new, like a new audience.

Mary Carreon: We’re always reaching the same audience too, [00:17:00] which is interesting because even with our news, with our, with our email list, we are still reaching new people, which is, which says just how much more fluid that space is. Mm-hmm. And it’s because it’s, because censorship does not at least yet exist in our inboxes.

Mary Carreon: And so therefore email is kind of like the underground, if you will, for this kind of content and this type of material journalism, et cetera. So, so yeah. So it, it, it has been a massive shift. It is required a lot of changes over at double blind. Everything has been very intense and crazy, but it has been absolutely worth it, and it’s really exciting that we’re still here.

Mary Carreon: I’m so grateful that Double-Blind is still around, that we are still able to tell stories and that we are still able to work with writers and nurture writers and nurture the storytelling in this space because it needs to evolve just the same way that the industry and the [00:18:00] culture and everything else is evolving.

Joe Moore: Yeah, I think, I think you’re spot on like the, when I watch our Instagram account, like, um, I haven’t seen the number change from 107 K for two years.

Mary Carreon: Absolutely. Same. And, um, same.

Joe Moore: Yeah. And you know, I think, I think there’s certain kinds of content that could do fine. I think, uh, psychedelic attorney, Robert Rush put up a comment, um, in response to Jack Coline’s account getting taken down, um, that had some good analysis, um.

Joe Moore: Of the situation. Go ahead. You had No,

Mary Carreon: no, I’m just like, you know, I can’t, when, when journalists are getting kicked off of these, of these platforms for their stories, for their reported stories, that’s like, that is a massive red flag. And that’s all I have to say. I mean, we could go into more, more details on that, but that is a [00:19:00] huge red flag.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, for sure. The, I, yeah. And like I’m sure he’ll get it back. I’m sure that’s not for good, but I think he did. Okay, great.

Mary Carreon: I think he did. Yeah. Yeah, I think he did.

Joe Moore: Yeah. So thank you. Shout out to Jack. Yeah, thanks Jack. Um, and I think, you know, there’s, there’s no one with that kind of energy out there.

Joe Moore: Um, and I’m excited to see what happens over time with him. Yeah. How he’ll unfold. Absolutely unfold. Oh yeah. It’s like, um. Crushing the beat.

Mary Carreon: Oh yeah, absolutely. Especially the political, the political beat. Like, there’s no, there’s few people who are really tackling that specific sector, which is like mm-hmm.

Mary Carreon: So exciting for a journalist.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so model shifting, like we all have to like, adapt in new ways. Kyle and I are still trying to figure out what we’re gonna do. Like maybe it is newsletter first. Like I, I realized that I hadn’t been writing for [00:20:00] years, which is problematic, um, in that like, I have a lot of things to say.

Mary Carreon: Totally.

Joe Moore: And nobody got to hear it. Um, so I started a substack, which I had complicated feelings about honestly. ’cause it’s just another. Rich person’s platform that I’m, you know, helping them get Andreessen money or whatever. And, you know, so I’m gonna play lightly there, but I will post here and there. Um, I’m just trying to figure it all out, you know, like I’ve put up a couple articles like this GLP one and Mushrooms article.

Mary Carreon: I saw that. I saw that. Really? And honestly, that’s a really, like, it’s so weird, but I don’t, like, it’s such a weird little thing that’s happening in the space. I wonder, yeah, I wonder, I wonder how that is going to evolve. It’s um, you know, a lot of people, I, I briefly kind of wrote about, um, psychedelics and the GLP, is that what it is?

Mary Carreon: GLP one.

Joe Moore: GLP one. Say Ozempic. Yeah, just, yeah, Ozempic. Yeah, exactly.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, exactly. I wrote about [00:21:00] that briefly last year and there were a bunch of people like obviously horrified, which it is kind of horrifying, but also there’s a bunch of people who believe that it is extremely cutting edge, which it also is.

Mary Carreon: So it’s really interesting, really fascinating.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, I remember Bernie Sanders saying like, if this drug gets as much traction as it needs to, it will bankrupt Medicaid. I guess that’s not really a problem anymore. Um, but, but, uh, but so like naming it real quick, like it changed the way we had to digest things, therefore, like mushrooms get digested differently and, um, some people don’t respond in the expected ways.

Joe Moore: And then there was some follow up, oh, we, in the regulated model, we just do lemon tech. And then I was like, is that legal in the regulated model? And I, I don’t know the answer still. Mm-hmm. Like there was a couple things, you know, if users know to do it, you know, I don’t, I don’t totally understand the regulated model’s so strange in Oregon, Colorado, that like, we really need a couple lawyers opinions.

Joe Moore: Right. I think

Mary Carreon: yes, of course

Joe Moore: the lawyers just gave it a [00:22:00] thumbs up. They didn’t even comment on the post, which is,

laughs: thanks guys. Um,

Joe Moore: but you know,

laughs: yeah. You’re like, thank you.

Joe Moore: Thanks and diversity of opinions. So yeah, there’s that. And like GLP ones are so interesting in that they’re, one friend reached out and said she’s using it in a microdose format for chronic neuroinflammation, which I had never heard of before.

Joe Moore: Whoa. And um, I think, you know, articles like that, my intent was to just say, Hey, researchers yet another thing to look at. Like, there’s no end to what we need to be looking at. Abso

Mary Carreon: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. You know, reporting on this space actually taught me that there’s so much just in general that isn’t being researched, whether that’s in this space, but also beyond and how, um, yeah, just how behind, actually, maybe not, maybe behind isn’t the right word, but it kind of feels from my novice and from my novice place in the, in the world and [00:23:00] understanding research, it’s.

Mary Carreon: Hard for me to see it as anything, but being behind in the research that we all really need, that’s really going to benefit humanity. But also, you know, I get that it’s because of funding and politics and whatever, whatever, you know, we can go on for days on all of that.

Joe Moore: What’s the real reason? What’s the real reason?

Joe Moore: Well, drug war.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Well, yeah, definitely the drug war. Nixon. Yeah. Yes, yes, definitely the drug war. Yeah. I mean, and just the fact that even all of the drug research that happens is, again, through the lens of addiction and drug abuse, so

Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Hard to right. Yeah. Um, like ni a is obviously really ridiculous and, and the way they approach this stuff, and Carl Hart illustrates that well, and,

Mary Carreon: oh man, yes, he does.

Joe Moore: Like, I think Fadiman’s lab in Palo Alto got shut down, like 67, 66 or 67, and like that’s, you know, that was one of the later ones,

Mary Carreon: right? And,

Joe Moore: and like,

Mary Carreon: and here we are.

Joe Moore: The amount of suffering that could have been alleviated if we [00:24:00] had not done this is. Incalculable. Um, yes. Yes. Yeah.

Mary Carreon: I mean the, yeah, it’s hard to say exactly how specifically it would be different, but it’s difficult to also not think that the fentanyl crisis and the opioid addiction rate and situation that is currently like plaguing the, the world, but particularly the United States, it’s hard to think that it wouldn’t be, like, it wouldn’t be a different scenario altogether.

Joe Moore: Right, right. Absolutely. Um, and it’s, um, it’s interesting to speculate about, right? Like Yeah. Yes. Where would we be? And

Mary Carreon: I know, I know, I know, I know it is speculation. Absolutely. But it’s like hard, as I said, it’s hard not to think that things would be different.

Joe Moore: Right. Right. Um, I like, there’s two kind of quotes, like, um, not, this one’s not really a quote.

Joe Moore: Like, we haven’t really had a [00:25:00] blockbuster psychiatric med since Prozac, and I think that was in the eighties or early nineties, which is terrifying. And then, um, I think this guy’s name is James Hillman. He is kinda like a Jungian, um, educator and I think the title of one of his books is, we’re a hundred Years Into Psychotherapy and the World is Still a Mess.

Joe Moore: And I think like those two things are like, okay, so two different very white people approaches didn’t go very far. Yes. Um, yes and

laughs: mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Thankfully, I think a lot of people are seeing that. Mm-hmm. Um, finally and kind of putting energy into different ways. Um,

Mary Carreon: yeah. Absolutely. I think, yeah, I mean, we need to be exploring the other options at this point because what is currently happening isn’t working on many fronts, but including in terms of mental health especially.

Mary Carreon: So mm-hmm. We gotta get going. Right? We [00:26:00] gotta get moving. Geez.

Joe Moore: Have you all, have you all seen much of the information around chronic pain treatments? Like I’m, I’m a founding board member with the Psychedelics and Pain Association, which has a really fun project. Oh, that’s interesting.

Mary Carreon: Um, I’ve seen some of the studies around that and it’s endlessly fascinating for obvious, for obvious reasons.

Mary Carreon: I, um, we have a writer who’s been working for a long time on a story, uh, about the chronic pain that has since. Become an issue for this, for her, for the writer. Mm-hmm. Um, since she had COVID. Mm-hmm. Since, since she is just like, COVID was the onset basically of this chronic pain. And, um, there she attended a psychedelics in pain, chronic pain conference and, uh, that has pretty much like, changed her world.

Mary Carreon: Um, well, in terms of just the information that’s out there, not necessarily that she’s painless, but it’s just, you know, offering a, a brand new, a brand new road, a brand new path that is giving her, [00:27:00] um, relief on days when the pain is, uh, substantial.

laughs: Yeah.

Mary Carreon: So that’s interesting. And a lot of people are experiencing that as well.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. So there’s, there’s a really cool set of overlap between the COVID researchers, long COVID researchers and the chronic pain people. ’cause there is Yes. This new science of pain that’s yes. Our group, PPA put out like a really robust kind of training, um, for clinicians and researchers and even patients to get more educated.

Joe Moore: And we’re, we’re getting, um, kind of boostered by cluster busters and we’re kind of leveraging a lot of what they’ve done.

Mary Carreon: Wait, what is a cluster buster?

Joe Moore: Oh gosh. Um, so they’re a 5 0 1 C3. Okay. Started with Bob Wald. Okay. Bob Wald is a cluster headache survivor. Oh, oh, oh,

Mary Carreon: okay. Got it. Got it. Yes. So they’re

Joe Moore: the charity that, um, has been really championing, um, cluster headache research because they found a protocol [00:28:00] with mushrooms.

Joe Moore: Yes, yes, yes. To eliminate. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, this really great, I

Mary Carreon: love that.

Joe Moore: This really great book was written by a Rutgers, um, I think medical sociologist or anthropologist psychedelic. Love

laughs: that.

Joe Moore: Joanna Kempner. Cool. Um, and it kind of talks about the whole, um, cluster busters saga, and it was, it was pretty cool.

Joe Moore: Nice. So they’ve been at it for about as long as maps. Um, oh wow. Maybe a little earlier. Maybe a little later.

Mary Carreon: I love that. Cool. I mean, yeah, that’s really great. That’s really great.

Joe Moore: So we’re copying their playbook in a lot of ways and Cool. We about to be our own 5 0 1 C3 and, um, nice. And that should be really fun.

Joe Moore: And, uh, the next conference is coming up at the end of next month if people wanna check that out. Psychedelic. Nice.

Mary Carreon: Nice, nice, nice. Cool.

Joe Moore: Yeah, so that, like, how I leaned into that was not only did I get a lot of help from chronic pain with psychedelics and going to Phish shows and whatever, um, you know, I, and overuse for sure helped me somehow.

Joe Moore: [00:29:00] Um, God bless. Yeah. But I, I like it because it breaks us out of the psychiatry only frame for psychedelics. Mm. And starts to make space for other categories. Mm-hmm. Is one of the bigger reasons I like it.

Mary Carreon: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Which, like, we need to be, we need to, we, no one else is gonna do it for us. We like the people in the space who are finding new uses for these substances need to be creating those, those pathways and those new niches for people to then begin studying, et cetera, and exploring and yeah.

Mary Carreon: Making, making a proper avenue for,

Joe Moore: right, right. And, you know, um, I don’t know that this is a Maha thing, so No, I’m going there, I guess, but like, how do we kind of face squarely America and the world’s drinking problems? Not [00:30:00] knowing what we know now about alcohol, you know what I mean? And then like, what are the alternatives?

Joe Moore: You know, some, some writers out there on substack are very firm that everybody needs to not do any substance. And like all psychedelics are super bad and drugs are evil, you know, famous sub stackers that I won’t name. But you know, like what is the alternative? Like, I, like we have to have something beyond alcohol.

Joe Moore: And I think you’ve found some cannabis helpful for that.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, I, you know, it’s, it’s interesting because it’s, there are, there’s definitely an argument to be made for the power of these substances in helping, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna say curb, but definitely reduce the symptoms of, uh, wanting to use or to drink or to consume a specific substance.

Mary Carreon: There’s obviously there is an argument to be made. There are, there is ano another camp of people who are kind [00:31:00] of in the, in the, in the, in the realm of using a drug to get off of a drug isn’t how you do it. However, and, and I do, it depends on the individual. It depends on the individual and the, and how that person is engaging with their own addiction.

Mary Carreon: I think for whether or not the substances work, like whether psychedelics work to help somebody kind of get off of alcohol or get off of cocaine or stop using opioids or, you know, et cetera. Mm-hmm. However, I think like, when the situation is so dire, we need to be trying everything. And if that means, like, if, like, you know, if you look at the studies for like smoking cessation or alcohol use, mushrooms do help, psilocybin does help with that.

Mary Carreon: Mm-hmm. But, you know, there’s, there’s a lot of, there’s a lot of things that also need to happen. There’s a lot of things that also need to happen in order for those, uh, that relief to maintain and to stick and to, uh, really guide [00:32:00] somebody off of those substances. Mm-hmm. It’s not just the substance itself.

Joe Moore: Right. So I’m, I’m explicitly talking like recreational alternatives, right. Like how do I Yeah. On per minute, like, am Anitas becoming helpful? Yeah, yeah. Are helpful and Yeah. Yeah. I think like even, um, normal. What we might call like normal American alcohol use. Like Yeah. That’s still like, quite carcinogenic and like, um, absolutely.

Joe Moore: We’re kind of trying to spend less as a country on cancer treatments, which I hope is true. Then how do we, how do we develop things that are, you know, not just abstinence only programs, which we know for sure aren’t great.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. They don’t work. Yeah. I don’t, it’s, it’s difficult. Mm-hmm. It’s difficult to say.

Mary Carreon: I mean mm-hmm. I don’t know. Obviously I, I, well, maybe it’s not obvious at all for people who don’t know me, but, you know, I exist in a, I exist in, in a world where recreational use is like, it’s like hard to define what recreational use is because if we are using this, if we are using mushrooms or LSD even, or MDMA, [00:33:00] you know, there are so many, there’s a lot of the therapy that can happen through the use of these substances, even if we’re not doing it, you know, with a blindfold on or whatever and yeah, I think like.

Mary Carreon: There is a decent swap that can happen if you, if you are somebody who doesn’t wanna be, you know, having like three beers a night, or if you are somebody who’s like, you know, maybe not trying to have like a bottle of wine at a night or something like that, you know, because like Americans drink a lot and a lot of the way that we drink is, um, you know, like we don’t see it as alcoholism.

Mary Carreon: Even though it could be, it could be that’s like a difficult

Joe Moore: potentially subclinical, but right there.

Mary Carreon: Um, yeah. Yeah. It’s like, you know, it’s, um, we don’t see it as that because everybody, a lot of people, not everybody, but a lot of people drink like that, if that makes sense. If you know mm-hmm. If you, if you get what I’m, if you get what I’m saying.

Mary Carreon: So, you know, I do think that there’s a lot of benefit that, I don’t [00:34:00] know, having, like a, having a mushroom, having a mushroom experience can really help. Or sometimes even like low dose, low doses of mushrooms can also really help with, like, with the. Desire to reach for a drink. Yeah, totally. And, and AMS as well.

Mary Carreon: I know that that’s also helping people a lot too. And again, outside of the clinical framework.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I’m, a lot of people project on me that I’m just like constantly doing everything all the time and I’m, I’m the most sober I’ve been since high school. You know, like it’s bonkers that like Yeah. Um, and you know, probably the healthiest event since high school too.

Joe Moore: Yeah. But it’s fa it’s fascinating that like, you know, psychedelics kind of helped get here and even if it was like For sure something that didn’t look like therapy. Yeah,

Mary Carreon: yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. I, I think, I think most of us here in this space are getting projected on as to like, you know, being like what Normies would consider druggies or something, or that we are just like, you know, high all the time.

Mary Carreon: Um, [00:35:00] I know that that is definitely something that I face regularly, like out in the world. Um, but, you know, I would also, I would also argue that. Uh, like mushrooms have completely altered my approach to health, my approach to mental health, and not even having to consume that, you know, that substance in order or that, you know, that fun fungi, in order for me to like tap into taking care of my mental health or approaching better, uh, food options, et cetera.

Mary Carreon: It’s kind of like what these, it’s like how the mushrooms continue to help you even after you have taken them. Like the messages still keep coming through if you work with them in that capacity. Right. And yeah, and also same with, same with LSD too. LSD has also kind my experiences with that have also guided me towards a healthier path as well.

Mary Carreon: I, I understand that maybe for some people it’s not that way, but, um, for me that substance is a medicine as well, [00:36:00] or it can be.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so. What are, what are some things popping up these days about like US drug policy that’s like getting exciting for you? Like, are you feeling feeling like a looming optimism about a, a major shift?

Joe Moore: Are you kind of like cautiously optimistic with some of the weird kind of mandatory minimum stuff that’s coming up or?

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I know that there was a huge, a, a pretty huge shift over at the DEA and I wish I remembered, I wish I remembered his name. The new guy who’s now, I believe the head of the DEA, I don’t know enough information about it to really feel a way.

Mary Carreon: However, I don’t think that he’s necessarily going to be serving us as a community here, uh, in the psychedelic space. I, you know, I just don’t think that that’s something that we can ever depend on with the DEA. Uh, I also don’t think that [00:37:00] the DEA is necessarily going to be. All that helpful to cannabis, like the cannabis space either.

Mary Carreon: Um, I know that, that Trump keeps kind of discussing or, or dangling a carrot around the rescheduling of cannabis. Um, for, he’s been, he’s been, but he’s doing it a lot more now. He’s been talking about it more recently. Uh, he says like, in the next like couple weeks that he’s going to have some kind of decision around that, allegedly.

Mary Carreon: But we will see also, I’m not sure that it’s going to necessarily help anybody if we reschedule two. Uh, what from schedule one to schedule th two, three, schedule three.

Joe Moore: Either way it’s like not that useful. Right. Exactly.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It’s, um, just going to probably cause a lot more red tape and a lot of confusion for the state rec markets.

Mary Carreon: So it’s like something that we, it’s like only ridden with unintentional, unintentional consequences. Unintended consequences. Mm-hmm. Because no one knows how it’s really going to [00:38:00] impact anything, um, if, if at all. But I don’t know. It’s hard, it’s hard to imagine that there won’t be any, uh, like more complex regulatory issues for business owners and also probably consumers as well.

Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. This guy’s name’s Terry Cole.

Mary Carreon: Oh, the new DEA guy.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, I don’t know much about him. Terry. Yeah. Terry, I would love to chat.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Terry, let’s talk. I’m sure your people

Joe Moore: are watching. Yeah. So like, just let him know. We wanna chat. Yeah. We’ll come to DC and chat it out. Um, yeah. It’s, um, but yeah, I, Carl Hart’s solution to me makes like almost most of the sense in the world to just end the scheduling system Absolutely.

Joe Moore: And start building some sort of infrastructure to keep people safe. That’s clearly not what we have today.

Mary Carreon: No. But building an infrastructure around the health and wellness and uh, safety of [00:39:00] people is the exact opposite system that we have currently right now. Because also the scheduling system has a lot to do with the incarceration in the United States and the criminal just, or the criminal system.

Mary Carreon: So, so yeah, like we can’t disentangle the two really.

Joe Moore: It just started, um, I feel negligent on this. Uh, synergetic press put out a book like a year or two ago called Body Autonomy. Mm-hmm. Um, did that one come across your desk at all? Mm-hmm. No. I wish basically contributed. Oh, nice. A number of people. So it’s both like, um.

Joe Moore: Drug policy commentary and then like sex work commentary. Oh, nice. And it was like high level, like love that really, really incredible love that detailed science based conversations, which is not what we have around this. Like, that doesn’t make me feel good. So you should go to jail kind of stuff. Or like, I’m gonna humiliate you for real though.

Joe Moore: Ticket. Yeah,

Mary Carreon: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh God. Uh, when you think about it like that, it just really also shows [00:40:00] just the uh, um, the level at which religion has also kind of fundamentally infused itself into the scheduling system, but also our laws, you know, like what you just said, this like, shame-based, I’m going to embarrass you and make you into a criminal when you know actually you are a law for the most part, a law abiding citizen, with the exception of this one thing that you’re doing for.

Mary Carreon: A, your survival and or your, like, your feeling good, wanting to feel good addressing pain. Um, there’s a large, uh, like noise coming out of the front yard of my house right now. Hold on. Just a, it doesn’t sound too bad. It doesn’t sound too bad. Okay. Okay, good. Not at all. Not at all. Okay. Yeah, I had

Joe Moore: people working on my roof all day and somehow it worked out.

Joe Moore: Oh, good. Um, yeah. Um, yeah, it’s, it’s fascinating and I, I’ve been coming around like, I, I identify as politically confused, [00:41:00] um, and I feel like it’s the most honest way I can be. Um,

Mary Carreon: I am also politically confused these days, impossible to align with any, uh, party or group currently in existence at this exact juncture in American history.

Joe Moore: I can’t find any that I want to throw my dice in with. Nah. This idea of like fucking way being. Like what is the most humane way to do government as a way it’s been put to me recently. And that’s interesting. So it comes down to like coercion, are we caring for people, things like that. And um, I don’t think we’re doing it in a super humane way right now.

Mary Carreon: Um, we, yeah, I am pretty sure that even if there was, I mean, I think that even if we looked at the data, the data would support that we are not doing it in a humane way.

Joe Moore: So

Mary Carreon: unfortunately, and

Joe Moore: you know, this whole tech thing, like the tech oligarch thing, you kind of dropped at the beginning and I think it’s worth bringing that back because we’re, we’re on all [00:42:00] these tech platforms.

Joe Moore: Like that’s kind of like how we’re transmitting it to people who are participating in these other platforms and like, you know, it’s not all meta. I did turn on my personal Facebook, so everybody’s watching it there. I hope. Um, see if that count gets,

Mary Carreon: um,

Joe Moore: but you know, this idea that a certain number of private corporations kind of control.

Joe Moore: A huge portion of rhetoric. Um, and you know, I think we probably got Whiffs of this when Bezos bought Washington Post and then Yes. You know, Musk with X and like yes. You know, is this kind of a bunch of people who don’t necessarily care about this topic and the way we do, and they’re like in larger topics too about humane government and like, you know, moving things in good directions.

Joe Moore: Um, I don’t know, thoughts on that rift there as it relates to anything you, wherever you wanna go. Yeah.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. I mean, I don’t think that they are looking at, I don’t think that they are looking [00:43:00] at it the way that we are. I don’t think that they can see it from their vantage point. Um, I think that like, in the, in a similar way that so many CEOs who run businesses have no fucking clue about what’s actually happening in their businesses and the actual workers and, and employees of their businesses can tell them in more detail.

Mary Carreon: Far more detail about what’s actually happening on the, on the floor of their own business. Uh, I think that it is something like that. However, that’s not to say that, you know, these, these CEOs who employ people who build the A algorithm are obviously guided to create the limitations on us as people who speak about drugs, et cetera, and are creating a algorithm that ultimately is looking at things in a very blanket way in terms of, uh, like we’re probably seen on the same level as like drug dealers, if that makes sense.

Mary Carreon: Which is obviously a much, you know, there’s, [00:44:00] it’s a very different thing. Um, so, you know, there’s like these CEOs are giving directions to their employees to ultimately create systems that harm. Information flow and inform and, and like the information health of, of platforms and of just people in general.

Mary Carreon: So it’s hard to say because there’s nuance there, obviously, but I would bet you that someone like Elon Musk doesn’t really have a full grasp as to the, the nuances and details of what’s even happening within, on the ground floor of his businesses. Because that’s like, not how CEOs in America run, run, and operate.

Mary Carreon: They’re stupid companies. So, so yeah. And I feel like that, like, that’s across the board, like that’s across the board. That’s how I, that’s probably how Zuck is operating with Meta and Facebook, et cetera. And yeah, just likewise and across, across the whole, [00:45:00] across the whole spectrum.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I think, um, a thing.

Joe Moore: Then as the people like, we need to keep looking at how can we keep each other informed. And that’s kind of circling back to drug journalism like we do and like, um, other, other sorts of journalism that doesn’t really get the press it deserves. Right. And I’ve been getting far more content that I find more valuable off of tragically back on Zucks platform like IG is getting me so much interesting content from around the world that no major outlet’s covering.

Mary Carreon: That’s so interesting. Like what? Like what would you say?

Joe Moore: Oh, um, uh, certain, um, violent situations overseas. Oh, oh, got it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, um, you know, that America’s paying for, so like, you know, I just don’t love that I don’t have a good, you know, journalistic source I can [00:46:00] point to, to say, hey, like right.

Joe Moore: These writers with names, with addresses, like, and offices here. Yes. You know, they did the work and they’re held, you know, they’re ethical journalists, so yes. You can trust them. Right. You know what I mean? Yes,

Mary Carreon: yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, all of this makes everything so much harder for determining, like, the censorship specifically makes it so much harder for the people to determine like, what’s real, what’s not.

Mary Carreon: Because, because of exactly what you just said. Mm-hmm. Like, you know, we are, we are basically what that means, like what is required of the people and people who are consuming information is becoming a smart consumer and being able to determine what’s real, what’s not. How can we trust this individual?

Mary Carreon: How can we not, which isn’t analysis process that all of us need to be sharpening every single day, especially with the advent of AI and, uh, how quickly this, this type of content is coming at all of us. Like, especially if you’re on TikTok, which many of us are, you know, like information comes flying at you 3000 miles an hour, and it’s sometimes [00:47:00] really difficult to determine what’s real, what’s not, because AI is.

Mary Carreon: AI is not where it’s going to be, and it still is in its nascent phase. However, it’s still pretty fucking good and it’s still very confusing on there. So, so again, like the media literacy of the people needs to be sharpened every single day. We cannot be on there, we cannot be on the internet existing.

Mary Carreon: That everything that we are seeing is real. Whether that’s about, you know, these, um, the violence overseas, uh, happening at the hands of the United States, whether that is, uh, even drug information like, you know, et cetera, all of all of it. Or just like news about something happening at Yellowstone National Park or something that is happening in the, uh, at like.

Mary Carreon: Um, like potential riots also happening at protests in downtown la, et cetera. Like all, all of it, we need to be so careful. And I think what that also, like, one way that [00:48:00] we can adjust and begin to develop our media literacy skills is talking to people maybe who are there, reaching out to people who are saying that they were there and asking them questions, and also sussing that out.

Mary Carreon: You know, obviously we can’t do that for all situations, but definitely some of them.

Joe Moore: Yeah, absolutely. Like,

Joe Moore: um, a quick pivot. Mm-hmm. Were you at PS 25?

Mary Carreon: Yes, I was. What did I think? Uh, you know, I, I was running around like crazy at this one. I felt like I didn’t even have a second to breathe and I feel like I didn’t even have a second to really see anybody. I was like, worry. I was jumping from one stage to the next.

Mary Carreon: However, I would say, uh, one of, one of the things that I have said and how I felt about it was that I felt that this, this event was smaller than it was two years ago. And I preferred that I preferred the reduction in size just because it was, uh, less over, less overwhelming [00:49:00] in an, in an already very overwhelming event.

Mary Carreon: Um, but I thought that from the panels that I did see that everyone did a really great job. I thought that maps, you know, it’s impressive that maps can put on an event like that. Um, I also was very cognizant that the suits were there in full effect and, uh, you know, but that’s not unusual. That’s how it was last time as well.

Mary Carreon: And, um, I felt that there was

Mary Carreon: a, uh, like the, the, the level of excitement and the level of like opportunity and pro, like the prosperous. The like, prospect of prosperity coming down the pipeline like tomorrow, you know, kind of vibe was different than last time. Mm-hmm. Which that was very present at the one, two years ago, uh, which was the last PS psychedelic science.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Um, anyways. Yeah. But it was, you know, it was really nice to see everybody. [00:50:00] I feel like in-person events is a great way for everybody in the psychedelic space to be interacting with each other instead of like keyboard warrioring against each other, you know, uh, over the computer and over the internet.

Mary Carreon: I think that, um, yeah, uh, being in person is better than being fighting each other over the internet, so, yeah.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. People seem to be a little bit more civil in person.

Mary Carreon: Exactly. Exactly. Mm-hmm. And I think that that is something that we all need to be considering more often, and also inviting people from across the aisle to your events and creating peace, because in person it’s a little different than it is.

Mary Carreon: When you have the opportunity to, uh, yeah, like keyboard attack someone over the internet, it’s like, yeah. It’s just so silly. So silly. We look like fools. Like we look like absolute idiots doing that. And you know what? I cannot sit here and say that I haven’t looked like an idiot. So, you know, it’s like I’m not, I’m not talking from like a high horse over here, but, but you know, it’s like, it’s [00:51:00] better when it’s in person.

Mary Carreon: I feel like there’s like more civil engagements that we can all have.

Joe Moore: It’s practice, you know? Yeah. We’re learning. Yeah. We are. We should be learning, including us, and yes, of course. Um, I, I play a subtler game these days and, uh, you know, I, I, I, it’s better when we all look a lot better in my opinion, because yes, we can inform policy decisions, we can be the ones helping inform really important things about how these things should get implemented and absolutely right.

Joe Moore: Like,

Mary Carreon: absolutely. Yeah, it does. It does. Nobody, any service, especially these medicines, especially these sacraments, especially these plants, these molecules, et cetera, if we are all sitting here fighting each other and like calling each other names and trying to dunk on one another, when like in reality, we are also all kind of pushing for the same thing more or less.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. So a thing that [00:52:00] I, it’s a, it’s kind of a, I, I had a great time at PS 25. I have no, no real complaints. I just wish I had more time. Yeah, same. Um, same. Yeah. Our booth was so busy. It was so fun. Just good. And it was like, good. I, I know. It was really good. I’m trying to say it out loud. I get to talk at the conference before Rick did.

laughs: Oh, oh,

Joe Moore: the morning show they put us on at like seven 30 in the morning or something crazy. Oh my god. It was early. I dunno if it was seven 30.

Mary Carreon: That’s so early. That’s so early.

Joe Moore: Yeah, right. Like that’s crazy. I got zero nightlife in That’s okay. Um, I was not, I was there for work. Yeah,

Mary Carreon: yeah. I was

Joe Moore: jealous. I didn’t party, but you know, whatever.

Joe Moore: Yeah, yeah.

Mary Carreon: I did not party this time really in the same way that I did at PS 20. Was it 2023?

Joe Moore: 23, yeah. 23. I only stay up till 11 one night in 23. Nice.

Mary Carreon: Okay. Um, okay.

Joe Moore: So I behaved, I have a pattern of behaving. ’cause I like That’s good. I’m so bent outta shape inside going into these things. I’m like, I know, I know.

Joe Moore: And, and I’m like, oh, all [00:53:00] my friends are gonna be there. It’s gonna be great. And then it’s like, yeah. It’s mostly friends and only a little bit of stress. Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah,

Mary Carreon: yeah. I had a, I had a great time. It was really good seeing everybody again. Like you, I wish that I had more time with people. Like there are people that I like didn’t even see who are my friends,

Joe Moore: so, which Yeah.

Joe Moore: Which is sad. That’s like a subtext in, in like the notes coming away from 25. Is that the, um, American Right, if we wanna call it that, is very interested in this stuff. Oh yeah. Like the Texas establishment. Oh yeah. Um, the Texas contingent, right? They’re deep. They’re real deep. Mm-hmm. I have, um,

Mary Carreon: let’s talk about that more.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. So

Joe Moore: it’s optimistic in, in some sense that psychedelic science is getting funded more. By states. ’cause the feds aren’t stepping up. Right. I love that. Right. Yeah. Like, Hey feds, look what we can do. And you can’t somehow, and [00:54:00] then, um, we’ll see if state rights stays around for a while longer, maybe, maybe not.

Joe Moore: And then the other part is like, is there a slippery slope given the rhetoric around addiction and the rise in interest in iboga for compulsory addiction treatment with psychedelics or, or compulsory mental health treatments with psychedelics because of the recent, it’s illegal to be a person without housing.

Joe Moore: Um, and you’re gonna get put in treatment. Mm. Like, that’s now a thing. So like, I don’t know, I don’t think forced treatment’s good at all. I, and I don’t think like, um, like the data is something like 15% effective, maybe less. Right. Right. It’s not a good use of money. I don’t know. We’re, let’s, I. You can go there if you want, and riff on that, or if you wanna talk about like, Texas, um, Arizona more generally.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. I mean, I will just say this, I also don’t really believe that forced treatment is like good, you [00:55:00] know, data

Joe Moore: says it’s bad.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. Yeah. I also, yeah, I mean, it’s like, I don’t know. Yeah, that’s, it’s complex. It’s a complex issue. I also don’t think it’s good, but I also do think that we need a much better framework and foundation for like, if people do want the help, helping them get it.

Mary Carreon: Much more easily and in a way that’s going to be beneficial for them. Um, and I don’t think that that system or that pathway currently exists as we saw in, uh, with, with, um, measure 1 0 9 and the failure of measure 1 0 9 or, or was it Measure 1 0 10, 1 10, measure one 10 in Oregon.

Joe Moore: But did you see the response yesterday or two days ago?

Joe Moore: No, I didn’t. No, I didn’t. I’ll I’ll send it to you later. Okay. So the university did the research, um, Portland State University did the research Yes. And said, Hey, look, there was actually 20 other things that were higher priority. Like that actually influenced this increase in overdoses, not our law.

Mary Carreon: Right.

Mary Carreon: Yes. It was really COVID for Okay. [00:56:00] Like for, yeah. Right. Absolutely. Also, there was not a. Like there was not a framework in place that allowed people to get off the street should they want to, or you know, like, like you just can’t really have a, all drugs are legal, or small amounts of drugs are legal without also offering or creating a structure for people to get help.

Mary Carreon: That, that’s, you can’t do one without the other. Unfortunately. That’s just like a, that’s faulty from the start. So that’s all I’ll really say about that. And I don’t think that that had fully been implemented yet, even though it was something that wasn’t ideal for the, um, for the, for the measure. And I believe it was measure one 10, not measure 1 0 9, to be clear.

Mary Carreon: Measure one 10. Um, yes, but confirmed one 10 confirmed one 10, yes. Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, uh, that’s, you know, that’s kind of what I’ll say. That’s what I’ll, that’s where I’ll leave that portion. Mm-hmm. You know? Uh, but yeah, forced treatment. I don’t know. [00:57:00] We can’t be forcing, forcing people to do stuff like that.

Mary Carreon: I don’t know. It’s not gonna, it’s, yeah, it doesn’t seem

Joe Moore: very humane.

Mary Carreon: Yeah. No. And it also probably isn’t gonna work, so,

Joe Moore: right. Like, if we’re being conservative with money, like, I like tote, like to put on Republican boots once in a while and say like, what does this feel like? And then say like, okay, if we’re trying to spend money smartly, like where do we actually get where we want to be?

Joe Moore: And then sometimes I put on my cross and I’m like, okay, if I’m trying to be Christian, like where is the most, like, what is the most Christian behavior here in terms of like, what would the, you know, buddy Jesus want to do? And I’m just like, okay, cool. Like, that doesn’t seem right. Like those things don’t seem to align.

Joe Moore: And when we can find like compassionate and efficient things, like isn’t that the path? Um,

Mary Carreon: compassionate and t. Yeah, even, I don’t know, I don’t know if it looks lefty these days, but Yeah, I know what you mean. Yeah, I know what you mean. I know what you mean. Yeah. [00:58:00] Yeah. Um, yeah, it’s complicated. It’s complicated, you know, but going back, kind of, kind of pivoting and going back to what you were talking about in regards to the subtext, some of the subtext of like, you know, where psychedelic medicine is currently getting its most funding.

Mary Carreon: You know, I do believe that that was an undercurrent at psychedelic science. It was the, the iboga conversation. And there’s, there’s a lot, there’s a lot happening with the Iboga conversation and the Iboga conversation and, um, I am really trying to be open to listening to everyone’s messages that are currently involved in.

Mary Carreon: That rise of that medicine right now? Um, obviously, yeah, we will see, we’ll see how it goes. There’s obviously a lot of people who believe that this is not the right move, uh, just because there’s been no discussions with, uh, the Wii people of West Africa and, you know, because of [00:59:00] that, like we are not talking to the indigenous people about how we are using their medicine, um, or medicine that does like that comes from, that comes from Africa.

Mary Carreon: Um, also with that, I know that there is a massive just devastating opioid crisis here that we need to do something about and drug crisis that we need to be helping with. And this medicine is something that can really, really, really help. Um, I find it absolutely fascinating that the right is the most interested party in moving all of this forward, like psychedelic medicine forward.

Mary Carreon: And I, I currently have my popcorn and I am watching and I am eating it, and I am going to witness whatever goes down. Um, but I’m, I, I hope that, uh, things are moving in a way that is going to be beneficial for the people and also not completely leave behind the indigenous communities where this medicine comes from.

Joe Moore: [01:00:00] Mm-hmm.

Mary Carreon: We’ll see how it goes. Yeah. We’ll see how it goes. We’ll see how it goes. It

Joe Moore: would be lovely if we can figure it out. Um, I know, and I think, uh, Lucy Walker has a film coming out on Iboga. Mm. I got to see it at Aspen, um, symposium last summer, and it was really good. Mm. So I’m sure it’ll be cut different, but it’s so good and it tells that story.

Joe Moore: Okay. Um, in a helpful way. I’m gonna, I, yeah. I always say I’m gonna do this. I’m like, if I have space, maybe I’ll be able to email her and see if we can screen it in Colorado. But it’s like a brilliant film. Yeah. Cool. This whole reciprocity conversation is interesting and challenging. And so challenging being one of the few countries that did not sign onto the Nagoya protocol.

Joe Moore: Absolutely. We’re not legally bound, you know, some countries are

Mary Carreon: I know. Yes, yes, yes. So

Joe Moore: we’re, you know, how do we do that? How do we do that skillfully? We still haven’t done it with, um, first Nations folks around their [01:01:00] substances. Um, I think mushrooms are a little flexible and account of them being global, um, from Africa to Ireland and beyond.

Joe Moore: And, but you know, that’s, we still want to give a nod to the people in Mexico for sure. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah, it’s, I had some fun commentary there that I would love to flesh out someday. Uh, but yeah, it’s not for today.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, there’s, yeah, there’s obviously, there’s obviously a lot with the conversation of reciprocity here and, um, I know, I, I don’t know.

Mary Carreon: I, I, what I do know is that we need to be listening to the indigenous people, not just listening to them second, like secondhand or listening to them, uh, once we have moved something forward, like actually consulting with them as the process goes. And that, you know, the way that both parties move, indigenous folks and, uh, western folks move, uh, are at inherently different paces.

Mary Carreon: And, [01:02:00] um, I just hope, and I wish, and I, I hope, I just hope that, uh, Western what, like the Western party, the western folks who are diving into these medicines. Slow the fuck down and listen and just are able to at least make one right move. Just one, just like you. Like it’s, doesn’t have to be this, it doesn’t have to be that hard.

Mary Carreon: Although the pace of capitalism usually propels, uh, the western folks at, at a much quicker rate than, um, yeah. Then it’s like at, at a dangerous rate, I believe through the eyes of indigenous folks. So we’ll see how it goes. Michael

Joe Moore: Douglas from Wall Street, like, it was like actually the devil, and like, I think there’s like this, this like capitalism will, somebody will do it if I don’t, and so, like, you’re right.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Speed. So if I choose to try to slow down Yeah. Immediate loss for me. Yeah. As an individual. Yeah. That’s how it’s perceived. Yes. Let’s not go deep down there. Where do you go? Where do, do sit with l [01:03:00] SD and md MA?

Mary Carreon: Where do I sit? Where do you mean? Like,

Joe Moore: should we, should we slow down with LSD and MD MAI

Mary Carreon: don’t think so.

Mary Carreon: I don’t think so. I don’t, I don’t think so. I mean, you know. It’s different with the molecules. It’s different with the molecules, I believe. Um, I think that we actually should be looking more towards, I think that we should be looking more at LSD in terms of the benefits that we could be reaping from that molecule, uh, in a similar way that we have been looking at MDMA.

Mary Carreon: We’ve been looking at MDMA for a very long time, and I think that we should give LSD the proper, uh, like the proper, uh, scientific analysis. And I don’t think that we are because of its, you know, like the way that it’s been, uh, projected through history. So, so yeah. Um, that’s how I, that’s how I feel about that.

Mary Carreon: And I think that, uh, there’s a safe way to do these substances and yeah. What about you, Joe?

Joe Moore: I’m gonna vote for two cb, I’m gonna vote for, um, five M-E-O-D-M-T ’cause there’s no indigenous use, [01:04:00] um, with the toad. There was YoPo and some other things, but like there wasn’t, wasn’t like we’re doing it today. Um, and then, okay, there’s so many other Shogun molecules we could look at and, I don’t know, three mmc, four MC.

Joe Moore: We got some, you know, Dr. Z molecules. That guy’s extraordinary. Dr.

Mary Carreon: Z.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm.

Mary Carreon: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Uh, yeah, he was gonna headline our conference in LA when we were still gonna do that.

Mary Carreon: Oh, oh yeah. Oh yeah. Way back. I, yeah. Oh wow. I remember, I remember when you guys were doing that.

Joe Moore: It was gonna be fun. Yeah. Anyway, um, anything you want to give a shout out to as we kind of wrap up here?

Mary Carreon: I would just like to shout out you, Joe. Thank you for having me on. Thank you for still standing and existing and leading. Psychedelics today into the future. I think that’s really commendable and noble of you given how difficult it is to be running a media company, particularly in [01:05:00] psychedelics, but in general in media at large.

Mary Carreon: And, uh, I would like to also say, if you don’t follow me on Instagram, you can find me at Mary Prankster. That’s Mary, MARY, YY prankster. Uh, you can find me across social media there and also sign up for Double Blinds Newsletter. We send out, we send out, uh, stories. Uh, we have great journalists writing stories for us.

Mary Carreon: Uh, we send out Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and yeah, that’s pretty much it.

Joe Moore: Mary, carry on. Thank you so much for joining us and I hope we get to do more of this.

Mary Carreon: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you, Joe.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 26, 2025November 25, 2025

Joe & Kyle Catch-Up: Vital Cohort 4, Breathwork, Community & a Psychedelic News Roundup

Headshots of Kyle Buller and Joe Moore from Psychedelics Today

Joe and Kyle celebrate Vital Cohort 4 and reflect on why Vital is more than a 12-month psychedelic-informed training—it’s a living community (alumni webinars, discussion groups, cross-cohort meetups). Many grads aren’t rushing to facilitate; they’re choosing integration, harm reduction, education, and local community building. Next cohort dates are TBD —applications and email sign-ups are open.

Breathwork in Breckenridge (this weekend)
Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork returns Fri–Sun. The last workshop reinforced how powerful the format is for bonding, somatic processing, and ongoing peer support.

Music & tech: fail-safe playbook

  • Keep redundant sources: primary laptop with WAV/FLAC (VLC/Mixxx), secondary device/phone, and a small Bluetooth speaker as last resort.
  • Redundant mixers/interfaces, tested cables, simple signal flow.
  • Pre-flight the exact rig; monitor for digital artifacts/grounding noise.
  • Use offline playlists + Do Not Disturb (actually test it).

Why community matters now
With AI accelerating “dead-internet” dynamics, trusted human networks—book clubs, film clubs, local meetups—are essential. Skills for the moment: digital security hygiene and discernment (evaluating claims, sources, and inner signals).

News & trends

  • Alaska: statewide psilocybin initiative begins signature gathering.
  • New Mexico: momentum toward group psilocybin care (cost-cutting models; ~2-year horizon).
  • TBI & psychedelics: expanding research interest (ibogaine/5-MeO imaging work; anti-inflammatory angles).
  • Colorado & iboga: advisory board backs therapeutic use and encourages Nagoya Protocol reciprocity; federal import/legal nuances remain.

Harm-reduction notes
Beware gas-station/head-shop “psychedelic” edibles labeled as “proprietary blends.” Ask for COAs and clear ingredients; understand test-kit limits (chocolates are tricky). For injections (even “legal” clinics), ask about sterile technique, water, dosing, and sourcing.

Get involved

  • Navigators: join our membership for exclusive livestreams, book/film clubs, courses, and meetups.
  • Vital: apply or join the interest list—dates announced soon.
Transcript

This transcript was automatically generated and may contain minor errors or inaccuracies.

Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Joe here with Kyle. How are you doing today, Kyle?

Kyle Buller: Pretty good, Joe. How are you doing? It’s, uh, been a while since we’ve done one of these.

Joe Moore: It’s, um, not fair to us or the, or the world, so I’m glad we’re finally doing it.

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah, so, um, today we get a lot to chat about.

Joe Moore: We wanna chat about like our community platform, breath work that’s coming up, uh, this weekend. And, um, probably some news items that are gonna be worth discussing too. So yeah, very excited to get into all of it. Um, yeah, and I guess congratulations to us and, um, for graduating Vital Cohort four. Just, uh, was it this past Sunday?

Kyle Buller: Yeah, this Sunday, cohort four. So if you’re chiming in here, congrats. And yeah, it’s been a journey, so yeah, it’s been been awesome.

Joe Moore: It’s really, really cool, um, to have finally been a part of a [00:01:00] graduation. Like I saw you and the rest of the team do it. I’ve, you know, popped in and watched a little bit, but like Vital, vital was kind of traditionally yours and like I backed off.

Joe Moore: So it was like really cool to kind of see that and, um, participate and, uh, yeah, it was just, you know, an, a very great experience for me. How was it for you?

Kyle Buller: You know, cried a whole bunch as as usual. Um, which is always pretty funny. I never always think I’m gonna get that emotional. But, um, yeah, it’s just, I think just like the connections that we make in the program, um, it just so heartfelt.

Kyle Buller: Um, so yeah, it was, it’s always really nice to, you know, it’s sad and nice to know that people are now out there in the world and hopefully, you know, showing up in their communities in whatever way that they feel like they, they wanna show up, whether they’re educating or doing harm reduction integration, hosting retreats, just creating spaces for other people.

Kyle Buller: Um, it’s, it’s just really nice that we, there’s a lot of people [00:02:00] out there doing really awesome work, but yeah. How was it for your first time?

Joe Moore: Um, it’s kind of like emotionally overwhelming to just know that we’ve been able to help people. Um, kind of unfold who, who they want to be in the space, you know?

Joe Moore: Yeah. And just do like the adventure of self-discovery around their, you know, psychedelic future and how they want to show up and where they, what they want to do. And yeah, it was just really, really amazing ’cause it is so meaningful to people to be able to, you know, feel competent enough to share this stuff in, in helpful and safe ways.

Joe Moore: And, um, yeah, I just, I was pretty overwhelmed, honestly. And I’m just really grateful for everybody, you know, sticking with us. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, yeah, like how do you, so I guess like, not everybody listening knows all, everything about Vital, right? Like, it’s our world, so we assume it, but how do you, how do you like to talk about vital these days?

Joe Moore: Like, what is it? [00:03:00]

Kyle Buller: Yeah, I feel like it’s like shifted a whole bunch in, in ways. Obviously, you know, it’s been, um, pretty consistent where I’d say, you know, it’s our 12 month training program and psychedelic informed practice harm reduction integration. Um, so, you know, getting people really spun up on, you know, how to support people that are having psychedelic experiences, whether it’s on the, the prep side, um, for those that are, you know, doing stuff in the underground and decrim areas, really getting spun up on all the ethics of space holding and, and all that, uh, stuff.

Kyle Buller: And then the integration. But I also over the years, have felt like it’s just more than that. Um, it’s really turned into a community. Um, and I feel like that’s been a very large focus of vital is the community aspect of it. Um, really cultivating the relationships, cultivating the community between cohorts, um, and, you know, thinking about.

Kyle Buller: Like some of our [00:04:00] experiences in in Dream Shadow with that being a community. I think about like my time at Burlington College, it was a very community oriented program where it was just also beyond just learning. It was really about, it’s really about the connections that you’re starting to make with folks.

Kyle Buller: And so in some way, I feel like that is essence of vital, is it’s really community focused. Um, and I hope that shines through and it does, it does seem like that, um, with all the students that, that come through the program and all the touch points that we have too, right? Like we have like little meetups.

Kyle Buller: We do. Webinars on Mondays where some of the alumni come back and present on topics. We also have another group where we just have discussion groups that are a little bit more informal just for cohorts to mix and mingle and, and have discussion and learn from one another. So it’s, yeah. It’s also, I think, beyond just the theoretical learning aspects of it and really trying to foster that community so we can all lean on each other, um, as we always like to say, we can’t do this work alone and we [00:05:00] need people.

Kyle Buller: And so, um, I feel like that’s where, um, vital really kind of shines through.

Joe Moore: Right? Yeah. I think in a lot of ways we were trying to bring forward what we got at Dream Shadow and give people similar opportunities for kind of connection and, um, kind of, uh. It’s funny, right? Is it, is it a non-directive approach?

Joe Moore: Is it not? It’s kind of like a little bit of both. Um, yeah, and I think about that in the psychedelic container too. It’s like, is that really non-directive or is it Right. You know, a mix of growth. Exactly. Is it? Yeah. Right. It’s, it’s kind of like a scaffolding and we help you kind of climb through it and navigate your way through it.

Joe Moore: And, um, yeah. So where do you want to be in the space? Like, you could be anywhere you’d like, the, the rules right now are not very firm. Um, there’s certainly some legal consequences and we make sure to include a lot of those in our education. So, you know, be careful and be safe, everybody, but you know, there’s also edges.

na: Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Edges are where the most [00:06:00] interesting stuff happens. I think

Kyle Buller: that is true. And yeah, you know, we, I think anybody getting involved right now, like we are, everybody’s kind of pioneer on the forefront, right? Like the things are just getting developed and so it is confusing to try to navigate like, where’s my place?

Kyle Buller: How do I show up? What do I do? Um, as like a new field is emerging. Um, and, you know, people that leave vital go through, you know, a lot of people don’t end up doing any sort of facilitation, right? They, I’ve heard this multiple times. They’re like, you know, going through this program has taught me a lot and taught me like, maybe I don’t want to do this right now.

Kyle Buller: I need to learn more. Like I’m more interested in. The harm reduction and integration aspect, or I’m really interested in just creating community groups and being an educator, um, and, you know, stuff like that. And so, you know, it’s been really cool seeing, um, a bunch of our students go out there in the world and, and do stuff.

Kyle Buller: Like at psychedelic science was really nice. There was like, I think four students that had booths there. [00:07:00] Um, and they’re all kind of showing up in their own ways, whether they’re promoting like their retreat center or they’re offering education offerings in, in different, uh, like their, in their specialties.

Kyle Buller: So yeah.

Joe Moore: Yeah, that was definitely a really special feature, um, for us, I think, to seeing the success and the, the being out there in the world. Not even necessarily financial success, because that’s like, not necessarily primary, but just the fact that you’re out there in the world and active in the thing that you really wanted to be active in and, and contributing.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Yep. Yeah. So, um. Yeah, if folks wanna learn more vital psychedelic training, we don’t have our dates firmed up yet. Um, vital psychedelic training.com. We can learn more about it there. Um, what can we say about it publicly at this point, Kyle? I don’t, I don’t think we have all that much we can say,

Kyle Buller: yeah, we don’t have the dates yet, but we are looking at either like May or September, just trying to figure out some scheduling things.

Kyle Buller: So, um, if you are interested, you can just go to the [00:08:00] website and then, um, you know, you could put an application in or sign up for, uh, emails just so we can stay in contact. Um, but yeah, we’re just ironing out a few details for our cohort. Six, if you are interested in, in joining. Yeah.

Joe Moore: And then, um, let’s talk about what’s going on this weekend.

Joe Moore: We have, uh, we’ve been kind of pushing for a while to, uh, market our, uh, three day, I guess two day two two day plus, um, breath work, workshop, dream shadow, transpersonal breath work, kind of a graph style, breath work method that we learned, a dream shadow. Um, what do we wanna say about that?

Kyle Buller: We have that coming up and it feels really good to be offering, um, breath work again.

Kyle Buller: Um, felt like I took a little hiatus after some of the vital retreats. Um, but yeah, we have this, uh, weekend workshop coming up Friday to Sunday up here in Breckenridge. So anybody’s listening that’s in the Colorado area that wants to come up for the weekend to do some breath work, we do have some spots open.

Kyle Buller: Um, so it’ll be fun. And it’s [00:09:00] beautiful up here right now. Leaves are popping. There’s snow on the peaks. Um, it’s a really beautiful time of year to come visit. Yeah,

Joe Moore: so pretty right now. Um, yeah, and I think our last workshop was just like so good for us, uh, for others too, but really primarily like we did.

Joe Moore: We, I would have really, I think, really good feelings about it and just was so good to be back in the saddle again after such a while.

Kyle Buller: I was gonna say you, that was like a first workshop for you in a number of years, right?

Joe Moore: Like, I don’t know that I. Really facilitated a full on like two part breath work session since before COVID.

Joe Moore: I might be wrong, but like I don’t, yeah, I haven’t really been in it for a bit and it felt really great to be back. Yeah. Thank goodness. Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah, just, you know, the thing that I know really well, um, and I’m comfortable in that space and it was just, you know, good to be there and definitely good to be with you.

Joe Moore: [00:10:00] Uh, learned a bunch from you on the somatic front, um, which is great.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Yeah. Minus the little bit of the, the music hiccups here and there.

Joe Moore: Right. Nobody noticed it sounds like they didn’t tell us they noticed at least. But you know, the idea is like, there’s, there’s a lot of, um, things to know about music and, and breath work and psychedelic sessions like, um.

Joe Moore: There’s so many possible points at which equipment can have issues and we want to kind of like work towards, you know, how can our systems be really kind of bombproof, but also have a backup.

Kyle Buller: You’re always thinking about that. And like, I think about it a little bit here and there, ’cause I’ve never had any like big hiccups, but like, how do you think about like, music backup and like psychedelic and breath work sessions where it obviously plays a really important role, um, in one’s experience.

Kyle Buller: So like those hiccups can also really cause a little bit of like, I don’t know, confusion with folks where all of a sudden the music stops and you’re in it, or there’s weird [00:11:00] like, artificial artifact noise coming through and you’re like, what the hell is this?

Joe Moore: Right? So like we can kind of name that we use this kind of like audio processor, um, because the outputs from a laptop aren’t really like producing like the, the most rich audio.

Joe Moore: Um, and so like. It’s never failed before in years and years. So we, we had a failure. I didn’t really check the stars to see if there was something up there, but maybe, and then, um, it was, it was kind of felt really glitchy and like digital weirdness was going on and we just didn’t know what to do and we had a hard time kind of solving that, um, in real time.

Joe Moore: Oh yeah, that was like the most intense kind of, um, music failure I’ve been a part of, which is fascinating. I’m glad we were able to do it together. Um, but like Lenny talks about having like a, like a generator backup at his house for audio. Um, worst case you can put on a little boom boxy thing. Um, I like, I like to have [00:12:00] multiple different kind of things, so, you know, a little Bluetooth speaker, like I have this little small little Bose thing.

Joe Moore: That’s nice. Um, and then, uh, you know, typically we’re using like a relatively big size PA system. I, I personally have like three different. Oh, geez. If we put in the, like the DJ control, there’s like five different mixers that could be used for that kind of a situation that we do. Um, and I bring two at least.

Joe Moore: Um, so if one fails, we can flip over to the other. Sometimes that gets stressful though. Um, and then like any, any individual piece can fail, um, at any point. And there’s no way to really tell, just like, you know, hard drives used to explode all the time, right. And we could never tell. And how much music have we lost as a result of that crap?

Joe Moore: Tragic. Um, yeah. And, uh, yeah, then, you know, can you, can you have a backup? Like, historically, I never thought, like [00:13:00] my DJ equipment at the mixer and beyond like speakers and, and all that would fail. But they, they can, so what I would do historically is I would have the, um, a PC playing a Wave file. So there’s like very little happening, um, like wave, like there’s not really much computing required ’cause there’s not much compression, there’s not any compression really.

Joe Moore: So like the computing power should be really small. Um, and I use an app that hasn’t really ever failed on me, like VLC. Mm-hmm. Um, really popular media player. Um, and that’s like really low computing requirements as well. I think it’s even open source, which is, yeah, it’s pretty lightweight. Yeah. And then, um, I’ll have secondly a audio device into two other channels that’s actually playing in real time, a playlist.

Joe Moore: Um, it could be my breath work playlist. Could be something else. Could just be a track on loop. Um, and so if the audio on like channels one and two start failing, I bring up three and four from my phone or [00:14:00] iPad or whatever it is. And then, um, there’s very little loss, um, of like time. With music, with the, with the people breathing.

Joe Moore: So I think like that’s how I historically did it, but now that maybe the mixers are, sorry, are failing, and like how do we, yeah. How do we actually understand like what part of the equipment’s failing? Um, so you kind of have to like be somewhat technical, somewhat competent with your equipment. So that’s why maybe don’t overcomplex, uh, make it too complex at first.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, start simple and build and stay comfortable with your gear. Um, yeah. So I don’t know, did you, did you have any kind of like takeaways.

Kyle Buller: Um, well, I think like testing your gear out. ’cause that was the first time I used my laptop, I think, on that mixer or the output with all those speakers. And like, I’ve never had an issue with like that weird digital artifacting that came through.

Kyle Buller: Mm-hmm. And so I wonder if it was like more power or something that was sucking out of the computer, [00:15:00] um, or computer needing to, to do more. Um, but, you know, I think I always will. So I, I typically use like flack files and I use a program called Mix. So I’m able to like auto DJ and like real time, like mix things in case

Joe Moore: Slack doesn’t have compression either, like Right.

Joe Moore: Yeah. It’s like really light. Or maybe it does have compression, but it’s really light. Yeah.

Kyle Buller: And then, um, yeah, ’cause sometimes I like to mix live. Like there’s the songs coming up and I’m like, eh, it’s not really gonna fit here. I kinda wanna switch it up and, or I notice like, you know, things maybe I need to add something.

Kyle Buller: Um, so I always. We will create a duplicate of that on Spotify. And so that’s what we ended up doing. It’s like, thankfully I had that, um, on Spotify as well, so we could just switch over, um, as like we were starting to have some of those weird digital artifacting hiccups there in the middle of a session.

Kyle Buller: Um, so yeah, I think always having a backup, um, is really [00:16:00] important, um, when, when you’re doing this stuff. But yeah, testing, testing all the equipment first. Like I think we didn’t do extensive tests with it beforehand. Um, no. And so that was like really the first time, like running my computer on, on a system like that.

Kyle Buller: We should check it

Joe Moore: again tomorrow. Yeah. What I realized is we could actually use like headphones like this Yeah. Um, to actually have a, like simulate that like kind of say, is it the output from this? Or, ’cause we didn’t, I don’t think, had earbuds even to plug in and check. Yeah, yeah. No. Yeah. And it’s, you know, it’s complicated and generally folks, you’re not gonna have a problem.

Joe Moore: When you do you want to have a plan, like exactly the equipment, exactly. Like these days it’s really solid. Like Windows doesn’t really crash all that much anymore. Mac doesn’t really crash that much anymore. Um, there’s types of devices that crash even less like a, like a real DJ mixer. Like if we throw up like my big DJ controller and plug in a USB and play, [00:17:00] like these things are designed to play big festivals and the stability is crazy.

Joe Moore: Like, yeah. Um, even Skrillex’s laptop has crashed when he is playing live. So like that’s kind of probably have a backup computer though. Right, right, right. What do we have three computers there? Yeah. Which is nuts. Which is really crazy. Um, and we still couldn’t like figure out what was going on. Oh, what was it?

Joe Moore: No, my, one of my laptops just wasn’t producing audio outta the headphones port. Um, the other one I think had some weird issues too. It was a really surreal experience, but I’m glad we got to the other side. Yeah. I don’t

Kyle Buller: think I’ve ever had that many, like tech hiccups, like doing music stuff and I think it was a good lesson learned of like, yeah, prep all your stuff, like test it out, make some like backup plans.

Kyle Buller: And then as I switched over to my phone too, I was like also thinking. Oh, I’m not connected to the wifi, so I can’t like, go into like airplane mode to like cancel any calls. If this is streaming from my phone on Spotify, if a call comes through, it’s gonna [00:18:00] disrupt the music. And like, so then I was like kind of panicking, like, oh man.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. What if like a call comes through like as we’re streaming this through the phone, that’s gonna be really disruptive. Mm-hmm. Um, so it’s like all these little things you don’t think about. And then yeah, you need to like be on your feet real time to try to problem solve so it’s not so disruptive to, to folks.

Joe Moore: Yeah. And take notes here. There’s a lot of really good gems here that you, you know, learn from our mistakes. We make the mistakes so you don’t have to. Mm-hmm. Um, and I think, uh, do not disturb, uh, mode sometimes works, but sometimes the song will interrupt and you don’t actually know until you test it and like, do you actually ever really know?

Joe Moore: Um, ’cause these things update and like software changes every day, so you don’t know really how it’s gonna play. Um, so be careful out there. That’s why I liked the, um. The old school iPods were really great, um, with the hard drive and you can just kind of plug right in and that was lovely. Um, but you know, there’s limited limitations [00:19:00] there.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Obviously our files were like, my playlist, it’s like three to five gigs. ’cause it’s a wave file, it’s giant. So like it could even fill up those, those things. Um, yeah. But yeah, the sematic work that we got to do there, the, the kind of group processing work that we got to do there, the group bonding, like I think the group’s still talking to each other, which is amazing.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, we, we heard that they got to together and did like a party in the front range, which was really cool. So it’s just like lovely to see that. A workshop like this that, you know, we believe in this format quite a bit. I think so. You know, just seeing it again and again and again. Workout. Great. It’s just always so reassuring.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Yeah. It’s nice to just be able to share it with folks too. Um, yeah. ’cause how impactful has it been in our lives? Right. Just to be able to like, share it with other folks. Mm-hmm. It’s really nice, really special.

Joe Moore: Yeah. So, um, that’ll be coming up Friday, so tomorrow. So [00:20:00] if anybody’s in Colorado wants to join us, rec breath.com or psychedelics today.com/events, you can learn more.

Joe Moore: Um, we’d love to have you still time and, uh, what else is going on? Um, yeah, we’re trying to launch a kind of membership site here to get people, um. Kind of a little bit more active in our community. Like we’ve had this kind of, um, online Facebook alternative. It’s just us, uh, for a bit now, and it’s been great.

Joe Moore: It’s mostly vital folks. Um mm-hmm. And there’s some patrons in there. I think we have 33 paying patrons is what I saw the other day in the, in that platform. And that’s been really fun, um, to see that and really helpful for us. So thank you everybody that’s participating like that. It helps a lot. Yeah. Um, and yeah, we’re trying to figure out what do folks want.

Joe Moore: I think we’re gonna bring in, um, exclusive content, hopefully figure out ways to include courses, maybe some courses that we’ve had out for a while. And, and I think what, we have five courses in development right now that might be [00:21:00] included there. So, you know, stay tuned. Um, and we’d, we’d love and need your support.

Joe Moore: Um, but yeah. Kyle, what are you excited about about this community platform?

Kyle Buller: I’m excited just to like, yeah, you know, we’ve had this, um, and just to like really engage with it a little bit more. So like having kind of like exclusive live streams like this, doing more of it. Um, also, uh, I. Book clubs, like those are always really fun to just like get together and like talk about material that way.

Kyle Buller: Um, so yeah, I just feel like, you know, we’ve been really engaged in the vital community for the past few years. Um, hence why like, I don’t really podcast as much as I used to. Um, but yeah, really excited to just gauge the engage, like the, the larger audience, our, our whole PT audience here. So, um, yeah, it feels like we’ve been very kind of like focused on the vital community and um, yeah, now trying to um, open it up, you know, I think we’ve learned a lot through that and like creating [00:22:00] that and then just being able to open it up, um, to outside of folks that yeah, vital might not be a great fit for Right.

Kyle Buller: It’s a, it’s a pretty big, um, it’s a pretty big commitment and yeah, I’m seeing David there in, in real life events for sure. Yeah, that is part of the plan too. We wanna do more in person events for the community. It’s really, I love this overlay.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, for sure we’re, we’re working on, um, in-person events more regularly.

Joe Moore: Um, I’m traveling a bunch in the near term, so I’m hoping to say hi to folks in the northeast, like Philadelphia. Um, Boston. There’s a chance New York, but I’m not sure. It’s a kind of logistically complicated, but if anybody wants to help me in New York, reach out, I would love that. Um, but yeah, just getting together, even if it’s for a short meal or sandwich or whatever.

Joe Moore: Amazing. Um, I want to do bigger. More robust events, especially for the vital community. But you know, that takes resources and time. So the more support we get [00:23:00] here, um, in our community platform, the more we can, um, spend our time actually developing those in-person events to mm-hmm. You know, bring value and, and, you know, community and much more.

Kyle Buller: But having a lot of these conversations lately just around like how we’re just entering this age of like high tech and AI and um, yeah, we can channel Northern California for you as well, David. Um, but, uh, yeah, just how important it is. Like, I was just chatting with somebody I think last night, um, just how.

Kyle Buller: You know, community is gonna get us through, um, you know, some challenging times. And I think again about like going through some challenging times and having like the dream shadow community there for me and for everybody else. Um, but yeah, like as you know, we just kind of enter this like crazy digital world, um, where yeah, everything feels like really artificial.

Kyle Buller: Like yeah, being able to come together, um, in person online, to like really, um, you know, cultivate, uh, [00:24:00] human relationship. I think it’s gonna be really, really important as we progress into the AI age of whatever the hell it’s gonna bring to us.

Joe Moore: So, you know, that’s an interesting point. Like, I, I think we should name, um, dead internet theory.

Joe Moore: By way, David, I’ll, I’ll be, I’ll be in, uh, San Francisco, November 7th for the Heroic Heart Gala. Uh, maybe we could hang out before, after that. Anyway, the, um, the idea is that as more and more content becomes generated by ai, it’s, it becomes somewhat recursive and problematic in that, um, the data that’s getting cited is actually bad data.

Joe Moore: ’cause it was generated previously by ai, by AI and Misattributed. So there’s becoming this like, really scary problem. And, um, at a certain point, at what point does the internet become totally not useful, um, or at least radically less useful? Um, you know, in situations like [00:25:00] this, you know, we’re, we’re still doing okay because we’ve read a bunch of books and lived a lot of life, um, and, and know a lot of folks.

Joe Moore: Um, but yeah, like who’s to say Wikipedia is even gonna be all that helpful in a handful of years. Once, um. AI has had its way with Reddit and like the citations get really, really complicated. Yeah. So in-person, community is gonna be really important. Getting to know people and trusting people. I, I hope folks like us can still, you know, maintain some sort of sense of truth and, and help everybody cut through the bs.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, I don’t know. What do you think?

Kyle Buller: Uh, I’ve been listing revisiting like Terrence McKenna, um, over the years. Um, or not over the years, over the past, like month or so, because I remember years ago I heard him talk about, um, this archaic revival and he was talking about how in the future people are gonna just be living in their own little worlds and that there’s gonna [00:26:00] be the computer chip behind the eye.

Kyle Buller: Um, and we’re gonna be interfacing pretty much with like augmented reality, like through like a, an implant like that. Um, and. Then, you know, there’s that whole announcement of like the meta glasses coming out and it’s not too far off. And like I just, I, I think that it, it’s just really interesting to hear Terrence talk about this stuff in the nineties.

Kyle Buller: Um, and kind of like just, you know, and Terrence had all sorts of crazy ideas, but it’s like, I feel like we’re getting closer to like what he was actually like, you know, talking about back then. Um, and I just always come back to like his, I think it’s like titled his last interview where he is just like, it’s just gonna get so weird that we just gotta talk about how weird it is.

Kyle Buller: Um, and I feel like we are hitting this point in, in human, human history where it’s getting pretty weird out there. It’s very psychedelic in a way. It’s like very confusing.

Joe Moore: Yeah, it is. It certainly is. And um. Again, having that kind of [00:27:00] community that can handle complexity and can handle stressful stuff and crisis with you and, and more is, is gonna be just increasingly important.

Joe Moore: So, you know, build that we can, you know, leverage our community with you. You know, you can join us. Um, but definitely build something locally for you too. Um, yeah. And yeah, whatever it is. Gardening club. Yeah. You know, seed swap, book club, whatever those local, yeah,

Kyle Buller: those local communities are really important.

Kyle Buller: You know, I think that helps with like resiliency when like, things are kind of like getting really shaken up. Um, so yeah. You know, have like your larger community, also have your local communities, um, and have a diversity of community. I think it’s, it’s really important. Um, I like Debbie’s comment here. I came for the psychedelic state for the community.

Kyle Buller: I always actually said that about like the breath work too. It’s like, came for breath work first, but ended up really kind of staying for the community and started becoming more about the people than, than the experiences.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so. [00:28:00] I’ve seen a number of communities and they’ve, they’ve done interesting stuff.

Joe Moore: I, I think I started seeing Discord kind of explode with communities around that like NFT hype cycle a bunch of years ago, which is interesting. And just saw people kind of communicating in all sorts of interesting ways, not just about like magic internet money go up kind of stuff. Like it’s, you know, sharing news and memes and jokes and like, you know, there was a culture around some of them that was actually real as opposed to purely just kind of greed culture.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Which was also there for sure too. But, um, it was just fun to see that and I was like, oh, okay. Like we can do something here. Um, and you know, I think in time we didn’t, I, I’ve always been a little kind of skeptical on discourse, like, that seems like just a little edgy to put psychedelic community because, you know, um, it’s somebody else’s servers.

Joe Moore: It’s not really all that, you know, they could shut you down. Um. And, you know, even our community, it’s not all the way private, right? Like it’s [00:29:00] hosted somewhere. So, you know, if you want to do hyper secret stuff, like the Internet’s probably not the best place for it, but it still doesn’t mean you can’t help each other and communicate.

Joe Moore: And then take it to signal if you need to, then take it in person if you need to. Um, and, you know, we’re here for kind of helping with that scaffolding. Mm-hmm. And, uh, you know, what kind of content do you need? What’s gonna serve you in the projects that you have going on? Not just like, you know, cool trip stories, which, you know, those are fun too.

Joe Moore: But also, you know, what are the helpful stories that are gonna help you build the thing that you want to build with people?

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Um, so we’re open to questions, so I think most platforms can ask questions, so please do. Um, yeah, I’d love to just kind of interact with you all, um, and see what’s going on out there for you and see what we can kind of like interact with, I think.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah, finally, just please check out our community, psychedelics [00:30:00] today.com/navigators. Um, we’re gonna be putting up all sorts of like, scaffolding there and higher level memberships with more access to us and, um, the community and, you know, just stay tuned for all that. Um, I think we’ll have that kind of announced in the next handful of days, hopefully.

Joe Moore: Yeah,

Kyle Buller: we’ll, we’ll be rolling it out over time.

Joe Moore: Yeah. So, um, let’s see, what else here? Um, what are the skills important to learn at the moment? Um, David to asks that question, I’ll put it up on the screen for everybody watching video. Um, so. It depends on where you’re at. Um, you know, I think, uh, I think understanding how, how you could get in trouble digitally is a really good one.

Joe Moore: So there’s that digital security class I’ve taught a handful of times. We’ll probably have that in the community in the near term. Um, if you want coaching or consulting on that stuff, I’m open to that just hit us up. Um, but the idea is like, how are you [00:31:00] exposing yourself and what are the actual risks? Um, are you covered legally?

Joe Moore: You know, are you actually working with lawyers appropriately? There’s so much to this. Um, and, uh, I don’t have a broad enough view into what every community is like in the psychedelic ecosystem, so I can’t really say. Do you, do you have any thoughts on, on to where he’s, uh,

Kyle Buller: yeah, and I, I’m kind of just taking that too, like what are important skills of like, the times?

Kyle Buller: Um, and one thing that comes to my mind is, uh. As you were kind of talking about like dead internet theory and like all this other stuff, it’s just like our discernment. Um, and really trying to get in touch with that a little bit more because, and you know, that’s also really relevant for psychedelics, right?

Kyle Buller: It’s like you get a message, do you necessarily believe it at face value right off the bat? Um, or it, um, you know, do you sit with it a little bit? And again, you know, now everything. I think we’re just entering this [00:32:00] like new age of like. Yeah, you see some videos and you’re like, is that real or is that ai?

Kyle Buller: You know, it’s like, it’s really hard to tell what’s true, um, anymore, which is like, kind of concerning. So I think like our just discernment is more important than ever. Like, you know, and also like, you know, what are we taking in like, ’cause obviously all this stuff like affects us on so many different levels.

Kyle Buller: So, um, yeah, like how are you, how are you taking in information? How do you discern information? Um, it’s all, I think, like, really crucial right now. Um, ’cause there’s a lot of noise out there in the world. Um, and there’s a lot of, lot of, a lot of weirdness as I guess Terrence would say.

Joe Moore: So much weirdness.

Joe Moore: Yeah. High weirdness moment. And yeah. David, if you’re talking, if David, if you’re talking about like survivability and like prepping, um. I’m not necessarily all that fluent on what’s going on today. I don’t know, um, [00:33:00] what to really say, but community is gonna help. Um, so getting together, I think, uh, in my permaculture class it was like, um, if you have a hundred people in your kind of circle with all the right skills, like you can kind of flesh out kind of a really great society.

Joe Moore: Um, and, you know, there’s specialist skills beyond that, but that’s where societies can keep interacting, uh, with each other. Yeah. Um, yeah, I like, I like the Chomsky, anco, cynicalist kind of model where it’s kind of like hierarchical unions that are kind of, um, voluntarily kind of associated and, and kind of cooperate too, so, mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: It’s important that groups kind of interact and negotiate skillfully and we kind of like decrease coercion over time. Hopefully. Hopefully. Um, because consent, uh, matters, I think. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, definitely. I dunno if the government agrees still, but maybe. Um, so we’ll get there, get there in time. So just keep hope alive.

Joe Moore: Um, [00:34:00] and uh, yeah, so I think like what kind of news have you bumped into lately in the psychedelic arena, Kyle, that’s got you interested in, um, curious.

Kyle Buller: One I posted about maybe last week. Um, and, you know, maybe this also comes back to discernment as well, and, and what you’re consuming. Um, it was a study that was published, uh, in Oregon, um, surveying 11 different, uh, mushroom products.

Kyle Buller: Um, I think 10 of ’em were gummies. One of ’em was a chocolate bar. Um, but none of them contained psilocybin. Um, they came back with like all sorts of different other, uh, you know, ingredients. Uh, and you know, I think if we’re, you know, you’re talking about consent, um, having informed consent of like what you’re ingesting is super, super important.

Kyle Buller: Um, you know, some of them did contain psy. Um, you know, I feel like, you know, I think that that’s pretty legit. Psilocybin ilsy, right? Psilocybin converts into psilocin. But again, [00:35:00] it’s like, you know, do people know the dosing? Do people know what they’re ingesting? Um, and yeah, some of these products just didn’t have any sort of psilocybin or psilocin in it.

Kyle Buller: Um, most of, I think some, some came back with like THC kava, um, some of them were just functional mushrooms. Um, I don’t remember everything off the top of my head right now, but, um, you know, that is a bit concerning ’cause people just see these products and they go, oh, this is legit. Like, people are doing really good marketing.

Kyle Buller: Um, and then just not having good, uh, informed, you know, consent here around like, should I est this? Do I know what I’m taking? Um, and I actually, it’s, it’s such an interesting thing and I, I might have mentioned this like on a podcast a while ago, but. I was down in, um, I was down in Key West back in March and uh, after I went down there for a wedding and me and my friend decided to go down to Key West just to hang out for the weekend.

Kyle Buller: And, um, it was really interesting. There was all [00:36:00] these like hemp shops within like, I mean, there was just one after another after another, and a bunch of ’em had these signs that they were selling psychedelic mushrooms. And so I decided to pop in there and, um, see, hey, what, what’s going on here? And I asked the guy, I was like, Hey, like, what’s in these mushrooms?

Kyle Buller: He’s like, I can’t tell you. And I was like, what do you mean you can’t tell me? He’s like, uh, it’s a proprietary blend. I, I can’t tell you what’s in it. And I’m just like, well, that’s kind of sketchy. I was like, is it mus al? Like he is like, we don’t say that word around here. And I’m like, and I was like, I, you know, I was like, I work in the psychedelic industry.

Kyle Buller: I was like, I’m just like highly fascinated about like how you guys are like getting these workarounds or, or what’s actually in these, these, these bars and, and products. And he just told me he’s like. There’s a loophole that we’re able to get through that this is a food product and we’re able to just like label it as a proprietary blend.

Kyle Buller: Um, so I can’t like tell you what’s in it. I can just tell you it’s a proprietary blend, but it’s just like, again, informed consent. It’s [00:37:00] like, you know, you have no idea like what you’re ingesting. And I just think that, you know, it’s harmful. Like what if somebody has like, um, an adverse reaction and needs to go to the hospital and you can’t tell, like, you know, the doctors like what you just ate, you know?

Kyle Buller: Um, it’s like, oh, I ate this chocolate bar, this proprietary blend of mushrooms. Like I have no idea what I, I actually ingested here. Um, so, you know, be careful. There’s a lot of products out there on the market and they are showing up at like gas stations and head shops and stuff like that all throughout.

Kyle Buller: You know, the country. Um, and yeah, it does seem like there’s these like interesting workarounds, um, being food products, um, and you know, who knows what’s actually in it. So, um, you know, maybe try to find somebody that’s a bit trusted than, you know, sketchy, uh, products that head shops and gas stations.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. I think that’s really important for us to notice, like that the market is really doing weird things. Like I [00:38:00] saw all these mito brands recently, marketing product, like I’m all for product being out there and safe product especially, and especially if you’re advertising exactly what it is. Um, but you know, I think there were some brands that claimed years ago, Kyle, I don’t know if you remember this one.

Joe Moore: Um, they were claiming that. They were only selling functional mushroom brands and that, or functional mushrooms. And that some sort of counterfeit operation was actually selling use, leveraging their brand selling illicit product. Oh, wow. For a CO and, and, and OSI and, and things along those lines. And I, I think that was total bullshit.

Joe Moore: I think that was just kinda like what they were saying. Um, so they got in less trouble. But I think there’s, you know, there’s a lot there to how do we actually know what we’re buying is what it is. Um, are, is there accountability in the kind of chain of custody of the products? Generally in a illicit market, there isn’t.

Joe Moore: Um, and, uh, even in decrim, like in Colorado, like how do we know, like I think a lot of Colorado [00:39:00] brands are even doing the same thing. So, um, you know, work hard, work with each other to like, make sure it is what they say it is. Yeah. Test kits, like dance safe and, and whatnot can kind of test for some sy but I don’t know that they’re testing and differentiating with like four A-C-O-T-M-T and other things.

Joe Moore: So I wanna be really careful. That’s why I’m like excited about Reggie’s company, like Labs. Actually, did I tell you that story when someone, someone gave me a bar in San Francisco and I was like, I don’t know, I’m definitely not gonna eat that. And then I like looked at it later and like the lab logo was on it, Haifa Labs, like logo, all their trust.

Joe Moore: I feel more trust there. Yeah. And I was like, oh, actually I will assume this. Oh, fascinating. Um, you know, I obviously there’s room for like counterfeit and like some bullshit there. Yeah, totally. But better than, you know, a sketchy like. Uh, unknown kind of branding package with who knows what in it.

Kyle Buller: [00:40:00] Yeah.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. And I don’t know, like, like you might need to send some of those bars in for like mass spec, because I think picking some of this stuff is like really tough. I, I was on a website, I forget what it was called, like know your drugs.com or something like that. And they did have like, chocolate samples and they said it’s a little bit harder to kind of, uh, pull out, um, active compounds in some of the, um, some of the, like the, the chocolate bars and stuff like that.

Kyle Buller: ’cause there’s just so much stuff in it. But, um, I don’t know. I, I thought that was kind of interesting. Um, they had like little notes that, you know, like all the organic matters showing up and it’s hard to like, really tease apart everything when it comes to like those types of products.

Joe Moore: Right. It’s, I, I think really important to note, um.

Joe Moore: So just be careful out there. Um, what else has been interesting? I think it’s interesting, like, you know, so Santa Fe, we didn’t really get to talk about the Santa Fe conference. Um, there was yet again, a lot of activity from the Texas people in that like [00:41:00] overarching Iboga community. Um, and it was, it was interesting to see that momentum there.

Joe Moore: And then, um, Brian Hubbard getting some great stage time and then getting a lot of interest too. ’cause New Mexico deals with a lot of addiction. Um, it’s kind of clear that IGAs not purely for opioids at this point, which kind of used to be the label, but it seems to be helpful with all sorts of addiction.

Joe Moore: So I think there’s, there’s definitely some interest even in New Mexico around Ibogaine, which they haven’t really kind of gotten loud about yet, but that’s cool. Like Arizona put in money after Texas is 50 million. I heard rumor Mississippi might be Wow. Coming soon. Um. So it’d be really interesting for the US self to be kind of radically influencing, um, psychedelic and, and iboga policy.

Joe Moore: Um, should be fascinating.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Was there any other like big insights away from that conference? It, I’m so bummed I didn’t get to go down there, but it was also a, just a good decision not to go. [00:42:00]

Joe Moore: Sometimes we need to rest, apparently. I, yeah. Um, so, uh, what I learned about Texas and how Texas actually funded that 50 million.

Joe Moore: Texas on occasion will have like a huge, um, surplus in revenue, in tax revenue from like oil. Um, so it was like a crazy amount of money in surplus that Texas had that year in tax revenue. So they were able to actually just grab a slice of that. Um, and I don’t, like in Colorado, sometimes we get refunds from the government, which, uh, was happening with early cannabis, but I think like, um.

Joe Moore: Texas just grabbed a chunk of that money that was surplus because of tax revenues from oil, and then were able to just allocate that. So I thought, um, potentially some of that money came from an opioid abatement fund, but that’s not the case. Um, Brian Hubbard’s still on a war path around like mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Corruption in Kentucky around the opioid abatement fund money. Um, he, he kind of laid that all [00:43:00] out at South by Southwest. I don’t, I’ve not seen him lay it out elsewhere yet in detail, maybe on Rogan a while ago, but yeah. Have you seen him lay that out yet?

Kyle Buller: I don’t think so, no.

Joe Moore: He’s working hard to put people in jail Wow.

Joe Moore: Around federal, like, not federal, but state, state level corruption and like, um, people who are in like the pipeline to be pre and president in the near future and all this kind of fascinating stuff. Yeah. Um. So David’s asking a thing here about the industry needs to mature, but who starts? I feel like nobody’s asking for ingredients, like, you know?

Joe Moore: Yeah. Like, that’s a big deal. I think we need to, like, you’re, you’re probably gonna see that kind of stuff in like, uh, Southern California and San Francisco first. Um, like Venice Beach, I’m sure they’re like, you know, super, um, super expensive ingredients and product, um, and listing it all. And, um, eventually people with like, uh, celiac and, um, other [00:44:00] insensitivities can really, or not insensitivity sensitivities can be a little bit safer when consuming.

Joe Moore: So I think like, it’s coming, it’s coming. Um, you know, things, things that I find interesting are, um, if somebody’s getting injected with a substance, like how are they feeling safe about that? Um, in a ketamine clinic, that kind of makes sense because there’s like that whole clinical supply chain and we kind of trust that as Americans.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Or Westerners. And then, uh, but if you’re in some underground clinic and somebody’s got a needle for you, like that’s a really interesting roll of the dice. Um, and even if it’s a apparently legal clinic, like what is that kind of, what do you want to know about that before they inject you? And I think we don’t even know that, um, as a culture, like as a kind of psychedelic consumers.

Joe Moore: Like I, I’ve been hearing about people injecting five M me o in the underground. I’m just like, how are you sterilizing that? How are, like, what kind of water do you use? Like how are you even measuring [00:45:00] like, you know, 15 milligrams or whatever it is, or eight milligrams for that. So it’s really, really a curious landscape.

Joe Moore: And thankfully a lot of, I’m not hearing a about a lot of injuries from that. Are you? I

Kyle Buller: haven’t, no.

Joe Moore: Um, but you know, there’s always stuff that’s possible. Um,

Kyle Buller: yeah.

Joe Moore: I’m sure there’s a

Kyle Buller: lot of stuff that we just don’t hear about. Right? Like, I’m sure it’s happening, but just not coming on our radar. But, you know, I think Dave, to your question, like who starts?

Kyle Buller: And I think it just starts with you. It starts with all of us, um, to just be better, better educated, more informed. Asking people those questions, you know, like, I was just so damn curious. I walked in that shop and started like, asking questions, you know, it’s like maybe they were a little freaked out.

Kyle Buller: Maybe they thought it was like a narc or something. But, um, you know, and it also happened again, like I was in, I think it was like West Palm Beach, uh, into like another hemp shop. And this guy was trying to convince me that some [00:46:00] of those bars do contain Cy, but it’s completely legal. Um, and I’m like, SI’s not legal.

Kyle Buller: Like, and he was like, no, no, it is. And I’m like, you’re putting people at risk here by like being like that open, selling this stuff in public, especially in Florida, you know, it’s like mm-hmm. But just people aren’t educated about it. And, you know, I think it, it starts with us to try to learn, um, and, and ask, ask those questions when we do come across those products.

Joe Moore: Yeah, absolutely. I think, um, I was buying some cannabis edibles in Massachusetts a bunch of years ago, and, um, the person behind the counter was going nuts about how amazing it is that mushrooms are legal in North Carolina. And I was very nervous about that conversation for obvious reasons, like number one, that it’s not.

Joe Moore: And um, you know, I, I even corrected the person when I got up there. I was like, Hey man, that’s like really risky. That’s a really like high risk location for substance. And, [00:47:00] um, I couldn’t convince him and it was fascinating. It’s like they’re selling it so it’s legal. It’s like that A doesn’t even b

Kyle Buller: Yeah.

Kyle Buller: Um, like somebody has a very high risk tolerance and is like just Yeah. Skirting the law here and taking risk.

Joe Moore: Right. And I think, you know, there’s, um. There’s a certain level of like, what is the actual risk? Like we feel, right, our outside perspective is that there is like a really high risk, but also like how many shops are getting busted, how many people are going to jail or losing assets for it?

Joe Moore: And like, I think it’s pretty low probably. Yeah, I think like collectively they’re kind of making these judgment calls, like, um, and carrying things like Minocin product. Um, which is really interesting ’cause it’s not. Federally scheduled Minocin. Um, but Federal Analog Act is still there. Yeah. So ostensibly you could get busted federally and you know, apparently I heard, I learned yesterday that [00:48:00] some lawyers are really comfortable with the idea of defending that in court, which I’m like, how, how are you comfortable?

Joe Moore: Like, maybe it doesn’t get prosecuted as much. I don’t know. Right. I think, I think it doesn’t, like it would be, it’s like a really expensive thing to go to federal court to challenge that kind of thing. And I don’t know if you remember, like Sasha Shulgin had a lot of like really great testimony around, um, ’cause the law, the Federal Analog Act is something along the lines of, it needs to be substantially similar.

Joe Moore: And, and Sasha was just on stage saying that doesn’t mean anything. And from a legal perspective you have no ground. Mm-hmm. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that, um, things won’t progress in a difficult direction for you. Yeah. Yeah. So here’s, here’s a piece of news, um, founded on filter. I think I saw it a marijuana moment yesterday.

Joe Moore: But, um, the Alaska campaign to legalize psychedelics is gathering signatures finally. Amazing. So they kind of took [00:49:00] the next step, um, and they need to collect 35,000 signatures. So there’s a, a lot of activities required, I think after the conference that they had. Um, what was that called? Uh, maybe Northern Lights or something.

Joe Moore: Arctic Lights or something there. Arctic Lights. Yeah. Yeah. Like after that I think they got a lot of really good momentum. I, I really thought about going, but I just couldn’t like in good conscience go before Burning Man. That seemed like absurd. Um, but it sounded amazing. Everybody had a really great time, um, and, you know, got to educate Alaska in some really important ways.

Joe Moore: Um, yeah. And do you know much about what they’re doing there?

Kyle Buller: Just a little bit like when we saw them present down in Denver, um, and hearing about like the campaign and they were feeling really confident, um, about like getting those signatures and like their initial kind of like polling seemed, um, yeah, pretty positive that they would be able to, [00:50:00] to pass this.

Kyle Buller: So, um, fingers crossed, that’d be really amazing. Um, if they’re able to get all those signatures right. And it’s a, it’s a, it’s kind of like a legalization initiative,

Joe Moore: right? Right. Somewhat. Similar to Colorado and Oregon, um, but also like a little different, just kind of popping it up on screen here. I like this here.

Joe Moore: Traditional healers would also be protected for spiritual, or sorry, ceremonial spiritual or cultural use of plant medicines through legal exemptions to state laws. So I think that would be really, really excellent. Um, that’d be awesome. I think, uh, they’re lowering kind of the civil fine for public consumption to a hundred dollars to kind of make sense, I guess.

Joe Moore: Um, especially if you want to keep people safe. Uh, and they’re, um, yeah, so it says right here, yeah, they’re building off Colorado, which is great. Um, so I, I’m excited. I would really be excited to see how they’re gonna do it, [00:51:00] um, and, and roll it out and, um, see how they’re tracking to collecting those 35,000 signatures.

Joe Moore: Um, it’s a big job, but it’s important.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. What’s the total population in Alaska? Do you know?

Joe Moore: No.

Kyle Buller: I’m like, I wonder how much, like you said, 35,000. Yeah. I wonder how like that is compared to like the just main population. Yeah. Three

Joe Moore: quarters of a million. Hmm. So it’s a big proportion still. Yeah. You know, but you know, thankfully there’s only a handful of big cities that they could work on and bring it through.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, so yeah, I think it’s, um, it’s fascinating to see how this might shake out. Um, I’m excited. Um, so yeah, I, I heard, uh, from some other people in, um, New Mexico that there’s interest in other things beyond mushrooms too. Hmm. So, you know, feeling really [00:52:00] amazing about getting mushrooms through, like through the state process, the legislative process as opposed to like a voter ballot initiative.

Joe Moore: But then they’re like, oh. There’s all these other really amazing things that we could contribute too, and like how should we think about that? Like what do you think about that? Like it’s amazing that it’s happening in my book, but it’s also like, it’s complicated ’cause it feels

Kyle Buller: they’re doing it more kind of like in a behavioral health model, right?

Joe Moore: Um,

Joe Moore: like they’re not doing as robust decrim, if that’s what you mean. Is that what you meant? Meant there?

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Or like needing a, a diagnosis because they’re really trying to treat like mental health with, with their bill. Like I haven’t, but they can

Joe Moore: expand. They New Mexico can really expand the scope of it through adding conditions.

Joe Moore: Gotcha. So, you know, I was able to talk a bunch about chronic pain conditions and they were really excited about that. And, um, they’re actually, um, doing some [00:53:00] trials, I think in the near term with ketamine in group to help validate. Psilocybin ingroup for their stake care. Oh, sweet. Which would radically drop their clinical care costs.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. Which would be huge. Um, and when does like all this go online? Did they talk about like a rollout of like when they’ve got a date?

Joe Moore: It’s about two years from now. Okay. I think, think they said like December 27 or something like that. 2027. I could be wrong on that, but about two years. So similar to all the other project.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Everybody else’s rollout dates. Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah. And I think, oh, here’s another good one. Um, it looks like, um, other universities are picking up this, uh, traumatic brain injury conversation, which I think is, you know, long past due. Um, share my screen again here. If you’re watching, you can see it.

Joe Moore: Um. Uh, yeah, this tool is [00:54:00] interesting. Sometimes, sometimes it works amazing. Sometimes it does not. That’s not the right one. Come on. Um, but it looks like, uh, in British Columbia, they’re gonna start actually looking at Oh, amazing. Um, right. It’d be really cool. Um, and I think, uh, we’re gonna see all sorts of interesting stuff come from that.

Joe Moore: So I, you remember the Nolan Williams Ibogaine study that we’ve chatted about a bunch, right? Yeah. Where, yeah. Um, where I think a number of vets kind of took the, I think it was IBOGAINE and five M-E-O-D-M-T protocol, either at, uh, I think it was all at Beyond. No, that’s not right. Amio. Amio. And, um, I think it’s interesting they’re including five at this point, but the people just.

Joe Moore: Their brain imaging looked so much better at the end of the protocol, and this was done with Stanford, um, published highly. Dr. Nolan, Nolan Williams is like hyping it like crazy, but um, but yeah, now it [00:55:00] looks like there’s more interest in, um. Treating concussions and I had that big concussion a few years ago.

Joe Moore: Yeah. So I’m really, really excited about this. Um, yeah. Impaired neuroplasticity, so we know psychedelics can kind of help with that. Um, yeah. Reducing inflammation with classical psychedelics. Um, Chuck Nichols, Dave Nichols kid who’s like kind of an amazing researcher in his own right and is like wildly intelligent.

Joe Moore: Um, he’s kind of like the world leader on, uh, inflammation with psychedelics and he says psilocybin is a really good anti-inflammatory. LSD is a really crappy anti. Oh, interesting. Yeah. So like with the microdosing topic, it makes sense why some people have such a strong, well, from that perspective alone have such a strong response.

Joe Moore: And it could just be that it’s an anti-inflammatory thing.

Kyle Buller: That’s interesting. I wonder how much of an anti-inflammatory iboga is, or ibogaine, um.

Joe Moore: Right. Um, that would be a really interesting thing to know. [00:56:00] Yeah. Um, and I, one. Biggest things that ties into this is the, um, what are the molecules that are getting banned right now?

Joe Moore: God, um, uh, the DEA is working on these two really obscure molecules, um, Hamilton Morris and SSDP oh groups. Is it like

Kyle Buller: DOC or D-O-I-D-O-I-D-O-I

Joe Moore: and DOC. Thank you. Um, yeah. And these molecules, I think DOI in particular is showing like exponentially more anti-inflammatory response in people at a sub psychedelic dose than corticosteroids.

Joe Moore: So like a crazy high response rate. So if the DEA makes that illegal, um, or higher up the schedule chain, it makes it more expensive to research that stuff and, and not awesome. Um, but you know, imagine just people having to take less steroids. I think that would be just an overall good thing, right? Yeah, yeah.

Joe Moore: Totally.

Kyle Buller: Yeah. I’m excited for more of this like concussion [00:57:00] research to come out too. ’cause it’s like, yeah, you had your big experience a few years ago. Like I just had some minor, uh, head injuries over the summer. Um, and I was started to look up, um, some of this research and it didn’t seem like there was really great protocols.

Kyle Buller: Like some subjective reports came from people dosing. Like weeks after the concussion. And then, you know, I think there’s that question. It’s like, when do you start dosing? Do you start dosing as soon as possible? Do you, do you wait a little bit for the brain to kind of like, settle back down, um, and then, and then start dosing?

Kyle Buller: And so yeah, I was trying to do some research on it and it didn’t seem like there were very specific protocols around that. So I’m excited to, you know, uh, see more of that stuff. I mean, obviously being into some of these sports with, uh, high ri, high injury risk, you’re like, hmm. You know, like having concussions are not fun.

Kyle Buller: You know,

Joe Moore: I considered going into the thunderdome at Burning Man this year, and I think my [00:58:00] final conclusion was I don’t know that I can afford more brain injuries right now. Um, you know, I, so here’s, here’s a fun one. Um, and I’m gonna throw up and we can kind of like work towards closing two more. Um, where is it?

Joe Moore: Yeah, our friends, like we included these guys in our, um, TV show a while back. Yeah. Um, yeah, like, I don’t know that this is necessarily news, but they, they kind of showed up on our radar yesterday. Um, and they do this drug MEAI, um, and they’re bringing that through and that’s when it hits like a satiation trigger.

Joe Moore: And, um, I, it sounded like it had a really amazing, safe profile. It felt pleasant to use and it helped people stop drinking. And I think the article I saw the other day was around, um, overeating. And so if you hit, if you can eat this pill, um, it might help you just not overeat and, um, [00:59:00] similar to not over drink, you know?

Joe Moore: So I think that’s like a really cool idea and I’m excited to see what happens there. Um. Why is this psychedelic news? Um, what was the guy’s name? Mark Hayden, former Maps Canada lead was part of their team and I think he, he had some really interesting things to say about it. And it, I think the experience is something along the lines of, um, uh, how to put it,

Kyle Buller: I think they said low dose MDMA, like they said something like

Joe Moore: that.

Kyle Buller: Like when you’re using MEI for drinking, it was like you would feel satiated after like a drink or two. And then like, but if you took it alone and didn’t use it in combination, um, with drinking, they kind of described it as like a low dose of like MDMA.

Joe Moore: Mm. Yeah.

Kyle Buller: I think that’s fascinating. So, because I remember after all those interviews, I’m like, I kinda wanna try this stuff Sounds really fascinating.

Kyle Buller: Just for like, not for the drinking piece, but just for like the low dose of [01:00:00] MDMA.

Joe Moore: So Lindy is asking for us to link to a study. I don’t know. Um, which one, if you wanna look up Stanford Ibogaine brain injury. You’re gonna find that one if that’s the one we were talking about. Um, so this is like kinda the final bit of news we can leave folks with, but the Colorado Natural Medicine Board recommends iboga for therapeutic use.

Joe Moore: So it seems like the advisory board, um, that’s kind of contributing towards the government making its rules is saying Yes. IGAs. Next. I heard some inside stuff that it’s looking positive. I don’t want to give any details. Um, so I promised a little bit of an nomin and then, and then Jesus anonymity. Um, and check this out, it looks like, um, they’re really recommending compliance with the Nagoya protocol, which would be really novel and really good.

Joe Moore: Nagoya protocol is an international agreement, I think. Almost every country signed it except for the United States. So it’s like legally [01:01:00] required in other, in many other countries. Um, and, uh, as of right now, I think the only only known company that has Nagoya compliant IGA is, uh, AMBIO. They claim that pretty loudly and proudly, uh, um, but it, it could imp improve, increase the pressure on the markets to become more Nagoya compliant.

Joe Moore: So it’s kind of like built in reciprocity to genetic heritage. So like, do you have an agreement with the country and the, and the people from where this is from to say, yeah, like, you’re gonna give us a certain amount of your revenues? That feels fair. And you have it in writing and there’s, I looked it up on um, GPT the other day.

Joe Moore: There was a few other kind of like hit points for like, what is a Nagoya compliant agreement, but there’s no international authority that certifies it. There’s nobody that just like rubber stamps it, but there are like third party companies that kind of validate it. Yeah. Um, [01:02:00] so it’s an interesting thing to live with, uh, and live through, but I don’t know.

Joe Moore: Any thoughts on this one?

Kyle Buller: I was actually gonna ask you if you heard any updates on this. ’cause I did think, I just saw some posts about this and I didn’t really get to read into it ’cause I was, uh, teaching today. But, um, yeah, I mean it’s exciting. Uh, and it’s always like, I always find it like really interesting, like how IGA is getting like the spotlight right now.

Kyle Buller: ’cause you know, it is like one of the more on the riskier side, right? Of like cardiac issues. Um, so it’s fascinating like how much coverage and attention Iboga is getting and Iboga is getting. Um, but also really exciting ’cause it seems like the potential is huge. Um, here. So

Joe Moore: I like this quote from our friend Josh Cappel, uh, founding partner in Vicente.

Joe Moore: He says, unfortunately the program is not legal under federal law. Um, this is the Natural Medicine Health Act thing, like the psilocybin program and whatnot. Um, so it’s not legal under federal law, but there’s more than a zero chance that we can import iboga from [01:03:00] Gabon. Uh, Colorado would. The federal government to step in on this very nuanced, um, topic and authorize that, which is, you know, quite an interesting conversation to be having now.

Joe Moore: So, um, yeah. Yeah. Um,

Kyle Buller: yeah. And is it appropriate to like, grow Iboga here? Probably not. Or the climate’s probably

Joe Moore: not even great for it, but, right. ’cause it’s a rainforest that it grows in realistically. Are there other ways of doing it? That’s an interesting question. Like how can we do an end around on the federal law thing?

Joe Moore: That’s an interesting question. So there’s, um, yeah, there’s a lot, especially like if, if the primary objective is import is what’s illegal, bringing it from outside the country into Colorado is the illegal act. Um. Like possessing it still in Colorado is illegal under federal law, but you have state law protecting you, which is interesting.

Joe Moore: Right, right. Um, yeah, so it’s a whole fascinating legal situation that we’re dealing [01:04:00] with. And, um, there’s plenty of other fun, exciting, legal situations We’re also dealing with the same time, so who knows? Um, yeah. Yeah. Like all of a sudden IGA could be legal federally in two weeks who like, because it, you know, the,

Joe Moore: I don’t want to make too many dark comments, but Yeah. Like the science is there for all sorts of other things, and why isn’t it? Why isn’t it here for this? Yeah. Yeah. So, um, yeah. Anyway, uh, Lindy’s asking about the anti-inflammatory stuff. I don’t have the paper. Chuck Nichols, Charles Nichols, university of Louisiana is the researcher.

Joe Moore: Check out his papers. Um, he’s got a number of papers on anti-inflammatory effects of psychedelics. So a lot of good stuff there. And those drugs, um, D-O-I-D-O-C, they last too long. That’s why we don’t use them. Like, you know, if you wanna be like 24

Kyle Buller: hours or something like that, like the halflife is pretty ridiculous on it.

Joe Moore: Super high. Yeah. And if you wanna be high that long, just like, it’s probably more, far more [01:05:00] pleasant to just use acid for a couple times. Like, and you could turn it off like D-O-I-D-O-C, like good god. Like we just don’t use that stuff. But I’m excited to see what medicine can be made of that to help people who are in chronic pain and like, let’s see what, not only that kind of level of anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory stuff, um, happening, but pair that with neuroplasticity and what kind of change can we have.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Maybe that’s what’s happening with high-dose mushrooms. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Well thanks for staying over with me and, um, yeah.

Kyle Buller: Thanks everybody for tuning in and doing this and yeah, it’s been quite a while since we’ve kind of, uh, riffed together, so it’s fun and hopefully we have, uh, more time to be doing this.

Kyle Buller: So

Joe Moore: yeah, let’s bring guests in to be like guest commentators too. Yeah, and again, please support us over@navigatorspsychedelicstoday.com slash navigators. We would love for you to be part of our community and support us and we can give you exclusive content and much more access to the, [01:06:00] um, you know, in-person events.

Joe Moore: We’ll be running and book club, film club and more so expect news. We’re gonna roll it out in phases. Um, but you can sign up now at our base membership level and we would love to see you in there. And, um, thank you Kyle.

Kyle Buller: Yeah, thank you Joe. And thank you everybody. Till next time.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 23, 2025October 7, 2025

Dr. Cat Meyer – Sex, Love, Psychedelics

Headshot of Dr Cat Meyer

In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with Dr. Cat Meyer, licensed psychotherapist, sex therapist, and host of Sex, Love, Psychedelics. Together, they explore the deep intersections of sexuality, trauma healing, psychedelics, and the role of play in human connection.

Dr. Meyer shares her journey from growing up in rural Missouri and navigating early trauma to becoming a leading voice in sex therapy and psychedelic integration. She opens up about her personal healing path, her work with ketamine-assisted therapy, and how tantra, BDSM, and art have shaped her approach to erotic wellness.


Topics Covered

  • Defining the Erotic: Beyond sex, eroticism as vibrancy, life force, and connection to the senses.
  • Personal Story: Dr. Meyer’s early struggles, academic path in marriage and family therapy, and her discovery of tantra and BDSM as transformative practices.
  • Psychedelics and Healing: Her first experiences with MDMA-assisted therapy, ketamine retreats for women, and how these tools can reconnect people with pleasure and embodiment.
  • The Power of Play: Why play is essential for healing, relationships, and cultural transformation—ranging from improv and art to Burning Man experiments.
  • Navigating Power Dynamics: How erotic transference, facilitation, and unconscious needs can shape therapy, sex, and psychedelic work—and why self-awareness is crucial.
  • Feral Mysticism: Rewilding the body, reclaiming personal authority, and embracing vibrancy outside of cultural repression.
  • Pleasure and Illness: How Dr. Meyer works with clients facing chronic pain, fatigue, or illness to maintain erotic connection through presence and small practices.

Key Quotes

  • “Eroticism is the connection to vibrancy, to life—it’s how we engage with the world through pleasure.”
  • “Feeling is power. A discerning human who can feel is a powerful human.”
  • “Psychedelics help us come back into right relationship with our body and with pleasure.”
  • “Play gives us the freedom to experiment, to try, to be vulnerable, and to learn without attaching our worth to the outcome.”

Resources & Links

  • Dr. Cat Meyer’s Website
  • Sex, Love, Psychedelics Podcast
  • Follow Dr. Cat on Instagram: @drcatmeyer
Transcript

This transcript was automatically generated and may contain minor errors or inaccuracies.

Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Here we are. Perfect. Hi everybody. Joe Moore here. Hope you’re all doing great. Psychedelics today we’re joined by Dr. Kat. How are you?

Dr Cat Meyer: I’m so good this morning.

Joe Moore: Yeah, this is gonna be fun. I, I warmed you up with some weird stories and, uh, you had some great suggestions for me.

Dr Cat Meyer: I think that was a, a mutual warming up my friend.

Dr Cat Meyer: I love some in there too.

Joe Moore: So you were a sex therapist out of Los Angeles. You’ve, um, been doing some cap work with clients. Um. Let’s kind of, uh, give people an understanding of what you do right now, and then we’re gonna rewind the tape to kind of like, give people, uh, an idea of how you got here.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Okay.

Dr Cat Meyer: So, um, I would say I’m a, I’m a professional shapeshifter, you do all kinds of things and shift into so many aspects of healing. Um, so I’m a, I’m a licensed psychotherapist [00:01:00] and I work with, uh, sex therapy. I’ve been doing that for about 15 years. Um, specializing in, uh, sexuality, trauma, um, uh, relationships, alternative styles of relationships.

Dr Cat Meyer: I teach a combination of BDSM and tan, so I do workshops, retreats around that. Um, I do ketamine assisted therapy retreats for women around sensuality. So we are doing, uh, cap. Ceremonies, two of them. And then the whole rest of the retreat is based around the integration coming into the body, coming into right relationship with pleasure and the body.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then I, I have a podcast Sex of Psychedelics where I interview experts all on psychedelics, sexuality, um, relationships. And, and I, uh, right now we’re delving into, uh, art as an expression to teach people. ’cause especially right now, what I’ve been running [00:02:00] up against is censorship. Um, watching how words are not fully communicating or landing or being received.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, and I’m noticing how art can, so there’s a way that art and the way that play can reach people and teach people in a way that you don’t have to have these words that seem to be triggering or causing a block. So, um, I’ve been an artist since I was. A baby, like a painting since I was eight. And, um, uh, now getting into more music and, and doing that as a way to get people to feel the erotic nature activate, um, you know, uh, develop that relationship with our bodies and heal.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah.

Joe Moore: So we were just chatting about our mutual friend, um, Didi Gold ppa. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, they were on last week and we chatted about, um, all sorts of things in the book, but I had [00:03:00] Didi define erotic. Yeah. And you just brought the word up. Could you, like what, what’s a kind of functional definition that you like when you’re working with people in this, um, topic?

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah, so what I say with erotic is that it is the connection to vibrancy. It’s the connection to life. Um, it is the. Relationship that we have with the world and, um, the experience of the world through our senses, and particularly as it relates to pleasure. So we experience the world through these data points, the senses, right?

Dr Cat Meyer: Sensuality is taking those senses in, uh, but through the sense of pleasure, the enjoyment. And, uh, so when we’re looking at, uh, you might also hear the word aeros and aeros is often used in union psychology as a symbol for, um, aliveness. And [00:04:00] so we’re looking for things that bring us liveliness, vibrancy, um, life force energy.

Dr Cat Meyer: Some people might hear it used in those terms.

Joe Moore: Yeah, I appreciate that. And I, I’ve been hearing, um, people in kind of, uh, mystical spaces mm-hmm. Using the term, but clearly not in like an explicit kind. Human sex framework, they’re kind of talking about it in, in that kind of like, broader context. Yeah. Um, yeah.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. And I think that’s really important because we’ve, we’ve attached such a narrow definition of sex as this act that we do. You know, we bring bodies together and in, or even our own body and, uh, we connect to it through friction and, and positions. And that really limits the expansive experience of what this does as creation or life or, um, uh, again, I’m gonna use the word [00:05:00] vibrancy.

Dr Cat Meyer: A wakefulness, right? And we are all sexual beings. You can’t really segment that as much as we try to in culture, we say this is, uh. Not sexual or you’re don’t be a sexual person or don’t be a sexually expressed. And yet we are sexual beings that walk this earth. It’s how do we interact with everything around us that is erotic or can be erotic because we can engage with things around us, and it can also be very dead.

Dr Cat Meyer: It can be very, very numb. We can be very disconnected from it or it can bring us down. And so that’s not eroticism, that’s like the opposite of it.

Joe Moore: Mm,

Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. The repression is so interesting. We kind of chatted about historical origins of the repression, but let’s maybe put a pin in it for Okay.

Joe Moore: And then, and then talk about how did you get here? Like, um, [00:06:00] so I, I assume you’re an American. And, uh, you know, the American experience is quite interesting and unique. Um, and yeah, it just, how do you like to tell your story?

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah, yeah. So I, um, I’m from Missouri, so I’m from rural town, Missouri. Um, grew up as a, a traditional Catholic family, and I had some childhood trauma from when I was younger.

Dr Cat Meyer: Sexual trauma when I was younger and leading into a lot of, uh, anxiety, depression, uh, dissociation, panic attacks, um, eating disorders for about 11 years. And, but all of that was done in secret. So all of that was done within my own self and isolated from, from everyone else. So even though I was out in the world, nobody knew that I was doing these things or that these experiences were happening.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then. Um, I really struggled with relationships. Uh, they would last about two weeks and then I would have full panic attack in them. Or as things [00:07:00] started to move towards sex, I would just shut it down and completely deadpan in a relationship. So there was a fascination while there was a fear at the same exact time, and it wasn’t until I was 21 and I was reading a Red Book magazine and they were quoting a sex therapist, and I was like, oh, that’s a job you can have, like, you can actually do that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And mind you, I hadn’t had any sex. Like the most I had done is like make out with everybody in the fraternity, but I was not, not moving beyond that because of the, the deep fear in my body. Uh, I went to California and uh, got my doctorate in marriage and family therapy and immediately dove into. Learning sex therapy.

Joe Moore: And where did you study,

Dr Cat Meyer: uh, Alliant University? Here in Irvine or in Great In Irvine. Yeah. And I, um, going into that, I dove into Tantra first. So studying sacred sexuality [00:08:00] through more of the tantric lineage, um, and then studying more of the, the, uh, philosophical and the um, uh, spiritual aspect of, of tantra, um, through yogic.

Dr Cat Meyer: Traditions. And then that was some of my first indications of how you could feel differently in your body. Um, I was teaching yoga by the age of 1920 and I was like, oh, you can feel differently. That’s interesting. There’s a state change here. And so diving into that work and then, um, alongside, uh, you know, this more sexual erotic side and then the psychology side.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then I got into BDSM when I was 24 and realizing, well, having like a full transcendent experience that was similar to what I was trying to reach in, in the tan world. Like deep states of surrender, altered states of consciousness, like activating different parts of myself, um, different characters in myself, different skills in [00:09:00] myself.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then it just kind of progressed from there. Uh, I met a teacher who taught, uh, Reiki energy and introduced me to metaphysics. And then I got into, you know, this whole different world of healing that was beyond just my traditional sense of, uh, in psychology school. And then I got into plant medicine and it was just, just one thing after another.

Dr Cat Meyer: It’s kind of like when the student’s ready, the teacher comes and it’s here, here’s a new piece, here’s a new piece. I have no idea where I’m going with all of this. I’m just, I’m interested. This looks really cool. Let’s do this. And then in retrospect, seeing how all of these things interrelate with one another.

Dr Cat Meyer: And now I’m gonna place where I can see, so the interweavings of so many different disciplines. And see why some work, why don’t, and then even the expanded definitions of things you see regurgitated in the spiritual community. Things like pleasure, things like eroticism, things like [00:10:00] surrender, like those are actually very complex concepts that we hear on social media or we see, um, spoken on stage and we’re like, we nod our heads.

Dr Cat Meyer: We’re like, yeah, yeah, that’s right. That’s right. ’cause I’ve heard that before, but people don’t actually understand what they’re talking about with that. So is it actually deeply ingrained? So I’ve, I’ve been able to see across these, these disciplines, um, what it actually means.

Joe Moore: When did things like, um, ketamine assisted psychotherapy or maps come on your radar as something you were curious about?

Dr Cat Meyer: I was, I think I was 26. I, um. Had met somebody in the maps world who had introduced to me about things like, uh, MDMA therapy and, um, uh, telling me about the benefits of using that for sexual trauma. And I was like, oh, I’m really [00:11:00] intrigued, you know, being a therapist and, um, having sexual trauma myself. And, and I had worked with somebody and did, um, MDMA, um, therapy, not, not through maps, but this is, you know, a separate and, um, it was really profound.

Dr Cat Meyer: The things that came out of my mouth were things I had literally not told anybody, so I was so fascinated with how easily the words streamed out of my mouth. And then after that and the way the tears streamed down my face so easily, there was like no more filter there. And at the end of that session, I just softly fell asleep.

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, it was like this, this, uh, purge but not an intense hard breakthrough, the protector parts. It was soft and gentle and, and it was out. And that was a really important [00:12:00] phase at that part of my life to even just let it be heard by myself, let it be witnessed by myself being witnessed by another person, which I think is one of the stages that, of healing.

Dr Cat Meyer: That’s really important.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I love that, and thanks for sharing that story. It’s, um, we get these stories from people here and there that are just extraordinary, like unfolding through. Mm-hmm. You know, one or two encounters. Then we have the inverse, right? Where it’s like, oh, you’ve had 30 encounters and you haven’t had that thing you’re looking for yet.

Joe Moore: Um, you know, we, we used to see it in Hochberg breath work. People were like, I just want that rebirth experience. I wanna re-experience my birth. I’m like, why?

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Yeah.

Joe Moore: Um,

Dr Cat Meyer: I, I think ’cause there’s this hierarchy of spiritual spirituality and power, like we all have this real fascination with power and we think, well, if I have that experience, then, [00:13:00] then I have access to a power that other people don’t have. Or it puts me in a category separate than the rest of the world.

Dr Cat Meyer: And, and what do we think that that’s gonna bring us, is gonna bring us safety? Is it gonna bring us, um, you know. Divine knowledge. Is it like, what is that? What is that that we’re wanting from that?

Joe Moore: Yeah, exactly. That makes sense. Um, yeah, reflecting on my own kind of, um, uh, juvenile periods where I’m kind of seeking really hard and like that was part of it.

Joe Moore: It’s like, this isn’t a game I want, and it was kind of like a spiritual bypass and a few other kind of ways of framing it, I’m sure. But, um, yeah, like this is common. Mm-hmm. It’s not, yeah. Don’t judge yourself folks if you have that. Um, just No, I think a part

Dr Cat Meyer: of, yeah. Yeah. I think there, you know, there is a curiosity in us to, I think, you know, Maslow expanded his, his, um, uh, [00:14:00] you know, hierarchy of needs to even include self-transcendence.

Dr Cat Meyer: And even in that, there’s so many, there’s multiple layers in that too. Like, what are we, what are we seeking with that. So there, there may be this intrinsic desire to seek for more, and I think that’s beautiful. It just is. Then can we create a relationship with that seeking and see what is it actually wanting?

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, you know, with people who they wanna have better sex, one of the questions that I ask them is, what about what, what is it that you’re seeking in that better sex? What do you think you’re gonna get with that? And is it, and, and what do you mean by better sex too? A lot of times people are like, they just want more sex, but do they actually like the sex that they’re having?

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, or for me, in the search of better sex, it was, uh, peace. It was more of a, a fluidity and expression. Um, it was like I [00:15:00] didn’t wanna be clenching anymore. I was clenching a lot in my body. And, and it was also. I power, certainly power, you know, self power in myself. And probably at some points even using that, not even probably, I know in some points feeling like if I had a, a sexual power, then I could use that in space.

Dr Cat Meyer: That was valuable too. And so getting in relationship with that of like, oh, am I using this ability to be courageous in my body and in my expression, is that being used as a tool to seduce or to get something as well? And that’s just as powerful or important for us. What is sex, the function of, like, what are we using it for?

Dr Cat Meyer: Is it to create safety? Is it to get resources? Is it to get, um, connection, uh, comfort, um, to feel [00:16:00] something, to prove something? It oftentimes isn’t even just a. Experience of pleasure and enjoyment, but if we don’t get into the question of like, why am I using this? Or what is it? What’s that relationship or function with it?

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, we’re, we’re not actually in power of it ourselves.

Joe Moore: Um, all right, so you’re at the intersection of two really powerful topics. Um, and a lot of people are like, oh, psychedelics can save the world. A lot of people are like, oh, good sex can save the world. And like there’s this kind of, um, interesting intersection. I’m, I’m sure you see lots of assumptions that people have coming in that are.

Joe Moore: Super half-baked maybe, is the kind way to put it. And then there’s, you know, what, what are, what are kind of like some really [00:17:00] half-baked ideas that you see coming forward at the intersection of sex and psychedelics and what, what kind of things do you actually see as like, um, you know, powerful, powerful things often the horizon or that are here now?

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Um,

Dr Cat Meyer: like I said, many of us have this relationship with power, you know, and in power there’s also the desire to wanna be saved. So I see many of us looking to experts, authorities, doctors, not knowing that they have a part inside of them that really wants to be saved. Give me the answer. Take me out of this suffering.

Dr Cat Meyer: Get me out of this place that’s really painful or dangerous for me. And when we say this is the answer, psychedelics or sex, it, it, um, the conviction of that can feel very [00:18:00] enticing to want to give up our, our power, our internal power for that person, um, to do that for us. And that’s very dangerous on many levels because the answer is never black and white and certain.

Dr Cat Meyer: And com you know, we can’t have conviction like that, um, as much as we want that because it’s so complex and the answer is really nuanced and people have a hard time with nuance because it’s, there’s, it changes, it’s dynamic. And the very nature of being human is dynamic. We change from morning to evening.

Dr Cat Meyer: We change from month to month, from year to year, um, through different phases of our life. And we get, we can feel terrified when we’re in, say, the ebb of something. You know, say our libido disappears and we’re like, oh my God, I’m broken. There’s something wrong with me. Or my, [00:19:00] my, my dick isn’t staying up.

Dr Cat Meyer: What’s, what’s wrong with me? Right. I’m not orgasming. And that also is not honoring that the body is in its own dynamic nature, speaking to us, communicating to us. This is a form of communication. It’s a symptom. Um, the nuance is, you know, it really holds that it holds space for us to both be valid in our experience and, um, that the answer can be completely varied and complex.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um. I do believe that both of these things can be highly supportive for us in sex. I’ll start with sex. The importance of sex. Um, and when it comes to healing or when it comes to, um, you know, power in ourselves is that [00:20:00] there’s so much cultural conditioning out there that tells us, this is wrong. This is shameful.

Dr Cat Meyer: You shouldn’t express this way. This is, um, this is dangerous. Um, there’s messages even from the ancient times of, um, making women’s bodies and their erotic expression both as a ritual source and as, um, you know, more of a profane source wrong. That it’s sinful, it’s dirty, it’s, it’s, um, uh, less than. And yet what we know is that when an individual, I’m gonna use, uh, a woman in this case, ’cause I just referred to that.

Dr Cat Meyer: When she’s in her body and she’s in her feeling and she’s in her, uh, expression, that is such an incredibly powerful human being to behold, because when you can feel, you can discern, and a [00:21:00] discerning human is a very powerful human. So think about all the things that turn down our feeling, and that’s a great way to both influence control, um, to reduce somebody.

Dr Cat Meyer: So the same with psychedelics. What I love about psychedelics is that it can also connect us to that feeling. So for many of my clients who’ve had difficult time with, um, you know, they’ve had trauma or they just have the, the impact of the cultural narrative on them, um, that feeling, the relationship with feeling can be very confusing.

Dr Cat Meyer: When they start to feel, whether it’s an emotion or a sensation, they might go into the fear of feeling too much overwhelm or feeling too little, numbness or nothing at all, or feeling mm-hmm. Incorrectly. And so psychedelics can help us to tap back into that feeling. What is it like when your body feels alive?

Dr Cat Meyer: What is it like when you feel energy? What is [00:22:00] it like when you feel sensation and pleasure? MDMA is great for that. It’s, it’s beautiful in that it can, um, I’ve had so many people report to me the, that they could feel emotion again. Um, where they couldn’t before they were really numb to it. Or, um, uh, my clients who’ve had vaginismus or dys hernia, those are painful sex.

Dr Cat Meyer: Uh, they used, uh, they told me they used microdosing of psilocybin and it helped to relax their body helped to relax their, their um, uh, vulva. In a way that they could feel again and feel pleasure or enjoy just being in their body. Um, ketamine is another one, like, in my practice, like, uh, and, and in my retreats, like the women, I teach them how to move their body, you know how to get outta the head and into the body with that medicine, and I’ll see them just like caressing themselves, like they’re just touching their skin here, or they’re, they’re moving their body and it’s, and, and I can tell that they’re [00:23:00] in the enjoyment of their body again, in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them and also doesn’t, you know, numb them out.

Dr Cat Meyer: Now the, the challenge with that is that. Uh, psychedelics can also overwhelm you. They can also barge through the very important protector parts in our body that are designed to protect us, um, or to, you know, to prevent that overwhelm, um, or us accessing something that we’re not ready for. And so how the protocols that we’re putting around that safety we’re putting around that the, the preparation that we’re putting around that is also incredibly important.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, there’s even energetic practices that I’m seeing people teach nowadays where I disagree with some of the protocols that they’re using because they’re forcing too much energy through the body that the body’s not prepared for. So that’s where that can be dangerous and. [00:24:00] Um, I’ve, I’ve worked with a number of individuals who came into my practice.

Joe Moore: Can you name, can you name something that looks like that real quick? The energetic

Dr Cat Meyer: I can. Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah. Um, let’s see. Gosh, I don’t know the name of this other one, but I’ll, I’ll speak to this one. So this one’s, um, kli Kundalini activation process Cap. Um, not to be confused with Ketamine assisted therapy, um, but that one’s one where I’ve received individuals after doing a class where there’s several people and there’s a facilitator, and their bodies weren’t ready for that opening of their, the energetic, uh, flow of their body.

Dr Cat Meyer: And they ended up in a lot of pain, overwhelm, um, confusion, uh, crying, and they could not, they couldn’t calm their body down and. So we would do a, a session and, and I can speak to this ’cause this has happened several times, and so it’s a very general experience that I’ve [00:25:00] seen. Um, and having to work with them and bringing the energy down and bringing more of a self containment again where their teachers weren’t available to talk or they receive the messages of, um, you should just ground or, um, they gave them a list of things to do, but those actions weren’t working because it’s, it, there’s no preparation.

Dr Cat Meyer: For a client or even having a conversation with a client ahead of time, or a student who’s coming to your class ahead of time to see where they’re at with their nervous system health, with, with, um, their hi trauma history, um, with what may be happening in their field to know whether they’re prepared for that or not.

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, psychedelics do this too. It’s, it’s like, like a psychedelic, um, stimulates your nervous system, relaxes the fascia, which is the connective tissue on the body, [00:26:00] so that the energy can flow so much easier. It’s beautiful, and if it’s not held correctly, it can be very, uh, disorienting, disrupting, um, activate psychotic breaks.

Dr Cat Meyer: And I just, you know, I, I fear that there’s not enough infrastructure there to support people or give the resource to know who to go to, what to do.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then, you know, I’ll even speak back to the sex with all of that too. Um, the dangerous side of all of that is also power, you know, comes back to power. Like who are we working with? Um, uh, are there, is there, there’s an, an inherent power dynamic or, uh, in with anybody that we’re seeking help from. And many facilitators don’t realize that, or it’s very seductive to be in a role of power and to be the one that’s [00:27:00] facilitating and offering this healing for somebody.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, and sometimes they don’t even know what’s what stuff of theirs is becoming transferred onto a client or onto, I know somebody that they’re working on. And so their stuff can end up in the space and. They can project their needs onto another client. Therapists do that too. Um, I’m not just saying it’s psychedelic facilitators, but coaches do it too.

Dr Cat Meyer: I just think it’s really, um, hygienic practice, good hygienic practice for us to be doing that work to see what we’re bringing into the space as well.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Yeah, absolutely. I was just chatting with a Norwegian psychotherapist researcher who’s talking more and more about, um, doing the research required such that therapists can actually have their own processes legally with MDMA and other substances such that they have more awareness, um, and more skill in session.

Joe Moore: Right. And

Joe Moore: yeah,

Joe Moore: [00:28:00] that’s it. It’s a, you know, hard thing to sell sometimes, but therapy as a field kind of understands that there are limitations. Um, and there are things that we gotta catch,

Dr Cat Meyer: we do. And there is even talk about, you know, I’ll tie it back to sex, um, erotic, uh, transference and counter transference, which means that what we project onto our clients or our clients project onto us in a neurotic sense, um, uh, can be both used as a tool and used as harm if it’s not, if it’s, you know, moving unconsciously through it.

Dr Cat Meyer: So one of the things that I suggest people and that I do personally is working in, um, cohorts, working in cohorts or working with your own therapists, working, um, you know, I have clients who are therapists and we do their work that shows up in their client sessions because that’s, that’s really important, um, to have a place where you, you know, your stuff is in there.[00:29:00]

Dr Cat Meyer: We can’t pretend like it’s not, but how do we, you know, how do we do that hygiene practice to make sure that we’re consciously aware of it and we, we have a relationship with it. So it’s not unconsciously ruin ruling what’s happening in our sessions with our clients.

Joe Moore: I am muted. Sorry. Everything, you know, what

Dr Cat Meyer: much of the country is in, in the world is muted. So,

Joe Moore: um, I’ll give you a little bit of personal trivia, Kat. Mm-hmm. I, um, I have a kind of thing where I actually show up as a mime, but it’s actually the world’s worst mime, um, who’s actually a clown. So there’s like a, you know, there’s a whole lot of stuff there.

Joe Moore: We’ll get into that later, but commuting is part of it. Mm-hmm. I’ve not been punched yet, but you know, oh, thank God. It’s not always, it’s not always [00:30:00] the, the most, um, well looked upon thing. Um, yeah. So, um, the world being muted. Yeah. So this like, hygiene thing is really important. This, like, self-awareness of power dynamics is super important.

Joe Moore: I don’t know that we’re ever gonna kind of solve it. I just think it’s an active part of humanity and how we’re always gonna kind of interact with each other.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um,

Joe Moore: but we’ve gotta, you know, watch it become more self-aware, can help us in kind of like, um, hopefully seeing the dynamics that could suck us into something like a high control group.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, which is, you know, a, uh, I don’t want to name any right now, but there’s, you know, a handful out there, um, some of whom have been busted up, some are still active, but these dynamics, these erotic kind of, um, things or the power dynamic things can always kinda like. Be things that attract us. But once we all kind of become more aware of that

Joe Moore: mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Kind

Joe Moore: of a little bit [00:31:00] metacognitive maybe. Mm-hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: We

Joe Moore: can kind of protect ourselves and each other. What do you think?

Dr Cat Meyer: You know what, there, I had once had this really awesome therapist years ago who asked me, are you aware of what parts of you are getting their needs met through being a therapist? And I was like, Ooh.

Dr Cat Meyer: Uh, that’s a good question because it’s, it’s funny, we choose these careers or we choose these things and if we’re not aware of, um, what parts of us originally picked it, um, then I don’t think we’re in, in the power of it. We’re not in the power seat of it. And that isn’t to say that there can’t be also a connection of altruism and, and, you know, desire to help people.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um. There may also be another part in there too. And not to shame that part either. It’s just like, oh, I’m, I’m very aware there’s a part of me that’s, whether it’s feeling power in this role of knowledge and helping somebody or this, um, I’m getting the attention [00:32:00] with somebody who’s un their undivided attention on me that I didn’t get when I was younger or, um, uh, I get to intellectually get off on analyzing so many and, and just so it’s, it’s, uh, yeah.

Dr Cat Meyer: It’s, it’s things like that, the nuance, there’s the nuance thing there. Um, it’s not direct. It’s, it’s, um, energetic. It’s, it’s subtle. It’s flexible dynamic.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I’m just thinking about the power and like being in the power. Mm-hmm. After you get some letters after your name and a license, like, it’s a really interesting shift from like.

Joe Moore: You’re not one of the select elite until you have these mm-hmm. You know? Yeah. I’ve had that kind of, I, I, I chose not to go to therapy school. I thought about it long and hard for a long time. Yeah. And I just like decided, I don’t know that that’s for me. Mm-hmm. But, you know, I’ve experienced that. Joe, you’re not a therapist thing a lot.[00:33:00]

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. I’m like, Hmm. Fascinating. I hate that.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Yeah. That’s really unfortunate. ’cause I think that that prevents us all from working together in a multidimensional, um, way where somebody’s eyes and voice in particular way of understanding or seeing something or their dis discipline can pick up something that I can’t, and then I can work with them on that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And we can, we can. We can solve some of these problems and some of these puzzles together. Um, you know, it’s kind of like looking at the, uh, archeologists and when they started working with the geologists, they started uncovering even more and more quickly the mysteries of our ancient time because archeologists don’t necessarily know the science of the rocks and the minerals and, and so it’s just, yeah, there’s space for all of us to work together.

Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. Thanks for that. And I, [00:34:00] um, wanna kind of pivot, um, I had something really good. Okay, here it is. I think I got it again. So, you know, people hear this kind of, oh, sex and psychedelics are like, oh, burning Man, orgy Dome, everybody’s gonna get super high on acid or MDMA and everybody’s having sex with everybody.

Joe Moore: And it’s like, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about. Um, and we’re, you know, I think that’s kind of one of the intellectual. Traps when we start thinking about this. Mm-hmm. As opposed to like, what, what can it unveil? Mm-hmm. Or could it open up for possibility wise, um, for people as in like greater intimacy or all of those, like you’ve had some really good lists earlier of like what people might be looking for.

Joe Moore: And I think, yeah, it’s still the same list. Roughly speaking for the general sex conversation, there might though be some access to things via tantra that are kind of beyond that list, maybe.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Yeah. I dunno, how did I trigger anything? You wanna go off on there?

Dr Cat Meyer: Y yeah. A lot of things. Um, great.[00:35:00]

Dr Cat Meyer: So we can start with, um, actually I can probably answer ’em both at the same time. So I’m working on a model to help people to understand that that erotic evolution can happen on a couple of different levels, across many different categories. So it can start with awareness. As the first step, you know, becoming aware of the con cognitive constructs, you know, the definitions, how we’re identifying ourselves.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, and then it can move into intelligence when we apply what the awareness is and, and we gain more of a, um, interaction with, with these definitions or these roles or these energetics or these emotions. Like how do emotions affect our eroticism, um, and, uh, and sex. And then at the peak of that is acuity, you know, mastery.

Dr Cat Meyer: And that’s where you might, um, you know, study deep [00:36:00] into sacred, sacred sexuality in tantra or, um, become a master in, in BDSM. And, and and what does that even mean? And that can, um, to me, or the fluidity of roles. And to me, when I think of the mastery, it’s like. The full integration and ponten, spontaneous flow of creativity, of our embodiment of these roles that you might see of leadership, follower, masculine, feminine, um, receptive, um, initiator, uh, where you’re not thinking about it, you’re just fully in the dance of it.

Dr Cat Meyer: So I, ILII like to parse it out like that. You can go into sexual evolution and be at any one of those points, and it’s beautiful. It’s any three, one of those three is even better than just being unconscious, which so many of us are [00:37:00] unconsciously driven by the programs and the schemas in the world that the world’s provided to us Now.

Dr Cat Meyer: Many people might be, or, or people might be afraid to go into sex and psychedelics because of those images that you just presented. Um, I also believe that people are afraid to go into this, I guess this likens to that. Um, because what if they go overboard? What if they, they, they like it too much? What if they lose themselves to chaos and, and orgies and body parts everywhere?

Dr Cat Meyer: And it’s insatiable. And I’ve heard that from the narratives of women that I’ve worked with. You know, they’re afraid to get into their, their sexuality or they’re afraid to go to play parties or they’re afraid to make out with women ’cause they’re afraid they’re gonna like it too much and that they’ll be, um.[00:38:00]

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. That they’ll, they’ll burn up and burn out. And with that, I really believe that I am a great embodiment of the feral archetype, meaning like, I have rewild myself and I love being, um, expressively pervasive, uh, perverted. And I love to, um, uh, uh, say sexual innuendos and sex jokes. And, and I love, love the play of that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And I love being wild. I love wearing my underwear around the house and, and just doing, you know, whatever, whatever the fuck I want. And, um, but with that, I don’t burn out because I’ve built such a strong containment of myself.

Joe Moore: Hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: And so the, the, um, development of the skills to be chaos. Is only as supportive and growth inducing as we have a strong [00:39:00] container, and I’m meaning this for ourselves because in in the cultural dialogue, I hear a lot of this like, um, feminine needs a good, strong masculine, you know, or, or a woman can be fully expressed when she has a man that has, you know, can hold her in that and all of her rage and chaos and all that stuff.

Dr Cat Meyer: And the, the challenge with that narrative is that when we don’t develop these for ourselves, we might be outsourcing these skills to somebody else. And then what is our discernment of that person that we’re asking to be that role for us? And that’s where it becomes very tricky. I taught a this, um, class called Feminine Femme Chaos to women who were, um, uh, sugar babies.

Dr Cat Meyer: And they were really wanting to find their power in their, in their eroticism and their sexuality. And so these questions were, um, you know, when you build containment of yourself, [00:40:00] that is things like presence, self-regulation, um, uh, uh, consent negotiation, um, advocacy, direct communication, directness, you know, that builds a sense of intrinsic safety for yourself.

Dr Cat Meyer: And if you don’t have that, you might be looking for somebody to provide these things for you. And this is unconscious. Like, I’m like, you can consciously say, Hey, can you pay for my things? And it’s totally, totally okay. Um, but. When you’re unconsciously wanting somebody else to fill those holes for you or, or hold that for you so we can be in full chaos and expression and, and, you know, all over the place, um, that we might not realize what we’re paying out of our power, out of our safety, out of our, um, you know, anything else that we might be giving up.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, we do this, many of us do this all the time. We’re just not aware of it. Um, [00:41:00] but on the flip side of that, the chaos is full expression. How do we teach ourselves to be in our fullest expression? And, um, the world may not meet us there. There are many times where I’ve said something pervy or sexual and did not land.

Dr Cat Meyer: Did not land. And um, I’ve also built the ability to not, um, collapse in that. I’m like, whoop. Usually I’ll say something like, whoop, that did not land. Tell me how that translated for you. You know? Mm-hmm. But because I have that strong container of myself, I don’t, I don’t need to collapse or fall apart in that.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, it’s taking time. But that’s, those are the skills I think can be helpful. So then we can go to an orgy and be able to say no when we don’t want something. Or we can go to a, um, a, uh, sexual trauma, uh, sexual healing tantric shamanic retreat to learn skills. And because the [00:42:00] facilitator is in a role to teach us, we might say, override our yes or yeah, override our no to say yes for the sake of healing, but that actually doesn’t do it.

Dr Cat Meyer: And it, and it hurts us even more. ’cause we don’t have that sense of, of self containment for ourselves to be able to say no. Mm. Or believe we can.

Joe Moore: Um, I’m gonna pull up a picture that I took yesterday.

Dr Cat Meyer: Oh,

Joe Moore: it’s relevant here.

Dr Cat Meyer: Okay, well, I wonder how relevant.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yes. Oh my God, that’s so cute. So say, says, stay feral with a, what is that?

Dr Cat Meyer: A possum?

Joe Moore: Yeah. With a bow on the head. Um, I like it. Yeah. I’ve been like, kind of like leaning into the term feral a lot lately. Um, as like, I don’t know, there’s, it seems like there is something kind of fundamentally broken about the cultural [00:43:00] container we’re in. Um, I don’t know if it’s fundamental, but it, it appears to be part of the fabric of how everybody’s showing up.

Joe Moore: They’re mediated through this, this kind of cultural container that doesn’t allow people to be wild.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah.

Joe Moore: To be. Uh, feral. Um, I like the term feral mystic a lot.

Dr Cat Meyer: Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Kind of like working on that one a little bit. Mm. What is that? Yeah, what is

Dr Cat Meyer: that? Tell me. Um, well,

Joe Moore: you know, there’s, there’s some in what you said there that kind of like flows right into it.

Joe Moore: It’s like, um, who, who is the authority I’m gonna bend a knee to, or like take a knee to it’s mm-hmm. You know, it’s not Elon. Um, it’s not the orange guy, and it’s like, not, like there’s not, I, I can’t see too many things that I would want to take a knee to, you know? Um, I think taking a knee to your own divinity is the thing.

Joe Moore: Um, and that is the kind of essence of the feral mystic. It’s like, oh, mm-hmm. I’m the thing. We are the thing. Mm-hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Yeah. [00:44:00] The word feral comes from become moving from a domestic state to a rewilding state. And I think that that is a really powerful. Uh, word to, to stand, stand behind, um, as were re rewilding again.

Dr Cat Meyer: But again, it comes back to what I said earlier. There’s power in feeling. There’s power in feeling because we learn the communication of our body and then that, that is, that is our, uh, authentic self authority, and that’s really powerful. Um, there’s, while there is a part of me that has a lot of concern around what’s happening in, in the bigger culture at large, there’s a part of me that has a deep belief in, in teaching people to feel, again, teaching people to come back and write relationship with their body.

Dr Cat Meyer: So that power comes from. [00:45:00] From, you know, from, from the ground up instead of the top down from, from the people that are necessarily in our leaderships. And so, um, that’s what I believe that I feel really strongly for that.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. We’ve been abstracted from all power sources and I think like, figuring out where those are for us and it’s like self ownership.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, in a lot of ways and

Joe Moore: mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: There’s a, there’s a sign at, I guess here we go. There’s a sign when I was driving by DPW one day and I was just like, no masters and there’s a giant guillotine. I’m like, oh boy, you guys are living live and burning in different,

Joe Moore: oh my Lord. Like,

Joe Moore: oh my god. Wow. And, um, yeah.

Joe Moore: And then one of my friend camps, um, hush hush pony bar, and they actually had like a whole guillotine like gag that you actually would, would work through, and you kind of like mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Get your, get your head chopped off. I’m like, oh my God. This is really a cultural moment right now. But also like, you know.

Joe Moore: Taking [00:46:00] your own power back in a certain way, symbolically or otherwise, like, I think is really important because as empires collapse, like the people are still there.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: People survive collapse. Me too. Of, you know. Mm-hmm. Um, Europe did okay after the collapse of the Roman Empire kind of took a little bit.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But they did it. Yeah. Or it evolved

Dr Cat Meyer: like all these places, you know, and that’s something that we need to remember is the constant evolution of the world. The mixing of cultures, the inspiration, the, the melting pot that eventually happens across the globe and, and the ebbs flow shifts. Like it, um, yeah, I’m watching that, you know, the cycles.

Dr Cat Meyer: The repetition of cycles for a millennia. Like a lot of this is not really even new. It’s, it’s just a repeated cycle. We’ve heard these stories again. Um, there’s a lot of people that are going back into the remembrance of [00:47:00] ancient times and history. It’s really powerful to hear people talk about that. Uh, it’s also really important with that, that we check, uh, the interpretations because there’s also a lot of misinterpretations of these things too.

Dr Cat Meyer: And, um, uh, the power of mythology, I guess is important to, um, used to have our own individual interpretations. So it can be that too. Think how much are we gonna know the actual truth of things. So maybe there is space for the, the interpretation. I think that’s just as important.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely.

Joe Moore: There’s so much room for, you know, play in a lot of these areas. Um. Speaking of play, um,

Dr Cat Meyer: oh, I don’t do that.

Joe Moore: So there is, um, just kidding. I, at this great talk last night about like bringing more play into therapy and making therapy [00:48:00] feel like, um, like improv and play can be really, you know, convivial or deadly serious.

Joe Moore: And, um, you know, burning Man’s an example of that. You know, you get the little rubber chickens everywhere. Mm-hmm. Or people are playing with their lives and it’s, it says on the ticket you can die. Mm-hmm. So, you know, there’s, uh, it’s fascinating and I, I see this kind of like, um. Play engine. Mm-hmm. As I think one of our larger opportunities for cultural transformation.

Joe Moore: How do you, how do you like to sit with this kind of concept?

Dr Cat Meyer: Oh, I am the queen of play. I love, love play. I’ve done a lot of research around play and try to keep a pulse on what, what new comes out around play. Um, Stuart Brown does a lot of research around the concept of play and really, um, helps us, helps to define it for us.

Dr Cat Meyer: And it’s, and it’s when we, um, uh, intrinsically are drawn to [00:49:00] do, start doing something, um, there’s no end goal or achievement. Um, a desired outcome per se. It’s more for the desire to do the thing. Um, we’re not in the self-consciousness, um, around doing it right or wrong, and we lose ourselves to it. So flow state, like we lose ourselves to the time, um, or we lose track of time in that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And we all have different ways of playing. There are, uh, some of us are more kinesthetics, some of us are more like, we like collecting things, and that’s a form of play. Some of us like competition. Some of us play in being a director role. Some of us play in, um, creation of art and some of us have play through research.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, I will spend hours researching something and it’s so much fun for me. Love it. I literally drool, uh, for doing it. And, and I believe that that’s [00:50:00] really important for us too because many people or, or the concept of play in society has a lesser priority than say something with a achievement or something that we produce or something.

Dr Cat Meyer: And yet play rejuvenates us with energy. Play also, uh, requires us to be so present with the things that are available to us. You know, improv is an excellent example. We are present to what’s here and we use what’s here. Um, improv, uh, dinner playing. Cooking dinner. You go to your kitchen, uh, you go open your refrigerator.

Dr Cat Meyer: What do I have to engage with to, to, uh, you know, um, participate with. And when we play, there’s the opportunity of, uh, trying something on. We don’t know if it’s gonna work out. And that’s not the point. And it doesn’t matter. We’re experimenting. It also allows [00:51:00] us to, um, uh, oh, where was I going with that? Um.

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, uh, engage with things that might otherwise be incredibly vulnerable. Think about sex. I do, I, I instruct people to do play labs where they go into like 30 minutes with their partner. They bring in whatever they want, a specific position or a toy or an activity. And for 30 minutes they’re playing, they’re experimenting, they’re trying it out, they’re doing different things, seeing what happens.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then after, on the other side of that, they process, they talk what worked, what did they like, what didn’t they like? And now we’re not attaching our personal value to whether something didn’t work. I wanna use this, this, this butt plug. I don’t know if it’s gonna work, but let’s try it out that way I’m not a failure to my partner, or I’m not a failure to myself because we did that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And then when we’re talking about this on more of the [00:52:00] cultural level. Um, burning Man is an excellent example of play, of bringing in the guillotines and bringing in the perverted signs of, um, I make these really unhinged street signs that, you know, it’ll, it’ll be like a stop sign and I’ll write, um, nonstop anal on it, you know, or don’t stop Daddy or, uh, um, when did I, I had one this year that I put rhinestones on it, and it’s originally said parking in rear and I put parking in her rear, and I was just jumping around with those, passing them out to people, letting, let people play with it.

Dr Cat Meyer: And it allows us the ability to engage with sex, with, with, um, you know, perverted in a way, in a fun way. We’re engaging with it. It’s not, I’m not taking it on as, um, any end goal. Accept the joy of it. [00:53:00] And people get to test their, their feelings around it or what comes up for them, or how do they feel when they’re holding that they feel taboo.

Dr Cat Meyer: This is naughty. Oh my God, I’m holding this fucking sign. It’s really an inch and I’m doing it, and it’s, how does it feel for me?

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, burning Man. Uh, you know, coming back to what you said, you know, these things, there’s so many of these unhinged things that are said, and there are times where I’ve taken, taken things out and I’m like, oh my God, how are people gonna respond to this? And Burning Man is a great place to try this part of us out.

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, somebody might have offense to it. Um, and we can be with that. And, and again, do we collapse? Do we try to, do we go into, um, over-explaining or do we just allow somebody to have a, uh, uh, a different perspective? They don’t understand me and the discomfort of somebody not understanding me, um, [00:54:00] is a really great lesson.

Dr Cat Meyer: We all get to learn.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, yeah, it is an interesting place. Do you, like, how do you, 30 seconds or less, what is Burning Man to you? Like what? Um, so like, how, how do we, like, how do you like to talk about Burning Man? Like, I kind of don’t know that I like talking about Burning Man other than telling people not to go. Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Um, oh my God. And making jokes like Burning Man’s ruined my life and stuff like that, where I’m like, you know, on one hand, super serious, on the other hand, total joke. And it’s like, you know, what else can I think about now? You know, now that I’ve, I’ve done this weird thing and engaged in it too much. Yeah.

Joe Moore: Um, you,

Dr Cat Meyer: you know, it depends on who I’m talking to. Um, on Instagram, I’ve, I’ve gone for 10 years in a row, including the Renegade Burn and I. Uh, talk about what [00:55:00] I get out of the experience every time. ’cause to me it’s like a ceremonial experience. I go in there with an intention and then, um, and then I meet whatever experience come happens there.

Dr Cat Meyer: Mm-hmm. And after that, I’m, I’m journaling a lot and processing because there’s lessons I learn, there’s skills I learned, there’s ways I showed up that might be different than, than what I’ve done before. Um, I always do a different experience. I even one year camped, uh, completely solo in my own tent, um, with my own AC unit and, and tried that.

Dr Cat Meyer: And I met the part of me that, um, was self-reliant and could go out into the world and make friends and make joy and fun everywhere with every situation. I didn’t stop smiling the whole time and that was really important for me to learn another year. It was, um, my dad had just died and I went out there and shit, hit the fan everywhere and it was the hardest burn.

Dr Cat Meyer: I was also solo camping by myself ’cause I tried to repeat the year before. And what was powerful was to see all these dads come forward [00:56:00] and help me in each of these situations. So there was something really, um, important for me to learn, like the, the surrender into help and, um, as radical reliant as I felt that I was in the year before this one was, I need help.

Dr Cat Meyer: I need to be held. Um, there was one year I, I had been studying a lot around the Ellucian mysteries and um, Brian Morocco’s work is one of ’em. Um, the author of the Immortality Key and what I saw was. Burning man as a sense of allucian mystery, as in you take a journey and follow me with this. But you take a journey and it may be hard, and you arrive at this place where, uh, this container of ecstatic states, um, mystery, uh, drugs in psychedelics, you know, um, meeting other [00:57:00] people, expanded consciousness, um, spontaneous, um, ply providing you with something that you, you manifested or you were wanting.

Dr Cat Meyer: And, and, and so I saw it from more of like a, a, a mystical sense. Um, in that year. And so every year it’s, it’s something new and different. I think it’s just a container if you wanna treat it as such for evolution, personal evolution, or you can treat it, you know, it’s like the sacred and profane. It can be something that’s really sacred.

Dr Cat Meyer: It can also be profanity and it can be the combination of both of those where sacredness can be found in profanity. Um, you know, the divinity and the humanness. Um, when I’m saying sacred and profane, I’m referring to the humanness of that, and both of ’em can exist at the same exact time.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Joe Moore: There’s so much there in this like weird cultural experiment and there’s the best and [00:58:00] worst of humanity there. Mm-hmm. Everybody brings their best and worst to burning man. Yep. And it’s like, um, I, you know, I’ve learned so much. I’ve only gone four in a row. Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Um.

Joe Moore: I, you know, made a ridiculous decision to bring an art car second year, and you learned,

Dr Cat Meyer: I’ve learned a

Joe Moore: lot and, um, Uhhuh.

Joe Moore: Yeah, it’s fascinating and there’s so much education that can happen there. Self knowledge, you’re like, oh. And, you know, hopefully you have people to help you, um, kind of learn from it too. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh, how did I show up? Super fucked up here.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you

Joe Moore: for telling me. Yeah, yeah.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. And I also think it’s such a microcosm of the macro world, you know, as much as it wants to be, it has this desire to be, um, non-central government that’s created as much as it wants to be free from judgment and, and you know, like a fluidity of a mix of people.

Dr Cat Meyer: There’s judgment, [00:59:00] there’s darkness, there’s curmudgeon, there’s, there’s crustiness, there’s, um, you can’t do this thing because you have money and, and you can’t plug and play. You can’t do this like. That’s exactly what the rest of the world is looking like. So it’s, I don’t, and I also don’t see anything wrong with that either.

Dr Cat Meyer: It’s just a mirror. Like it’s just a, this is what happens when you grow a society to be as big as it is. Um, does it turn up emulating the world that we’re trying to not be like?

Joe Moore: Yeah. Mm-hmm. And what do you think about like, um, pop media’s kind of presentation of it in the last couple years where it’s like the focus is on orgy dom only?

Joe Moore: Yeah. That’s a mirror and a half. Yeah. That’s all you know about. Yeah. And that’s interesting.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. People like sensationalism. People want entertainment. They wanna hear that there was cannibalism at Burning Man and [01:00:00] Ebola, you know, broke out in Mud Burn. You know, like, because, and here’s the thing is like media as entertainment, um, brings feeling into the body.

Dr Cat Meyer: It’s since it’s, it’s sensation, it’s panic, it’s anxiety, it’s fear, it’s, you know, like all these, um, uh, feelings where our everyday life might be really mundane. It might be, we might be numb to every day. We might be. So, uh, how many of us are reading. The news, you know, in, in this case, burning Man. Um, for the excitement, oh my God, that happened.

Dr Cat Meyer: Wow. That’s, I can’t even believe there’s an orgy dome where people have sex next to each other. Like, what? You know, so I, I, I just, I, I kind of laugh at it. I’m like, I remember after Mud burn, um, walking out, you know, two miles. And just being super joyful and going into [01:01:00] the, um, uh, what do you call that, the casinos, um, to clean up and, and rest finally, you know, ’cause I was exhausted and feeling I was in a totally different dimension walking through the casino floor.

Dr Cat Meyer: And people, you know, I look grungy, I look totally dirty, totally smelly. And people are like, you’re coming from, from from Burning Man. Did you get that Ebola? You know? And I’m like, I’m like, huh, yeah, I can’t, I can’t handle this right now. Um, no, I did not. But it’s interesting. But they’re, they’re like, it’s exciting for, for, um, the world and, um.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah, we’re looking for entertainment, we’re looking for life. We’re looking for, you know, here’s the, coming back to eroticism, the word ologist, aliveness. And so are we finding aliveness in these, these, uh, shocking sensationalized news and yeah. Maybe. [01:02:00] Mm-hmm. Or do we wanna come into the vulnerable feeling aspect of pleasure, but most people don’t want that.

Dr Cat Meyer: ’cause that takes time.

Joe Moore: Right, right. Um, yeah. There’s so much here to dig into. Um, so we’re at roughly speaking time. We don’t need to hurry, but I wanna, you know, respect your day and like what are, what are some maybe kind of gems you or things we didn’t hit that you might wanna leave folks with as we kind of work towards the end here?

Joe Moore: Hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: Oh, here’s something, um, I shared with you before we started recording. Um, so I had been, for the last eight, nine months, I’ve been dealing with long COVID symptoms, um, that activated my Epstein bar activated, um, old mold, uh, uh, poisoning that I had, uh, a couple years ago. Hmm. [01:03:00] And it’s left me for the eight months feeling, uh, dealing with chronic fatigue, foggy brain, um, pain in my body, like waking up and having pain in my body.

Dr Cat Meyer: Like all the inflammation markers were through the roof. And it tanked my hormones and it tanked my, um, cortisol levels and it tanked, like it just brought the worst out of the physical body. And I think so many people are struggling with this and they don’t know what they can do, um, as it relates to their sex life.

Dr Cat Meyer: Like right now, I’m working with amazing functional doctors who have me, you know, um, doing ozone and hormone therapy and, and um, you know, working with inflammation, glutathione, things like that. However, during this process, it was the greatest lesson for me of how do you stay erotic? How do you continue to nurture your sex life with yourself and with your partner [01:04:00] amid chronic illness, chronic pain, chronic fatigue?

Dr Cat Meyer: And the solution of that is coming into relationship with pleasure. And I’m gonna explain that more versus just what’s regurgitated on social media. Pleasure is really important. Pleasure. Um, is that the feel good sensation in our body when we can relax our nervous system to, to connect with it? In therapy, I teach this very basic practice called glimmers and glows.

Dr Cat Meyer: This is a somatic practice that when we stop and we can consciously connect with something in our environment, um, that might feel good and a feel good. Um, for people who, who, who haven’t had pleasure in their bodies or don’t have those reference points, is this subtle expansion of the body. We shift, um, into the parasympathetic system and, and, [01:05:00] uh, things open a little bit.

Dr Cat Meyer: Um, I have birds outside. I leave my windows open, I hear the birds outside and I’ll, I’ll just stop for a moment and hear the birds and I feel my body shift into that parasympathetic state and it feels nice. Now, that’s a glimmer and if you stay connected with that 30 seconds to a minute. Even it shifts into what’s called a glow, and it expands and deepens that regulated state and it expands the threshold of what you can tolerate.

Dr Cat Meyer: So pleasure is very important for the health of our nervous system, just on a basic level. Um, it’s not really basic, but on that, on that foundational level. Um, now when we’re chronically fatigued, when we’re in pain, a lot of times we don’t want to be in the body ’cause that’s where the source of this is.

Dr Cat Meyer: And yet you can connect with pleasure through just your [01:06:00] breath. Like if everybody just pauses and takes a slow breath in and a slow breath out, there’s something pleasurable about doing that. Or if you walk outside, I do this practice, um, I live in, um, in the mountains and I’ll go out for a walk and just be in tune with the sensations, the birds, the wind, the, the sound of the trees, the, the wind going through the trees, the feeling of my, uh, feet on the earth or the, my bare feet on the earth.

Dr Cat Meyer: And that increases your sensitivity, relaxes the body, especially if there’s any clenching going on in the body because of pain or, or fatigue. And you can see the whole body have a state change. It may not get rid of the, the pain, but, but there’s, you’re, you’re developing a relationship with the body still, or, um, when you’re engaging in with your partner.[01:07:00]

Dr Cat Meyer: You know, bringing in the presence, bringing in the slowness, connecting to what feels good, and acknowledging where you’re at. There were times where I told my partner, I don’t want penetration or I don’t want to orgasm. I even said, I don’t wanna orgasm, because it took a lot of energy in that moment and I didn’t have any.

Dr Cat Meyer: So allowing ourselves to, to fall into like a melted state of just touching and breathing and enjoying each other. And sometimes that would open up to more and sometimes that wouldn’t. But that continual coming back to things like that, while also honoring where the point, where the end point actually is, where the limit actually is, prevented me from going into a zero to 100, um, pattern of nothing at all or all the way.

Dr Cat Meyer: So many people do. If they start flirting, this is [01:08:00] gonna go to penetration, and I don’t want that, so I’m not gonna flirt at all. You know? Or, um, if I start making out with them, that’s gonna go to penetration. I don’t want that. So I’m just not gonna make out at all. I’m just gonna push their hand off of me.

Dr Cat Meyer: And that’s unfortunate because we’re losing all of these other realms that we might actually be available for or can even contribute to both our healing, um, of the physical body as well as the relationship.

Joe Moore: Mm-hmm.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. So that’s what I’ll tell people, like, just because there’s pain, just because you’re sick or just because you’re in this state doesn’t mean all of that’s not available to you. And, and you just, you can start with small things and that’s actually incredibly profound. Mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. It moves the door, um, the perceived realm of possibility and a lot of other things and mm-hmm.

Joe Moore: Actually getting pleasures, just medical. So, um, it is, it is.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah. Mm-hmm. [01:09:00] And if you need psychedelic help, you know, think that that might also, might be available for you too. Ketamine is an antic. It’s, you know, prevents pain. It helps with some of the pain. So, um, or it helps lift the heaviness of depression and anxiety so that you can feel, connect and pleasure again or, um, so you can be in your body more easily too.

Joe Moore: Hmm. So where can people find out more about your private practice and workshops and mm-hmm. Other things you have going on?

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah, so they can go to dr kat meyer.com. That’s D-R-C-A-T-M-E-Y-E r.com. Um, they can also find me on Instagram at the same name. And, uh, my podcast is Sex Love Psychedelics on Spotify and, and, uh, iTunes and all those, all those podcasty things.

Joe Moore: Outstanding. Amazing. Well, Dr. K Myers has been lovely. Thank you so much. [01:10:00] I hope we get to do more. Um, we had a lovely conversation a while ago about the history of a lot of this stuff, and yeah, it’d be fun to dig into that in the future if you’re up for it.

Dr Cat Meyer: Oh God, let’s do it. Let’s be nerds and dig, dig deep into the past.

Dr Cat Meyer: Yeah.

Joe Moore: Love it. Well, thank you so much and, um, until next time. Appreciate it.

Dr Cat Meyer: Thank you.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on August 15, 2025April 14, 2026

Toad, Truth, and the Trouble with 5-MeO: Why Bufo alvarius Needs Our Protection

The Sonoran Desert toad (Incilius alvarius, formerly Bufo alvarius) produces 5-MeO-DMT in its skin. Demand for that molecule now pressures a fragile animal. Retreats and celebrity stories fuel it. The result is stress on a wild species and its habitat. This piece is pro-facts, pro-ecology, and pro-ethics. Fund population science. Stop pressuring wild toads. Use synthetic instead.

Facts, not myths

These toads spend most of the year underground. They breed when summer rains come. They use temporary pools, canals, and other water sources. Counts swing. In some years people see many toads; in other years almost none. Rain, landscaping, and artificial water drive much of that change. A summer boom is not proof of health.

There is no verified ancient Indigenous practice of smoking toad secretions. The modern practice began in the 1980s after a self-published pamphlet by “Albert Most” (Ken Nelson) explained how to collect and smoke them. A later “revival” story tied to Seri/Comcaac people is false.

The pressures on the toad

Poaching is a problem. Capturing and “milking” toads stresses and displaces them; many die trying to return to their home ranges. But poaching is not the only pressure. Habitat is lost to development and water diversion. Road kill of amphibians here is substantial. Invasive bullfrogs prey on natives. Monsoon timing shifts with climate change. UV-B harms eggs and larvae. Chytrid fungus spreads fast and kills populations.

Two points:

• Sourcing claims are not verifiable in an underground market. Some try to handle animals carefully and release them where found, but illicit supply chains don’t work this way. Buyers cannot verify provenance.
• Good intentions can still cause harm. Moving amphibians or holding them in bins spreads chytrid. Ad-hoc captive holding drifts toward CAFO-like setups: crowded, unsanitary, and cruel. Toad tourism also adds lights, roads, and people to breeding zones, raising mortality.

Cartels have noticed demand. Reports from Mexico describe cartel-linked night harvesting and trafficking of toads and their secretions. When a wildlife product gets hot, professional exploiters move in and out-compete “ethical” claims.

Are toads endangered? We don’t know
We lack a modern, range-wide population study. The IUCN still lists I. alvarius as “Least Concern,” based on a 2004 assessment. California treats the species as extirpated. New Mexico lists it for protection. Arizona restricts collection. NatureServe calls the global rank “Secure,” but state ranks vary. We need data.

Next steps? Commission a government-backed, university-partnered survey across Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora, and Sinaloa. Map key breeding sites. Set baselines. Update status. Then wildlife agencies can use standard tools: habitat protection, permit rules, and, if needed, listings.

Toad vs. tryptamine

Chemically, 5-MeO-DMT is 5-MeO-DMT. Synthetic is the same molecule. Surveys and naturalistic studies show high rates of “mystical-type” experience from both synthetic and toad-sourced material. The animal does not add an extra essence beyond the molecule.

Toad secretions are a mix of 5-MeO-DMT and other alkaloids, including bufotenin, which may increase cardiovascular risk and body load. Ratios vary. Dosing is inconsistent. Synthetic avoids extra alkaloids and allows precise dosing.

Cost and scale also favor synthetic. Markets show routes from low-cost materials, even melatonin. There is no ecological or economic case for milking wild toads for a compound we can make.

A fair critique of synthetics—and the answer

Making fine chemicals produces waste. In regulated pharmaceuticals, ~5–50 kg of waste is generated per kilogram of product. Under prohibition, clandestine labs may dump solvents and reagents. Waste is a real problem. That does not justify wildlife extraction. The answer is regulated, above-ground production with enforceable environmental and worker safety standards. Decriminalization works

Why blanket bans are not the fix

Parts of the U.S. already restrict or ban collection. California treats the species as gone. Drug-war logic tends to make markets more dangerous. It does not solve root problems. Do this: reduce demand for toad-sourced material, improve lawful access to synthetic, enforce wildlife laws, and fund population science. If the data show a decline, apply the normal endangered-species rules. We need numbers and action.

The market problem

Some claim to harvest “ethically.” Buyers can’t verify. As demand rises for 5, the cheapest supply wins. Predatory actors keep “blood toads” in bins or a chain link fence. They are harvested repeatedly and moved between sites. Disease spreads. Welfare collapses. Buyers cannot easily distinguish between them at the time of purchase.

What you can do

• Choose synthetic, not toad. The experience comes from the molecule.
• Say so, publicly. Inform facilitators and retreat operators that you will not purchase toad-sourced materials. Push sellers to drop it.
• Support field work. The Tucson Herpetological Society’s Sonoran Desert Toad Fund backs monitoring and research.
• Read credible work. Start with Robert A. Villa’s biocultural history and conservation analysis, and Anny Ortiz’s myth-busting on “ancestral” claims.
• Educate. Informed consent should include ecosystem impacts. Share what you learn.

A personal note

I’ve worked in psychedelics for years. I don’t want a species’ blood on our hands. Our search for healing can cause harm. We should face that. We have a clean option here. Use the synthetic molecule. Leave the toad alone. If these tools connect us to nature, our methods should also honor it.

Editor’s note / Call to action

If this matters to you, donate to the Tucson Herpetological Society’s Sonoran Desert Toad Fund and share this article with peers who may not know the stakes. Choosing synthetic 5-MeO-DMT today helps keep wild toads in the desert tomorrow. Let’s work towards a safe supply for humans and toads.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on August 5, 2025August 6, 2025

GLP-1 Drugs, Psilocybin Mushrooms, and the Case for Sublingual Psilocin

Image of a psilocybe cubensis musroom with a GLP-1 syringe.

More people than ever are taking GLP-1 receptor agonists—drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy, and Mounjaro. These medications, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, are now widely prescribed for weight loss. They work by mimicking the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone, which regulates blood sugar, slows stomach emptying, suppresses appetite, and alters gut motility.

This creates a digestive bottleneck. Food stays in the stomach longer. Movement through the intestines slows. Absorption becomes less predictable.

If you’re taking psilocybin mushrooms while on GLP-1 meds, this matters.

Psilocybin is a prodrug. It isn’t active in the body until converted into psilocin (4-HO-DMT). Psilocin is the compound that actually interacts with serotonin receptors. This conversion happens primarily in the gut and liver after oral ingestion. For most people, peak effects from mushrooms come 45 to 90 minutes after dosing.

GLP-1 agonists can slow down the process.

Some reports suggest that the interaction between GLP-1 drugs and psilocybin mushrooms can lead to:

  • Delayed onset (2+ hours)
  • Blunted or unpredictable effects
  • Abrupt drop-offs instead of a gradual taper
  • “Non-event” experiences where no noticeable effects occur

This is an important topic for several reasons, including control, safety, and proper expectation-setting. People are not getting the dose-response they expected and sometimes need to redose, or think they may be a non-responder.

A Community-Sourced Solution

In private Signal groups this week, a sharp observation emerged: what if you bypass the gut altogether?

One way to do that is through sublingual (under the tongue) or buccal (cheek pouch) administration of psilocin—the compound that psilocybin becomes after conversion. Psilocin is already active and can cross mucosal membranes into the bloodstream quickly, without requiring interaction with the stomach or intestines.

This method of delivery isn’t new. LSD, DMT, and ketamine lozenges can all be taken this way. It offers:

  • Faster onset (often within 10–20 minutes)
  • Higher bioavailability due to avoidance of first-pass liver metabolism
  • Less dose variability, since absorption doesn’t rely on digestion
  • Greater consistency, especially for people with GI disorders or those on meds that slow digestion

In the context of GLP-1 users, this could restore reliable access to psychedelic states that mushrooms alone might not deliver.t

Pharmacokinetics 101

To understand the benefit here, consider the basics of how psilocybin works in the body:

  • After oral ingestion, psilocybin is dephosphorylated into psilocin in the liver and gut, primarily via alkaline phosphatase.
  • Psilocin then binds to 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, initiating the psychedelic experience.
  • Sublingual administration of psilocin skips the enzymatic conversion stage and enters systemic circulation more directly.
  • Oral psilocybin undergoes first-pass metabolism, which can vary significantly between individuals and can be altered by drugs such as GLP-1 agonists.

This metabolic detour—via the mouth, rather than the gut—could make a significant difference.

Stability and Access

There are tradeoffs. Psilocin is more chemically unstable than psilocybin and more prone to oxidation. It requires careful formulation, often in a stabilized liquid or film. It’s also more tightly scheduled in many jurisdictions.

But these challenges aren’t insurmountable.

Pharmaceutical startups, underground chemists, and harm reduction collectives are already exploring stable psilocin preparations, including nasal sprays, tinctures, injections, and lozenges. The sublingual route may become increasingly relevant as more people navigate the intersection of psychedelics and modern medicine.

Why This Matters

Psychedelic therapy is maturing, but our assumptions about preparation and dosing still lag behind. As we move toward increases in regulated access and inclusive models of care, we need to continue deepening our understanding of how common medications—SSRIs, benzos, and now GLP-1 drugs—affect psychedelic experiences.

We also need to keep space for community insight. This workaround—raised quietly by anonymous voices in encrypted chat groups—is a good example.

No need for a white paper.

The logic is clear.

The implications are important.

Final Thoughts

If you’re working with clients who are using GLP-1 agonists and planning to take mushrooms, be cautious. Test doses may underperform. Delayed peaks can confuse expectations and schedules. Stronger-than-expected effects can hit suddenly hours later.

This is an area that is ripe for further study.

In the meantime, sublingual psilocin offers a compelling alternative, rooted in pharmacology, supported by anecdote, and increasingly accessible.

We’re in new territory. Let’s learn together.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 29, 2025July 31, 2025

Chad Charles – Integrating 5-MeO-DMT: Therapy, Harm Reduction, and Best Practices

In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with Chad Charles — educator, mentor, and practitioner specializing in 5-MeO-DMT therapy.

Chad shares his decade-long journey working with 5-MeO-DMT, emphasizing the importance of:

  • Practitioner training and mentorship
  • Personalized, therapeutic alliances
  • The nuanced understanding of dissociative states
  • Ethics in standardized clinical dosing
  • A trauma-informed approach to psychedelic care

He also introduces his upcoming research project, analyzing 500+ one-on-one sessions to illuminate best practices and ethical frameworks in the 5-MeO-DMT space. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about harm reduction, responsible facilitation, and the future of psychedelic therapy.


🕒 Episode Breakdown

  • 00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
  • 00:41 – Chad Charles’ Background and Work
  • 02:18 – Defining 5-MeO-DMT
  • 05:28 – Breathwork and Therapy
  • 09:22 – First Experiences with 5-MeO-DMT
  • 18:00 – Training and Ethical Considerations
  • 30:41 – Conscious Surrender vs. Submission Experience
  • 31:18 – Ethical Considerations in Psychedelic Research
  • 32:02 – Understanding Dissociative Doses
  • 33:26 – Empowering Individuals Through Therapeutic Alliance
  • 34:26 – Challenges in Contemporary Science
  • 38:02 – Good Practice vs. Malpractice in Psychedelic Therapy
  • 41:51 – Personal Experience and Practitioner Responsibility
  • 46:52 – Addressing Malpractice and Corrective Experiences
  • 01:00:11 – Physical Health Considerations in Psychedelic Therapy
  • 01:02:21 – Future Directions and Research in Psychedelic Therapy
  • 01:05:43 – Conclusion and Contact Information
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Mattha Busby: Power, Pleasure, and the Psychedelic Movement’s Reckoning

PT 612 - Mattha Busby - Headshot

In this wide-ranging conversation, journalist Mattha Busby joins Joe Moore to reflect on the shifting tone of the psychedelic movement in the wake of Psychedelic Science 2025. Based in Vancouver, Mattha has written for The Guardian, VICE, Esquire, TIME, and Wired, bringing a uniquely embedded yet critical lens to the space.

They discuss the post-conference mood and the sense that the industry is sobering up—less hype, more introspection. Mattha reflects on the growing division between underground practitioners, activists, and biotech startups, and the importance of vision, ethics, and scrutiny in the midst of this cultural moment.

Other topics include:

  • Ketamine overuse and dependence, especially in social and parenting contexts
  • The future of psychedelic nightlife, harm reduction, and mocktail bars
  • Gender and sexual fluidity as uncovered through psychedelics
  • Questions of IP, underground wisdom, and psychedelic ownership
  • Psychedelics as tools for peacebuilding, especially in conflict zones
  • The shadow side of spiritual experiences and how to spot bad actors
  • The value of pleasure, intimacy, and human connection in the psychedelic journey

Joe and Mattha also reflect on the resurgence of psychedelic use in Texas, the legacy of the Stark Club, and how Christian libertarianism and military trauma might influence unexpected policy changes.

This conversation is bold, honest, funny, and thoughtful—exactly the kind of cultural critique the movement needs right now.

Find Mattha on Instagram at @matthamundo and on LinkedIn at Mattha Busby. His new pocketbook on drug policy is available now.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Is the DEA Sabotaging Psychedelic Research? Inside the Push to Schedule DOI and DOC

In this episode, Joe interviews renowned chemist, filmmaker, and journalist, Hamilton Morris. 

After originally backing down from its first attempt in 2022, the DEA is once again looking to apply schedule I status to two lesser-known compounds: DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) and DOC (2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine). For decades, DOI and DOC have been incredible tools for researchers studying serotonin receptors, showing promise for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and more.

Originally recorded as a livestream in November, we felt this discussion deserved more attention, as Morris was present during the hearing and saw first-hand the damage that can come from the combination of immense overreach and outdated beliefs.

He talks about:

  • The bureaucratic mess behind so much of what the DEA does
  • The safety profile and research capacity of DOI and DOC and complete lack of data showing recreational use
  • The DEA’s claim that advocates weren’t experts
  • The fight to protect the Sonoran Desert toad

and more!

While we wait for the conclusion of the hearing, head to Hamilton’s Patreon to hear his daily breakdowns.

Links

Watch this episode on YouTube

Hamiltonmorris.com

Hamilton Morris patreon

PT Live: Joe Moore & Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Discuss the DEA’s Hearing on DOI & DOC

SSDP.org: Stop the DEA from Scheduling DOI & DOC!

PT268 – PCP, 5-MeO-DMT, and The Synthesis of New Psychedelics, featuring: Hamilton Morris

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on January 3, 2025January 25, 2025

Pot for the People: Debunking Cannabis Myths and Empowering Consumers

What is RSO? What is THC-A? Do sativa and indica really mean what we think? How much do we really know about cannabis?

In this episode, Joe interviews Angie Roullier: longtime veteran of the cannabis industry and author of the book, Pot for the People: The Plant, the People, and the Shop Policies of Cannabis.

Diagnosed with the neurological disorder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), Roullier tells the story of how cannabis replaced all her medications, which led to a personal journey and career centered on cannabis education. She talks about the challenges patients face in today’s rapidly evolving cannabis markets, misconceptions surrounding cannabis, the ignorance of many budtenders, and how not knowing enough can lead to an underwhelming high. She discusses how she educated people in shops and how her book was written to teach people how to ask the right questions to not only ensure a safe and effective experience, but to also give them the experience they’re looking for.

She talks about:

  • The early days of Michigan’s medical program and the state’s current attempt to essentially combine medical and recreational markets
  • Cannabis culture and an emerging “I can take more milligrams than you” bravado
  • Why understanding terpenes and the entourage effect can be game-changing toward finding a preferred strain
  • The rise of hemp-derived THC products, the regulatory loopholes they exploit, and their potential risks
  • Why home growers and caregivers are essential to the cannabis ecosystem

and more!

Links

Potforthepeople.co

Bookshop.org: Pot for the People: The plant, the people, and the shop policies of cannabis, by Angie Roullier

Mayoclinic.org: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation

Leafly.com: What is Rick Simpson Oil? Your complete guide to RSO

Dosedmovie.com

Burningdaily.com: Is THCA Legal in South Carolina? Understanding the Legal Landscape

YouTube: Grandmas Smoking Weed for the First Time (likely the video Joe is talking about)

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 31, 2024January 25, 2025

How Psychedelics Can Help Build a Better You: The Power in Letting Go

In this episode, Kyle interviews Tommy Aceto: former Navy Seal and trauma medic, and now, ambassador for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition and advisor at Beond Ibogaine.

He talks about how much the psychedelic space focuses on healing and mental health, but doesn’t talk enough about the overall wellness that can come from a consistent practice: that the more you become aware of your body, emotions, and breath, the more robust your neural pathways will become – and that you can actually change your neurochemistry and build a more energetically powerful system. With these pathways being opened, fewer psychedelic experiences are necessary, and with practice, these mind states can be achieved simply through meditation or breathwork. The idea of surrender and entering a state of receivership is scary, but he believes the most important skill to begin that transformation is to learn how to truly let go.

He also talks about:

  • What the psychedelic scene is like in Nashville and the south
  • His work with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and what happened with the bill to grant 42 million for ibogaine research
  • His most powerful 5-MeO-DMT experience and how it reconnected him with the divine
  • The science and practice of gratitude: how reframing painful experiences can actually rewire the brain
  • How cold exposure (notably ice baths) can prepare your system for a psychedelic experience

and more!

Happy New Year from all of us at Psychedelics Today. Let’s hope for big psychedelic wins in 2025!

Links

Beondibogaine.com

The Veteran Community and Operator Syndrome: Psychedelics and Redefining Pain Management, featuring: Tommy Aceto

Ky.gov: Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission

Wbryanhubbard.com

Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition

Filtermag.org: Kentucky Shelves Plan to Use Opioid Settlement Cash for Ibogaine Pilot

Nbcnews.com: One doctor vs. the DEA: Inside the battle to study marijuana in America

Missionwithin.org

Peter Hendricks Ph.D. – Is Psilocybin Helpful For People Who Abuse Cocaine?

PT377 – Integrative Medicine: Health, Wellness, and Psychedelics, featuring: Andrew Weil, M.D.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor

Psychedelic Education Center: End of Year sale

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 24, 2024December 30, 2024

Rethinking Addiction and Treatment Models: Is the Recovery Community Ready for Psychedelics?

Psychedelics are going mainstream, but society’s views on addiction and recovery models are still behind. Is the recovery community ready for psychedelics?

In this episode, Joe interviews Dan Ronken: licensed professional counselor and addiction counselor with a private practice in Boulder, CO, called Inclusion Recovery, and lead trainer and facilitator for the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI).

He tells his story of going from a sponsored BMX racer to three stints in rehab before the age of 14, and what he’s learned from his experiences in recovery over the years: that there is a wide range of what ‘in recovery’ actually means, that abstinence-only and 12-step models don’t work for many, that connection and community – and consistency in both – are enormous parts of what actually leads to overcoming an addiction, and more. As recovery communities cautiously begin to talk about psychedelics, he highlights the importance of nuance in understanding addiction, the need for open-mindedness toward new therapeutic approaches, and the need for diverse support networks that welcome discussions around psychedelics.

He talks about:

  • Inducing alcohol cravings before an intramuscular ketamine shot as a way of using neuroplasticity to rewire the brain’s relationship with alcohol
  • How Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, benefitted greatly from LSD in the 50s, and how Ronken originally scoffed at such a concept
  • The growing visibility of psychedelics in popular media, as seen in shows like “Loudermilk” and “Ted Lasso”
  • The benefits of sober communities coming together for active and healthy activities

and more!

Links

Inclusionrecovery.com

Nature.com: Ketamine can reduce harmful drinking by pharmacologically rewriting drinking memories

Psychedelics and Addiction Recovery: Microdosing and Redefining the Path to Sobriety, featuring: Danielle Nova

Beyond the Brain: Birth, Death, and Transendence in Psychotherapy (Suny Series in Transpersonal & Humanistic Psychology), by Stanislav Grof

Hazeldenbettyford.org

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book

Saving Normal: An Insider’s Revolt against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life, by Allen Frances, M.D.

Psychedelicsinrecovery.org

Imdb.com: Loudermilk

Imdb.com: Ted Lasso

Thephoenix.org

Lucid.news: Bill Wilson, LSD and the Secret Psychedelic History of Alcoholics Anonymous

Distilled Spirits: Getting High, Then Sober, with a Famous Writer, a Forgotten Philosopher, and a Hopeless Drunk, by Don Lattin

YouTube: Bill W. (2012 documentary)

The Rose Of Paracelsus: On Secrets & Sacraments, by William Leonard Pickard

Pubmed: Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 20, 2024December 20, 2024

The Mystical Roots of Psychedelics: Exploring Dreams and the Liminal State

What can we learn from the mystical roots of psychedelics? And what can we learn from dreams?

In this episode, Joe interviews Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D.: co-founder of VCENNA, a drug discovery and development company, and Magi Ancestral Supplements, which sells nootropics inspired by ancient Eastern traditions.

He discusses his journey into the world of plant extraction, how he first discovered compounds like Haoma and Harmaline, and why he decided to bring Iranian tradition to the psychedelic renaissance. He explores the similarities between psychedelics and experiences found in mystical traditions, and how that historical context can inform modern psychedelic practice. He sees this exemplified most with dream recollection, attending to the emotions found within dreams, and the concept of wakeful dreaming, where one can access unconscious insights consciously, through the liminal (or hypnagogic) state between dreaming and wakefulness. 

He discusses:

  • Zoroastrianism and how the teachings of Zarathustra on understanding morality have inspired him
  • Syrian Rue in Iranian culture, and how it compares to the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine: Is it actually stronger than ayahuasca?
  • Henry Corbin’s practice of embodied imagination and Jung’s concept of active imagination
  • Other less-discussed compounds he’s interested in, like Ephedra and Saffron

and more!

Links

Vcenna.com

Ancestralmagi.com

Ancestral Magi linktree

PT465 – Beta-carbolines, Haoma, and Syrian Rue: Rediscovering Ancestral Knowledge, featuring: Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D. & Jonathan Lu

Haoma and Harmaline: The Botanical Identity of the Indo-iranian Sacred Hallucinogen Somo and Its Legacy in Religion, Language, and Middle Eastern Folklore, by David Stophlet Flattery & Martin Schwartz

Wikipedia.org: Zoroaster

Wikipedia.org: Ephedra

Wikipedia.org: Hypnagogia

Gettherapybirmingham.com: Henry Corbin: Visionary of the Imaginal Realm

Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams, by Eugene T. Gendlin, Ph.D.

Jungiancenter.org: Jung on Active Imagination: Features, Methods and Warnings

Thealchemistskitchen.com

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 13, 2024December 13, 2024

The War on Drugs: The DEA’s Attempt to Schedule DOI & DOC and the Fight for Sensible Policy

Whether you’re a drug user or not, society as a whole has been hurt tremendously by the War on Drugs. Can we win the battle with education and sensible policy?

In this episode, Joe interviews Kat Murti: executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest nationwide network of students fighting to replace the War on Drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights.

She talks about how she became interested in drug policy, which not surprisingly aligns with the many problems of The War on Drugs: how it’s a war on people, personal liberty, and our communities; how laws are not effective in enforcing morality; and how getting in trouble with the law often incentivizes more illegal activity. We all know that our current system doesn’t work and that the drug war no longer appeals to most reasonable people, but how can we move towards sensible policy? She discusses previous successes (both at SSDP and before), and some of their current projects, from the work they’re doing with fentanyl strip training and distribution, to education work at festivals and their program, “Just Say Know.”

She talks about:

  • How drug policy isn’t going to look the same everywhere and shouldn’t: How do we effectively use different models in different places together for the benefit of everyone?
  • The dangers of forcing drug users through drug courts and treatment centers
  • The repealing of Oregon’s Measure 110 and how it’s unfair to blame its failure on problems that already existed in the state
  • Their new focus on how the War on Drugs specifically affects women and reproductive rights, inspired by Louisiana recently scheduling Mifepristone and Misoprostol

and much more.

The SSDP’s biggest battle now is fighting the DEA’s attempted scheduling of DOI and DOC, two compounds that have been used in research for decades and pose no real threat to safety – which would drastically derail a ton of research. They just completed a 10-day hearing with the DEA. Watch Joe and Hamilton Morris’ breakdown here, and stay tuned to SSDP and PT for updates. 

Links

SSDP.org

SSDP.org: Donate

Cato.org: Jeffrey Singer

Studentsforliberty.org

Lastprisonerproject.org: 420 Unity Day of Action

North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition

PT427 – The Philosophy of Law Enforcement, The Criminalization of Self-Directed Behavior, and Transformative Care for Police, featuring: Sarko Gergerian, MS, MHC, CARC

Lawenforcementactionpartnership.org

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town, by Jon Krakauer

Learnaboutsam.org: Smart Approaches to Marijuana

Koin.com: Oregon Senate passes bill to end Measure 110, recriminalize hard drugs

SSDP:org: “Just Say Know” Drug Education

Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, by Johann Hari

Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear, by Dr. Carl L. Hart

YouTube: PT Live: Joe Moore & Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Discuss the DEA’s Hearing on DOI & DOC

YouTube: PT Live: Joe Moore and Hamilton Morris Discuss the DEA’s Attempt to Schedule DOI & DOC, and Why

SSDP.org: Stop the DEA from Scheduling DOI & DOC!

NPR.org: A new Louisiana law will re-classify misoprostol as a dangerous controlled substance

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 10, 2024December 10, 2024

The Potential of Buprenorphine, the Risks of Ketamine, and How Psychedelics Could Prevent Nuclear War

In this episode, Joe interviews Howard Kornfeld, MD: renowned pain medicine expert, addiction specialist, early pioneer in psychedelic medicine, and currently the director of recovery medicine at Recovery Without Walls.

As a leader in the utilization of buprenorphine, he talks about how it came about as a treatment for addiction and chronic pain, its similarities to MDMA, and how its fast-tracked FDA approval could give us clues on how to get MDMA approved. He also dives into the history of ketamine, its unique effects compared to other substances, its potential for abuse, and what can happen with overuse. And he talks a lot about the connection he sees between psychedelics and the prevention of nuclear war, inspired by Sasha Shulgin’s opinion that nothing changes minds faster than psychedelics. He points out that when there is darkness, there is light: Albert Hofmann’s famed bicycle trip on acid happened 3 months after the nuclear chain reaction was invented. Can the growing use of psychedelics inspire the kind of change we need to save the world?

He also discusses:

  • The need for new study designs as we come to terms with the fact that double-blind studies don’t really work with psychedelics
  • Criticisms of the FDA’s denial of MDMA: Was the process unfair?
  • His predictions that advocates will begin pushing to decriminalize MDMA at the state level
  • The books, Tripping on Utopia and Drugged
  • How he played a part in prisons ending the practice of killing prisoners with cyanide gas

and more! 

Links

Recoverywithoutwalls.com

Ippnw.org: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

What do Alien Abduction and Psychedelic Experiences have in Common? Let Dr. John E. Mack’s Work Explain

Atlasobscura.com: How a Famed New Age Retreat Center Helped End the Cold War

Trackii.com

Thebulletin.org: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Wikipedia.org: Buprenorphine

Omnimagazine.com: John Lilly on Dolphin Consciousness

National Library of Medicine: Ketamine bladder syndrome: an important differential diagnosis when assessing a patient with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms

Cghjournal.org: Liver Injury Is Common Among Chronic Abusers of Ketamine

United Nations’ Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, by Michael Pollan

The Nature of Drugs Vol. 1: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, by Alexander Shulgin

Tripping on Utopia: Margaret Mead, the Cold War, and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science, by Benjamin Breen

Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind, by Mike Jay

Drugged: The Science and Culture Behind Psychotropic Drugs, Richard J. Miller

Nytimes.com: At the Brink: A Series About the Threat of Nuclear Weapons in an Unstable World

Scientificamerican.com: Inside the $1.5-Trillion Nuclear Weapons Program You’ve Never Heard Of

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 6, 2024January 3, 2025

Regulation, Decriminalization, and Religious Freedom: Prop 122’s Challenges and Opportunities

In this episode, Joe interviews Veronica Lightning Horse Perez: therapist, speaker, author, activist, and co-chief proponent for the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 (Prop 122); and Sean McAllister: attorney specializing in the regulatory, health care, business, and religious freedom aspects of psychedelic medicines, and one of the drafters of Prop 122.

This episode was recorded live at the Plant Medicine Cafe in Denver, CO – which served as an unofficial Prop 122 headquarters – and cohosted by Meaghan Len, co-founder of the U.S.’ first ayahuasca church, Sanctuary of the Sovereign Heart.

They dive into the details of Prop 122 and discuss why it’s the most freeing legislation we’ve seen, but also very complicated in the clash between an expensive regulated side and a risky and ambiguous decrim side. While the implementation process continues, they’ve learned that there is still a huge need for public education, and that one of the most important tasks now is to be hyper aware of how legislators will try to change what people already agreed on.

They discuss:

  • The Federal vs. state legality issues we still see even after such sweeping legislation
  • The huge gap in understanding why Indigenous communities are upset and why they need to be included in all discussions
  • The Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the complications of religion when many of us simply feel spiritual
  • The natural vs. synthetic fallacy and the future of churches offering a synthetic sacrament
  • The ontological shock many have after a big experience and why churches and community are needed to help guide people

and more! 

Links

Lhthehealingground.com

Mcallisterlawoffice.com

Sean McAllister – The Successful Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative in Denver

Plantmagiccafe.com

Plant Magic Cafe instagram

Magicdoctress.com (Meaghan Len)

Caught in the Act: A Chemist’s Battle Against Felony Drug Charges

Churchofeagleandcondor.org

The Way of the Shaman, by Michael Harner

Zendoproject.org

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 29, 2024December 17, 2024

Is Cannabis a Psychedelic? Exploring the Science of Indoles, Interprening, and Intention

Most cannabis enthusiasts have experienced the wide range of possible effects, from a subtle happy high to one that floors you. The question must be asked: Is cannabis a psychedelic? And how can we make it more so?

In this episode, Victoria interviews Max Montrose: Founder of the Trichome Institute, a company offering online courses and certifications on cannabis.

Montrose explores the scientific and sensory aspects of cannabis, diving into the role of the aromatic compound, indole, and how the fresher and more aromatic (usually pungent) the flower is, the higher chance for having a more psychedelic experience. He dives into ways to maximize the psychedelic nature of cannabis, largely through “interprening,” which is his method for learning about a plant’s effects from smelling buds, measuring your sense of sensation and where you feel the smell is hitting you. And he talks a lot about intention and how the power of a cannabis experience can be determined by the reverence you have for the plant and the intention you put behind each inhale: It is a “total reflection of how much you care.”

He also discusses:

  • The range of cannabis effects: how it can be just weed – something mindlessly smoked all day with a slight numbing effect – or an incredibly powerful, life-changing experience
  • The importance of skillset being added to the concept of set and setting: the skills you have (and can practice) for helping you create your own setting to get through a tough time
  • Issues with the legal cannabis industry about accuracy of strains, shelf life, and the ability to smell the product
  • The lack of money in cannabis research: Why is no one funding research into indole chemistry?
  • Why indica and sativa are not accurate terms, and how aroma is more of a factor than we realize

and more! 

If you’re curious about interprening or the Trichome Institute’s other offerings, head to the site and use code psy25 for 25% off anything. And if you’re thinking of going to the reMind Psychedelic Business Forum in Las Vegas next week, use code rempsychtoday10 for 10% off your ticket, and come visit our table!

Links

Trichomeinstitute.com

Is Cannabis Psychedelic? Examining the Scientific Evidence

Npr.org: Does Beaver Tush Flavor Your Strawberry Shortcake? We Go Myth Busting

Abstraxtech.com

Trichome Institute YouTube: Why Strain Names Don’t Matter Anymore!

Trichomeinstitute.com: Unlocking the Power of Terpenes Through Aromatic Training: Engaging Your Trigeminal Nerve for a Deeper Cannabis Experience

reMind Psychedelic Business Forum: Dec. 3, 2024, Las Vegas Convention Center (use code: rempsychtoday10 for 10% off)

NEW REPORT: Psychedelics at Work – Mapping the Path of the Field

Vitalpsychedelictraining.com

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 19, 2024November 21, 2024

Standards, Ethics, and Integration: Rebuilding Trust in the Ketamine Industry

While the psychedelic industry is facing intense growing pains, the ketamine industry has been allowed to grow, largely unchecked. How did we get here, and how does the ketamine space rebuild trust?

In this episode, Kyle interviews Juan Pablo Cappello: co-founder and former CEO of Nue Life Health, whose assets were subsequently acquired by Beckley Waves.

Cappello discusses the current challenges and controversies facing a ketamine industry that has moved much faster than anyone anticipated, and stresses the need to create industry-wide standards – especially for at-home ketamine – before the government imposes its own standards on us. Citing the Matthew Perry case and other bad behavior from providers, he talks about the risks of overpromising and underdelivering, the lack of integration in the majority of ketamine frameworks, and how profit-driven, subscription model motives have overshadowed patient care and ethical practices.

He also discusses:

  • The complications from personal perspectives and passions shifting after a psychedelic experience, and how that can change over time
  • The FDA’s recent rejection of MDMA: What would have happened to MDMA if it had been approved?
  • Hope for more Native American churches, and what they can learn from the DEA’s denial of Soul Quest
  • The story of a bump of cocaine ruining the hope for cannabis to be decriminalized under the Carter administration
  • Our current Wild West of gas station CBD, Delta-8, and barely-regulated vapes

and more! 

Links

PT274 – Juan Pablo Cappello – Nue Life: Using Digital Phenotyping to Personalize Healthcare

PT496 – Maintenance Doses and Recurring Revenue: The Ethics of At-Home Ketamine Therapy, featuring: Juan Pablo Cappello

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, by Michael Pollan

Why Did the FDA Reject MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD?, featuring: Ingmar Gorman, Ph.D.

Nytimes.com: How Psychedelic Research Got High on Its Own Supply

Marciamoorestory.com

One Year podcast: 1977: Mr. Marijuana and the Drug Czar

Wikipedia.org: Cole Memorandum

Nbcnews.com: Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot said he took ‘magic mushrooms’ 48 hours before allegedly trying to shut down plane engines

Churchofeagleandcondor.org

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s Non-Argument Calendar against Soul Quest

Psychedelics, Religion, and the DEA’s Quest for Soul

Ketamine and Trauma Treatment

Psychedelic Education Center: Black Friday deals are open now!

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 15, 2024November 15, 2024

From Individualism to Connection: How Psychedelics and Group Therapy Can Heal Our Collective Crisis

It becomes more apparent every day how much isolation and focusing so much on the individual is hurting us. Can psychedelics – and specifically, group therapy – be the answer to our crisis of individualism?

In this episode, Kyle interviews Geoff Bathje, Ph.D.: licensed psychologist, researcher, former Full Professor, and co-founder of Sana Healing Collective, a Chicago-based non-profit focusing on ketamine-assisted therapy and psychedelic integration.

He talks about what he feels is one of the largest factors in our mental health crisis: the individualistic and neoliberal lens Western culture has placed on mental health and how it neglects the massive systemic and relational factors that are affecting us all. He digs into how we got so alienated and how psychedelics and non-ordinary states of consciousness can not only help us think critically and solve problems, but also move us out of this individualistic framework of healing and more into a collective one. How do we use psychedelics to fix our relationships and find our community?

He discusses:

  • The challenge of knowing when to work for relationships and when to just end them, especially in the afterglow of a big experience
  • Group ketamine experience vs. individual, how groups can help facilitators find patterns, and how ketamine works with somatic therapy
  • His paper, “Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice” and his visual model of integration showing the different domains of our personal experience
  • What he thinks will happen next in drug development: Will therapy be left out after Lykos’ failure with MDMA?
  • The importance of moving beyond aggressive criticism and moving into world building

and more! 

Links

Sanahealingcollective.org

OSF Reprints: A Qualitative Study of Intention and Impact of Ayahuasca Use by Westerners

Frontiersin.org: Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice

Harm Reduction Journal: Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy

The Emerald podcast: The Revolution Will Not Be Psychologized

Researchgate.net: Relationships, Not Boundaries

Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam

Chacruna.net: The Unbelievable Claims of Psymposia about MAPS and MDMA-Assisted Therapy

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 11, 2024November 11, 2024

How Safe is Ibogaine Therapy? The Delicate Balance of Risk and Efficacy

There is a delicate balance between risk and efficacy with any psychedelic intervention, but especially with ibogaine. Just how safe is ibogaine therapy?

In this episode, Joe interviews Thomas Feegel: co-founder of Beond Ibogaine, an ibogaine treatment and research facility in Cancún, Mexico.

When Feegel first heard of ibogaine 16 years ago, he found that people were having great success, but nobody could recommend where to go for treatment. So he worked to create what was needed: a combination of a hospital, mental health treatment facility, retreat center, and resort, with the proper infrastructure in place, employees with ICU experience, exhaustive HIPAA-compliant admission criteria, regular data collection, and a major focus on safety.

Addressing the recent Rolling Stone article about the tragic death of a patient at Beond in 2022 (interestingly, 2 days after his initial dose), he discusses what he feels was inaccurate, largely related to what could be perceived as a suggestion that there wasn’t enough screening or that corners were cut. With no official reason given for the patient’s death, it brings into question just how safe one can be, especially with people whose bodies and hearts have been through so much. How much hidden harm is created by the stress of PTSD and addiction?

He discusses:

  • The complexity of journalism and drawing conclusions from limited information
  • The limitations of conventional addiction treatments and the sad numbers around how many people stick with rehab
  • The importance of collecting as much data as possible about each patient, at regular intervals, prior to, during, and after the experience
  • The need for a regulating group to create standards around admission and administration procedures for ibogaine

and more! 

We’re releasing this episode on Veterans Day because Beond’s program was co-developed by veterans, military medical personnel, and active-duty law enforcement officers who have seen how much ibogaine can help. Make sure to check out some of our past Veterans Day episodes with Joel Lambert, Tommy Aceto, Matthew ‘Whiz’ Buckley, Allison Wilson & Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Jesse Gould & Zach Riggle, and a very powerful episode with three anonymous vets.

Links

Beondibogaine.com

Rollingstone.com: He Took a Psychedelic to Cure His Addiction. It Was His Last Trip

Beondibogaine.com: A Clinical Summary

Cdc.gov: Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S. Top 100,000 Annually

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 5, 2024November 5, 2024

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy at Work? The Future of Employee Benefits

As the mainstreaming of psychedelics continues, ketamine-assisted therapy at work (well, through one’s employer) is no longer a pipe dream. What does the future of employee benefits look like?

In this episode, Joe interviews Jessica Tracy: head of sales & partnerships at Enthea, a company that works with employers, unions, and employee assistance programs to be able to offer ketamine-assisted therapy (and psilocybin where it’s legal) to employees.

She talks about her path to psychedelics and how the shifts in her life led her to want to help others, finding Enthea and using her 15 years of experience in healthcare to make an immediate difference. She explains how the process works for an employee of a company Enthea works with, and the importance of evidence-based medical policy and rigorous screening to make sure people are getting the best intervention possible. One of Enthea’s largest clients is Dr. Bronner’s, who reported incredible improvements after employees used the benefit, with a 65% improvement in depression scores and an 86% improvement in PTSD.

She also discusses:

  • How psychedelics bring awareness to what we need to work on
  • Less-discussed treatment modalities, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and stellate ganglion block (SGB)
  • The inefficiency of traditional talk therapy: 50% of people only see really good benefits after 20 sessions
  • The importance of viewing mental health as individualized care: What else can we offer to people who haven’t been helped by traditional methods?
  • The research that she wants to see, like measures in how present or productive people are before and after experiences

and more! 

Links

Enthea.com

Thesagecollective.co

PT376 – Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy as Employee Benefits, featuring: Sherry Rais

The Economics of Psychedelics, featuring: Elliot Marseille, DrPH, MPP

Unlimitedsciences.org: Ayahuasca for immigrants and refugees

Skylightpsychedelics.com

Healthline.com: What You Need to Know About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy

Clevelandclinic.org: Stellate Ganglion Block

Nationalacademies.org: Suicide and Mental Health Challenges in the Construction Industry

Building a Unified Psychedelic Future: Ethics, Standards, and a Path to Affordable Access, featuring: Lia Mix, LMFT, CPTR

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

Is Cannabis Psychedelic? Examining the Scientific Evidence

Cannabis is not typically regarded as a psychedelic, but scientific evidence tells us it should be.

Abundant anecdotal evidence of cannabis’ therapeutic applications, explored in Part One of this series, makes it hard to deny its potential as a powerful plant medicine, used similarly to psilocybin and MDMA in clinical and ceremonial settings.

But new science around the flavorant indole found in cannabis (and many other entheogens) may have significant implications for reclassifying the plant as, indeed, psychedelic. 

It’s not just indole; there’s more psychedelic chemistry at play within cannabis regarding what defines a psychedelic substance. Is indole a missing key to classify cannabis as a psychedelic? Which drug class does cannabis belong to now? Do people hallucinate from cannabis, and are hallucinogens the same as psychedelics? What defines a psychedelic, and how would cannabis scientifically fit into that category?

Factors Influencing Cannabis’s Psychedelic Potential

Cannabis is not traditionally regarded as a psychedelic, although it can be a potent psychedelic when certain variables align. Factors like the individual’s set and setting, tolerance, and cannabis type can determine whether the experience is typical, or, indeed, psychedelic.

There are books, online courses, ceremonial practices, and legitimate research all dedicated to the psychedelic cannabis experience. I’ve had many psychedelic experiences with cannabis that range from subtle effects, to experiences comparable with DMT trips. I’ve also witnessed people experiencing cannabis as if it were ayahuasca. However, these psychedelic-like effects arising from cannabis use are rare, because cannabis in all its varieties (and the people who consume it) are wildly diverse.

However, extreme psychedelic experiences are not necessary to deem cannabis psychedelic. In fact, cannabis has more multifaceted psychedelic chemistry than one might think. Before diving into the chemistry, let’s evaluate how cannabis is classified right now.

The Current Classification of Cannabis

Cannabis is one of the most complex, widely consumed drugs due to its differentiated psychoactive chemistry, and classifying it is complicated. Although a drug class typically defines the type of drug it is, both NIDA and the WHO recently removed their authoritative online resources regarding the drug class cannabis falls within. Others, such as The Discovery Institute and IACP classify cannabis in its own drug class, which makes sense given its diversity.

All at once, cannabis bears depressant and sedative properties, along with stimulating attributes, and psychedelic or hallucinatory potential. Depending on the strain (of which there are thousands) and the tolerance and the unique biochemistry of the individual consuming it, the effects of the plant can vary wildly.

Cannabis is currently undergoing federal rescheduling, and deserves its own official drug class, too.

Understanding Psychedelics vs. Hallucinogens. Where Does Cannabis Fit?

To determine if cannabis is a psychedelic, it is essential to understand what a psychedelic is and how it may differ from a purely hallucinogenic experience.

Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that primarily influence the brain by altering perception, mood, and cognitive processes. While they are known for inducing hallucinations, not all hallucinogens are classified as psychedelics. The specific characteristics that define a psychedelic drug include:

  • Mechanism of Action: Psychedelics primarily exert their effects by acting on serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This interaction is crucial for the psychedelic experience. Classic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT fall into this category.
  • Subjective Effects or Altered Perceptions: Psychedelics can profoundly alter sensory perception, leading to vivid visual and auditory hallucinations, synesthesia (blending of senses), and intensified colors and patterns.
  • Cognitive and Emotional Effects: Users often report altered thought processes, enhanced introspection, and a sense of connectedness. There can be profound emotional changes, ranging from euphoria to introspective insight.
  • Mystical Experiences: Many users describe experiences of unity, transcendence, and a sense of encountering a greater reality or consciousness.
  • Non-Toxic and Low Addiction Potential: Classic psychedelics are generally non-toxic and do not lead to physical dependence or addiction. While they can cause psychological distress or trigger latent mental health issues in susceptible individuals, their physical safety margin is considered high compared to many other psychoactive substances.
  • Distinct Pharmacological and Neurobiological Effects: Ego dissolution, where the user’s sense of self is temporarily diminished or dissolved, is a defining characteristic of psychedelics. This is less common with other hallucinogens.

Other natural plant-based hallucinogens that are not psychedelic include dissociatives and deliriants. Substances like Salvia Divinorum, Datura, Brugmansia, and Mandrake produce hallucinations, but primarily, cause a sense of detachment from reality and one’s body rather than the profound sensory and emotional alterations typical of psychedelics. Experiences from these plants are often characterized by confusion, a lack of insight, and a greater risk of dangerous behaviors. They can also be so toxic that they can become lethal, unlike plant-based psychedelics, which are generally non-toxic.

Is Cannabis a Psychedelic or a Hallucinogen? 

Simply, cannabis can be both (though it is typically neither). I’ve experienced both minor and major hallucinations from cannabis that were not inherently psychedelic, including hearing and feeling my phone ringing when it’s silent,  seeing plants come alive, and movement from inanimate objects. Sounds and colors may be enhanced, and some visual distortions may occur, all of which are forms of hallucinations, but not necessarily psychedelic experiences. 

As a researcher, educator, expert witness, and daily cannabis consumer for over 25 years, I’ve concluded that cannabis is also a psychedelic, not just a hallucinogen.

Factors Influencing the Psychedelic Experience of Cannabis

Achieving a true psychedelic state with cannabis depends on both experiential and scientific factors. Key elements include tolerance, the user’s intention, the specific strain of cannabis, its chemical composition, and how we categorize what makes a substance psychedelic. Each of these factors works together to shape the depth and nature of the experience, highlighting the complex interplay between personal mindset, biological response, and the characteristics of the cannabis used.

Tolerance: Cannabis tends to be more intense and psychedelic when you have a low tolerance to it. Many people report experiencing stronger, more hallucinatory effects when they first used cannabis. Taking a tolerance break can help recreate these experiences.

Intention: Structured intention plays a key role in enhancing cannabis’ psychedelic effects. Even with high tolerance, combining cannabis with meditation and ceremony can lead to intense experiences similar to other psychedelics. Mindfulness and a proper set and setting are crucial.

Strain: Choosing the right strain is important. Sativa or “narrow-leaf type” varieties with citrus and gas-like aromas are typically more psychedelic. Using tools like Interpening can help identify cannabis strains that will deliver the desired effects. The aroma type of narrow-leaf cannabis is typically hallmarked by citrus terpenes and ‘sulfuric thiols’ which smell like gas; Tropicanna Sulfur Compounds “TCSCs” (citrus-funk), and heterocyclics like indole with sharp chemical smells.

Introducing Indole: The Missing Psychedelic Cannabis Link

Indole is the core structural group of psychedelic tryptamines such as DMT, LSD, and psilocybin-bearing mushrooms, and surprise: it’s commonly found in cannabis, too.

Since indole is found in many cannabis strains, some might speculate whether it contributes to cannabis being psychedelic. Indole itself doesn’t cause psychedelic effects. It’s a foundational structure that forms part of many important compounds. It serves as a core structure for many biologically active compounds, including neurotransmitters like serotonin and several psychedelics.

However, indole serves as a scaffold that, when modified with specific functional groups, can interact with brain receptors to produce psychedelic effects. This is important because these receptors are linked to mood, perception, and classic psychedelic experiences.

This is where the complex chemistry of cannabis plays a role in defining what, indeed, constitutes a substance as psychedelic.

Indole is found in many naturally occurring psychedelics, such as 5-MeO-DMT and 5-HO-DMT, present in various plants and toad venoms. Ibogaine, which contains indole, is found in the root bark of the African plant Tabernanthe iboga. The psychedelic compounds harmine and harmaline, also containing indole, are found in the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, known as ayahuasca. With four psychedelic compounds containing indole within the brew of ayahuasca, it is evident that ayahuasca deserves to be listed among psychedelic indole-containing substances. Humans (including you) produce N,N-DMT, cannabinoids, and indole simultaneously.

Previous research has focused on indole, primarily, as an aromatic compound. However, further research is needed to fully understand the importance of indole beyond the aroma of cannabis alone.

“Indole is interesting for reasons far beyond the aroma. The indole structure is the core structure of many biologically important compounds within plants, humans, and animals alike. It is the key component of both tryptophan and melatonin, two important compounds found in the human body. It is also the main structural group of psychedelic tryptamines such as psilocybin, DMT, and LSD,” reports Abstrax Tech.

Research suggests the psychotropic potential of indoles is significant. Although phenethylamines primarily exert their effects through the activation of 5-HT2A receptors, indoleamines can have a significant behavioral component mediated by activation of similar 5-HT1A receptors.

While indole itself is not responsible for directly inducing psychedelic effects, its presence as a core chemical structure in both cannabis and traditional psychedelics hints at the deeper biochemical connections between these substances. The indole structure serves as a foundation for compounds that can influence serotonin receptors and other pathways linked to altered states of consciousness. As we continue to unravel the complex chemistry of cannabis, it’s possible that the full psychedelic potential of indole-containing compounds within the plant may reveal itself, bridging the gap between cannabis and classical psychedelics in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Where Does THC Fit In?

Recent studies suggest that THC, a non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonist, can upregulate 5-HT2A receptors, similar to classic psychedelics. High doses of THC, like those in concentrates like shatter or diamonds, can produce LSD-like effects, including hallucinations. Dr. Ethan Russo supports the idea that THC is hallucinogenic, while CBD counters these effects.

Where Does CBD Fit In?

CBD, unlike THC, binds to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, which mediates psychedelic experiences like those from LSD or mescaline. Though THC does not bind directly to 5-HT2A, it activates CB1 receptors, which form complexes with 5-HT2A. This interplay may contribute to cannabis’s psychedelic effects.

Where Do Terpenes Fit In?

Terpenes like β-Caryophyllene, linalool, and limonene also interact with 5-HT2A and CB1 receptors, potentially amplifying THC’s effects. These compounds contribute to cannabis’s overall psychotropic profile, indicating that cannabis’s full psychedelic potential may still be unfolding through continued research.

Changing the Narrative Through Scientific Evidence

Cannabis is not currently regarded as a psychedelic in the mainstream or scientific sense – at least not yet. With substantial scientific and anecdotal evidence already present and more emerging, it wouldn’t be surprising to see cannabis officially classified as a psychedelic.

Barbra Bauer from Psychedelic Science Review states, “Although the psychedelic experience can be highly variable, cannabis and psychedelics, in general, have many effects in common. It’s important to remember that both cannabis and naturally occurring psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms contain a cocktail of compounds, many of which have not been characterized.”

Natural psychedelics like ayahuasca, mescaline cacti, ibogaine, and magic mushrooms contain multiple compounds working together to produce dynamic effects. Similarly, cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis interact with serotonin receptors, suggesting it has the potential to be classified as a psychedelic. With the right strain selection and a focused intention, cannabis can create profound sensory, cognitive, and emotional changes, making it potentially indistinguishable from a classic psychedelic experience.

Though Western science may not fully recognize humans as inherently psychedelic, practices like meditation and yoga often result in vivid, altered states without substances. Whether you agree or not, cannabis’s chemical profile and the psychedelic experiences it can induce hint that it may be more psychedelic than previously thought – and perhaps, so are we.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 27, 2024September 29, 2024

Tripped: The Connection Between LSD, Nazi Germany, and MKUltra

Researching the true history of substances deemed illegal can lead to surprising results. In the case of LSD, does its history include a connection between Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the roots of MKUltra?

In this episode, Joe interviews award-winning novelist and screenwriter, Norman Ohler.

Following in the footsteps of Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich, his newest book, Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age, tells the story of how the Nazi’s passion for methamphetamine turned into a curiosity about LSD, and how their experiments with trying to harness LSD as a truth drug eventually led to the CIA continuing their research under their MKUltra program. The book came about from trying to understand why LSD never became medicine – a question posed by his father, when discussing how LSD could help with his wife’s progressing Alzheimer’s symptoms.

He discusses:

  • His path to becoming a “gonzo historian” and how his early psychedelic research was inspired by a friend’s discovery of methamphetamine tablets from the 40s
  • Henry Beecher’s LSD experiments with students at Harvard, and how researchers often didn’t know they were contributing to MKUltra
  • His recent appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience and Jesse Watters Primetime
  • His mother’s experience with microdosing LSD and why police showed up at his father’s door with a warrant
  • Why he believes psychedelics will be legalized in the U.S. in the next 10 years

and more! 

Links

Normanohler.de

Normanohler.de: Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and Dawn of the Psychedelic Age (LSD for Mom)

Wikipedia.org: Henry K. Beecher

Wikipedia.org: Alsos Mission

Jesse Waters Primetime: Author takes a close look at America’s complicated history with LSD

The Joe Rogan Experience #2183: Norman Ohler

YouTube: Lex Fridman Podcast #442 | Donald Trump Interview

Benzinga.com: American Medical Association Officially Endorses Drug Decriminalization: We Need ‘Something That Actually Works’

Bbc.com: Alcohol ‘more harmful than heroin’ says Prof David Nutt

reMIND Psychedelic Business Forum: Dec. 3, 2024, Las Vegas Convention Center

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 26, 2024September 25, 2024

Ancestral Knowledge: Why Understanding the Ancient is Crucial for Western Psychedelic Explorers

In the communities of the Shipibo people in the Peruvian Amazon, there are healers known as onayas and witches known as yubés. During ayahuasca ceremonies, onayas will attempt to alleviate the suffering of participants who have been cursed by yubés, through cleansing rituals and songs. In doing so, the onayas risk their lives, according to Alonso del Rio, the founder of retreat center Ayahuasca Ayllu.

An energetic battle between the onaya and the yubé soon ensues, he says. The onaya may not sleep for an entire week, under constant attack from the yubé in another plane of consciousness.

“There have been many high-level healers who have died from confrontations with these so-called witches,” del Rio claims, saying that such skirmishes take place in the metaphysical realms between most Amazonian communities. This possibility was previously noted in the 1998 book, The Cosmic Serpent, among other texts.

Del Rio – who was born in the Peruvian capital Lima and studied for 13 years in the Shipibo tradition to become a psychedelic facilitator – accepts that this is a controversial topic, which is unlikely to be taken seriously by many educated people. But he says that a serious, lengthy illness and the destruction of his house some years ago is evidence of this sinister reality. Only when del Rio began to understand the nature of a curse placed upon him in 2005 by a disgruntled sorcerer, was he able to learn how to cure himself and prevent his likely demise.

The Risk and Responsibility of Preserving Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge

The Risk and Responsibility of Preserving Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge

As part of this ongoing quest, del Rio – a self-described “consciousness activist” who holds ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru and across the world, where it is permitted – has collaborated with Psychedelics Today to develop a course titled “Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance” to help psychonauts and practitioners deepen their understanding of the nebulous nature of shamanism. He refers to ayahuasca, peyote, huachuma and other plant-based psychedelics as “power plants.”

“Because power is something neutral,” del Rio says. “It depends on who uses it and what for.” The consumption of plants like ayahuasca, or lab-based psychedelics like LSD, he adds, does not automatically improve people. Contrary to the belief held by many who work in the field, he believes they should not be called “medicine,” because psychedelics are not inherently medicinal.

The course illustrates how complex and testing a life dedicated to sharing psychedelic plants ceremonially is.

“I believe that the deeper one goes into this path, the more you realize how infinite it is, and the care and responsibility you have to take to preserve your life and the lives of the people attending a ceremony,” he says. 

Beyond Science: How Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge Offers a Deeper Understanding of Healing

Beyond Science: How Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge Offers a Deeper Understanding of Healing

Del Rio – who studied under a Shipibo onaya named Benito Arevalo who encouraged him to share the teachings more widely – feels the best path to responsible administration of power plants is achieved by undergoing a comprehensive apprenticeship with an elder. 

“I believe that there are many people who put many people at risk because of their poor training,” he says. “This is not something you really learn, not even in ten years, [but] it is a lifelong path in which we are being formed and each time we understand more how to serve better.”

Stripping psychedelic medicine of its 10,000-year-old Indigenous history and framework of use in order to make it fit within a Western allopathic healthcare system is short-sighted, he contends. It seems that being dispensed psilocybin in a medical setting in the U.S. could be safer than risking being cursed by a yubé in Peru during an ayahuasca ceremony, but del Rio says that the psychedelics cannot only be understood within a scientific paradigm.

“The same amount of substance will work differently for different people,” he maintains. “The substances are not actually what heals, within our tradition, the energy of the healer contributes as much as the substance itself.”

Integration of Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge into Modern Psychedelic Practices

Integration of Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge into Modern Psychedelic Practices

Little by little, there is an increasing appreciation that Western medicine can learn from the ancient history of psychedelics. In September, an article published by the BBC reported on how it is essential for Western society to develop an understanding of how Indigenous communities have “very different belief systems for interacting with and interpreting the world around them.”

The bulk of clinical psychedelic research thus far has been focused on the individual, as opposed to the group. Any possible interaction with the natural or spirit worlds is completely overlooked. Del Rio urges modern-day researchers to integrate traditional knowledge, “so we don’t repeat mistake after mistake, which, above all, would put many people at risk.”

Adverse events, which could broadly be described as challenging experiences, or even bad trips, could be more likely to occur under the influence of psychedelic substances because participants may not be given a framework to understand the mystical, spiritual phenomena which could ensue.

The Role of Nature and Community in Preserving the Ancestral

The Role of Nature and Community in Preserving the Ancestral

Indigenous peoples in the Americas “have maps, guides, a deep familiarity with altered states of consciousness,” Jules Evans, a psychedelics researcher at Queen Mary University of London, who directs the non-profit Challenging Psychedelic Experiences, told the BBC. “Secular people, on the whole, do not. As a result, people can be bewildered by the experience and confused as to how to integrate it into a materialistic worldview. This existential confusion can last months or years, and the person who comes out on the other side may be very different to the person before.”

Central to the process of integration of ancestral psychedelic knowledge is a sense of community, but participants in psychedelic retreats can be left wanting when they return to the urban silos and experience isolation even after transcendent, healing experiences. Even more important is a connection with nature, according to Francisco Rivarola, who worked with del Rio to produce the course. 

“The daughter of a Shipibo chief told me that she believes … that what is really sickening society is the disconnection that they have from nature and the source of the divine,” he says. 

“The psychedelic [experience] is a portal through which maybe, if you’re lucky and you do this the right way, you can touch upon that connection.” 

A failure to make secure that enduring connection – in tandem with the sense of community experienced within ceremony – explains why many people persist in regularly taking high doses of psychedelics in group rituals without reporting long-term improvements in their health, Rivarola adds.

“Working with sacred plants within a ceremonial space allows you to understand something that the West does not understand,” says del Rio, “which is the intelligence of plants and how they can act selectively.”

The folly of Western science – and the psychedelics researchers who do not investigate plants and drugs outside of a “reductionist scientific paradigm that only sees matter without its interaction with other energy levels” – will soon become clear, he claims. “In ten or twenty years we will laugh at this model.”

Are you eager to increase your ancestral knowledge? In Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance, you’ll experience an introduction to the depth of training that a traditional Peruvian curandero goes through and a roadmap for the life-long practices that anyone relating to psychedelic medicine and practices can benefit from. Over 20 hours of recorded classes, three live group calls, and two complimentary e-books are included. Secure your space today – seats are limited!
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 24, 2024October 5, 2024

Intention, Making Space for Integration, and Finding Joy in the Mundane

With so much attention being placed on the psychedelic experience itself, too many people are getting stuck in patterns of chasing the experience without making space for integration.

In this episode, Kyle interviews Lana Pribic, M.Sc: host of the Modern Psychedelics podcast, certified professional life coach, and founder of Kanna Wellness.

She talks about her early days of rave culture and MDMA, to exploring other substances, to where she is today: finding joy in the simple things in life, embracing recreational psychedelics, and continuously working on herself while understanding that psychedelic experiences are not the be-all, end-all medicine, and that taking space to integrate learned lessons is where the true potential lies. She recognizes that many of us set out to heal trauma or work on something specific, but often get caught in a “healing trap,” where a victim energy ends up holding us back – and keeps us coming back. When is the healing done? When do these experiences become a habit or escape? What are we not integrating?

She discusses:

  • The “7 levels of energy” framework she uses with clients
  • How she works with clients who return to unhealthy patterns after a big experience
  • The judgment of the psychedelic space, both for people who stop using psychedelics and for people who return to the well perhaps too often
  • Her relationship with her mother and how her mother’s cancer treatment inspired her to create Kanna Wellness
  • How much of a factor acceptance is in finding joy in the mundane

and more! 

Serving Canada (for now), Kannawellness.com just launched, and features kanna extract eight times more potent than what is on the market today. If you’re curious, use code PT10 at checkout for 10% off your order!

Links

Modernpsychedelics.net

Modern Psychedelics on Spotify

Kannawellness.com

Modern Psychedelics #104 | Psychedelics + Society: Safe Cultural Containers, Psychedelic Underground & Facing Global Challenges w/Psychedelic Solutions (Joe Moore)

PT308 – Dr. Ido Cohen, PsyD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

Ipeccoaching.com: Unpacking the 7 Levels of Energy: A Path to Deeper Self-Awareness

PT271 – Jeremy Narby, Ph.D. – Anthropology, Ayahuasca, and Plant Teachers

After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path, by Jack Kornfield

You Were Never Broken, by Jeff Foster

Myss.com (Caroline Myss)

Psychedeliceducationcenter.com

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 12, 2024September 12, 2024

The ‘Nada Effect’: Why Psychedelics Don’t Work for Everyone

Despite the dose, the substance, or a carefully tuned set and setting, seemingly, psychedelics don’t always work for everyone. This frustrating phenomenon known as the “nada effect” sometimes shows up, and leaves individuals without the psychedelic trip they expected.

But why does this happen? Could the ego be the key to understanding this no-high zone, or are biological factors, medications, or deeper psychological and spiritual reasons to blame?

When Psychedelics Don’t Always Work: A Historical Account

When Psychedelics Don’t Always Work: A Historical Account

When Richard Alpert, the former Harvard psychologist who later took the name Ram Dass, met his spiritual guru Maharajji in 1967 he was asked if he had “any of that yogi medicine.” Meaning, of course, LSD.

Alpert duly handed over a 300-milligram capsule of LSD, already a considerable dose, but Maharajji asked for two more pills.

“I was thinking this is going to be pretty interesting, and nothing happens at all,” Ram Dass later recounted. “I was impressed.”

Three years later in India, Maharajji requested an even larger dose of 1,200 milligrams.

“At one point he went under his blanket and then he came back down looking absolutely mad, and I thought ‘What have I done to this poor old man?’ He doesn’t understand the power of our medicine, and he probably did throw it over his shoulder last time.”

Once Ram Dass was “totally paranoid” and regretting giving such a potent dose of LSD to a man who had no experience with psychedelics, Maharajji “laughed in glee” and demonstrated that he had, in fact, not been tripping. The ultimate purpose of the exercise, it seemed, was to show Ram Dass the relative impermeability of the spiritually enlightened – so long as the mind is firmly fixed on God – to psychedelic substances.

‘The Psychedelic Space is Filled With Some of the Biggest Egos’

Today, scientists give the notion that psychedelics don’t work for the “enlightened” little regard, even despite contemporary tales of master meditators experiencing little effect from large doses.

“For a field that is all about ego dissolution, the psychedelic space is filled with some of the biggest egos that say the most outlandish stuff,” says Zeus Tipado, a neuroscientist and PhD candidate at the University of Maastricht. “A person claiming they can’t trip because they’re ‘more spiritually evolved’ is the highest of ego trips. They’re fabricating a level of superiority that is unnecessary and unscientific.”

Naturally, as the use of psychedelics increases and mainstream culture adopts some trippy elements, some may claim to be more spiritually evolved and psychedelically experienced than others.

“This creates a division – ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ thinking – and that thinking doesn’t really do much for humanity except create separation,” Tipado adds.

(Unsurprisingly) Studies Show People Have Stronger Experiences at Higher Doses

(Unsurprisingly) Studies Show People Have Stronger Experiences at Higher Doses

Although Maharajji took a huge dose of LSD, explanations for some who claim to have no discernible visionary or felt experience – the so-called “nada effect” could be related to the amount of substance taken.

A 2011 Johns Hopkins university study reported that, perhaps unsurprisingly, participants had significantly stronger mystical-type experiences at higher doses of psilocybin compared to lower doses.

A 2016 Imperial College study also found that larger doses of psilocybin resulted in deeper emotional processing.

Manoj Doss, PhD, a cognitive neuropsychopharmacologist at the University of Texas in Austin, largely rejects the idea that those who may have spiritually transcended are less likely to experience intense trips, but he acknowledges that people – monks, for instance – who are not caught up with the “chaos” of the mind and worrying about what they have to do the next day may find the psychedelic experience more tolerable.

“Some people definitely don’t get effects,” he says. “Some people don’t get visuals, but they get the weird mind space. Some people get visuals and less of the weird mind space. I do imagine if they cranked up the dose, then they would probably start to go into some weird places in their head.”

Why Psychedelics Don’t Work for Everyone: Prior Beliefs, Aphantasia or Medication History

Why Psychedelics Don’t Work for Everyone: Prior Beliefs, Aphantasia, or Medication History

According to psychopharmacologist Robin Carhart-Harris’ relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) theory, the relaxation of top-down expectations encoded within the default mode network of the brain is crucial.

Whether one’s top-down expectations relax or not “may be the defining characteristic of psychedelic brain dynamics and subjective experience,” reports neuroscientist Marco Aqil.

This process allows an increased flow of bottom-up information which is “unsuppressed” by existing beliefs.

Others are more prone to “absorption” than their peers.

“Maybe the only personality trait that is reliably known to be related to the intensity of the experience is absorption,” says Dr. Leor Roseman, a psychedelic researcher at Exeter University. 

Some people get more absorbed easily in their external or internal worlds, he explains. For instance, some are more absorbed in the experience of watching a sunset than their peers. 

“People who are higher on the absorption scale are also more sensitive to psychedelics,” adds Roseman. “People who are low on absorption need higher doses.”

Tipado, meanwhile, offers an alternative possible explanation that the condition aphantasia, which makes it impossible for people to visually imagine things, may impinge on the ability of people to have psychedelic visions.

“We don’t necessarily know why aphantasia happens and some people with this condition also have an inability to imagine hearing something – so it may be a wider sensory condition,” Tipado says. “Varying spectrums of aphantasia could explain why some people don’t have a perceptual trip when they do psychedelics.”

Those who do not experience intense effects may effectively have less serotonin 2-A receptors available for the psychedelic to upregulate, Doss adds. This could be down to having recently taken antipsychotic medication, though one paper proposes that genetics could be the reason. Early research and anecdotal reports also suggest that people who have taken antidepressants for some time are more likely to report reduced effects, because the drug is effectively using some of the serotonin receptors for its own purposes. 

“I’ve heard of retreats in Jamaica and Mexico where they won’t wean people off SSRIs but start them at a regular dose but then double the dose if it doesn’t do anything,” Doss says. Other facilitators might then offer a cannabis joint to activate the effects of psilocybin, for instance.

For Some People, it's Just So Hard to Trust

‘For Some People, it’s Just So Hard to Trust’

But Dr. Rosalind Watts, the former clinical lead for Imperial College London’s psilocybin for depression trial, says that it would be wiser to guide people who have experienced serious traumas and exhibit signs of interpersonal distancing – characteristics, she says, of people who do not “break through” during psychedelic trials – through breathwork sessions and smaller doses over weeks prior to a bigger dose to build trust and safety.

“For some people, it is just so, so hard to trust,” Watts told the Adventures Through the Mind podcast. “There is this holding on, because it just doesn’t feel safe… [and they] would probably need a lot more support in order to let go.”

When somebody’s system is overwhelmed with a feeling of unsafety, there can be “a shutting down,” she adds. “On a neurobiological level I’m sure there are processes that kick in that might put the brakes on, if something feels so dangerous to the organism, then the organism shuts down.”

During the podcast, Watts responded to how psychiatrist Stan Grof spoke of how some hyper-vigilant patients exhibit a compulsive holding in the psyche that only a dose of 1,500 milligrams of LSD could penetrate, after which a regular dose of the psychedelic would have a felt an effect.

Those more interested in shamanistic explanations than clinical definitions may simply say, the person receives what they are ready for when it is the right time.

“There is a homeostatic balancing system and if your system doesn’t need a big jolt then you’re not going to get a big jolt,” says Watts. “My sense would be that dose would certainly come into it. And that for these people, if we’d have given them a much larger dose, then maybe there would have been this breakthrough and they wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”

It is not uncommon for at least one person in a group of people taking ayahuasca in a ceremony to report having experienced very little, or nothing, she adds.

“It would be very interesting to interview all those people and try and work out if there was some – maybe unconscious – sense of unsafety, in the environment because of how they were feeling that day, or just not feeling safe enough to let go.”

Roseman says that participants in certain ayahuasca ceremonies may justifiably not feel safe enough to have a transcendent experience

“There’s a lot of research about how trust predicts spiritual experiences, breakthroughs and positive therapeutic experiences,” he says. “Some people do not trust easily, but it can be that the facilitators are genuinely untrustworthy. Not all resistance is a bad thing.”

So, why did Maharajji not breakthrough with 1,200 milligrams of LSD?

“I don’t know, I don’t believe that so much,” says Roseman. “I don’t buy it.”



Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 3, 2024September 3, 2024

Psychedelics and Addiction Recovery: Microdosing and Redefining the Path to Sobriety

While the concept is often unfairly reduced to replacing one drug with another, many people struggling with addictions are proving that there’s a positive link between the use of psychedelics and addiction recovery. Can microdosing be a factor?

In this episode, Joe interviews Danielle Nova: founder of Psychedelic Recovery, founding team member of Decriminalize Nature Oakland, and Executive Director of the San Francisco Psychedelic Society.

As a recovering addict, Nova discusses how working with psychedelics helped her find her way to recovery, and how she’s spreading that knowledge to others through her Psychedelic Recovery program, which focuses more on ‘targeted abstinence,’ instead of the total abstinence model of Psychedelics In Recovery (which works alongside AA’s 12-step program). She believes that it’s extremely important to reframe addiction as a life process or temporary state of consciousness (rather than a life sentence you can’t escape), and that beating addiction is not about constantly being afraid of a relapse, but about evolving to a state of empowerment: that you can overcome it, and that actually, a horrific addiction may have saved you and brought you to where you’re supposed to be.

She discusses:

  • The complications of Western medicine and the impact of conflicting medications that are nearly impossible to stop taking
  • How self-regulation of tough emotions with outside stimuli (be it drugs, pornography, or even video games) trains people to rely on external forces rather than themselves
  • How addicts end up programing themselves with ‘addict consciousness,’ and the power of changing one’s mind state to view suffering as the fuel for a new purpose
  • How, over time, we will likely start viewing microdosing as a regular dose, and the large doses we’re used to will be seen as overdosing

and more!

She has co-created Microdosing Facilitator Training with Adam Bramlage of Flow State Micro: a first-of-its-kind 4-month program teaching clinicians, facilitators, and coaches about microdosing and how to safely guide others through the practice. The next cohort launches in January 2025.

Links

Microdosingfacilitatortraining.com

Psychedelicsocietysf.org

Psychedelicrecovery.org

Daniellenova.com

Campsite.bio: Danielle Nova

Microdosing Masterclass: Your Complete Guide to Understanding and Integrating the Best Practices for Effective Microdosing

Sage Journals: A low dose of lysergic acid diethylamide decreases pain perception in healthy volunteers

Nature.com: Low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) increase reward-related brain activity

Nature.com: Neural complexity is increased after low doses of LSD, but not moderate to high doses of oral THC or methamphetamine

PT375 – Microdosing & Citizen Science: Introducing the World’s First Take-Home EEG Microdosing Study, featuring: James Fadiman, Ph.D., Adam Bramlage, & Conor Murray, Ph.D.

PT303 – Adam Bramlage – Cannabis, Microdosing, and Our Evolutionary Connection to Psychedelics

How Long Does A Microdose Last? by Elena Schmidt

Nih.gov: Valvular Heart Disease with the Use of Fenfluramine-Phentermine

Los Angeles Psychedelic Science Symposium

Earthstarfestival.com

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 30, 2024July 30, 2024

Exploring the Fungal Kingdom: Cultivation, Connection, and the Potential of Permaculture

As many mushroom enthusiasts will attest: the more you learn about the fungal kingdom, the more you see how important mushrooms are to every ecosystem they’re a part of – and how life-changing a relationship with them can be.

In this episode, Joe interviews Jasper Degenaars: mycologist, educator, and the Hyphae Headmaster at Fungi Academy, offering retreats, communal living, and online courses to teach people how to grow mushrooms and form a deeper connection with them.

Degenaars tells of his path to Guatemala and the Fungi Academy, from foraging to cultivation, to the impact psychedelic experiences have had on his life. He believes that mushrooms show up where people like to live; that they are integral to ecosystems, and that they are the masters of death and life – and of ego death and rebirth. The Fungi Academy has several several in-person events for which they just opened up registration, self-paced courses you can enroll in now, and their next Sacred Mycology Summit takes place Feb. 23 – 25, 2025.

He discusses:

  • The importance in studying the entire organism rather than just specific compounds
  • The stoned ape theory and possible new evidence
  • Why he prefers the term ‘magic mushrooms’ to the reductionist way of only talking about psilocybin
  • The clash between clinical Western approaches and Indigenous tradition
  • The Iron law of prohibition and how MDMA has gotten stronger and stronger
  • His desire to move more into permaculture, including courses teaching it alongside the fundamentals of psychedelics: How can they work in tandem?

and more!

Links

Fungiacademy.com

Erowid.org

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, by Paul Stamets

Wikipedia.org: Stoned ape theory

Academic.oup.com: A role for the serotonin 2A receptor in the expansion and functioning of human transmodal cortex

Gwellamushrooms.com: Enigma Mushrooms – What Are They?

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 25, 2024July 31, 2024

When Data Meets Doubt: Investigating the FDA Panel’s Rejection of MDMA

MAPS/Lykos’ MDMA trials for PTSD delivered overwhelmingly positive results. I thought that mattered until I sat through a nine-hour deliberation among the FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee on June 4, including two hours of public comments that skewed anti-Lykos. 

After a long day of groupthink, the panel advised the FDA that MDMA therapy was neither safe nor effective for patients with PTSD. And while their vote is nonbinding, their opinion significantly impacts the FDA’s final decision on Lykos’ new drug application. 

So, how did the committee come to be? Were they up to the task of reviewing this historical application? And were their votes intellectually honest, given the failing mental healthcare system in the United States?

Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee: Who Are They?

The Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) consists of experts who provide independent advice to the FDA on the safety and efficacy of investigational drug products for psychiatric disorders. It consists of nine core voting members, including psychiatrists, neuropsychiatrists, consumer representatives, patient representatives, and one non-voting member, typically an industry representative.

Anyone can nominate themselves or others to PDAC. However, the FDA ultimately identifies and appoints candidates based on what they perceive as relevant expertise. Members serve one to four-year terms and attend several drug review hearings throughout the year.

The FDA also invites temporary voting members to certain meetings, bringing specialized expertise to address knowledge gaps in the core group. For the MDMA review, the FDA appointed six temporary members. But curiously, not one of them had specialized knowledge of psychedelic research or medicine.

Only one permanent PDAC voting member, Dr. Walter Dunn, holds a relevant background in psychedelic research. Dr. Dunn was also the only person to dissent from popular opinion, voting yes on both final questions:

  • Do the available data show that the drug is effective in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder?
  • Do the benefits of midomafetamine (MDMA) with FDA’s proposed risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) outweigh its risks for the treatment of patients with PTSD?

I don’t think the FDA purposely stacked the group against Lykos. But the committee’s lack of psychedelic expertise was grossly negligent, given the FDA’s goal of selecting experienced field experts. This novice lineup set the stage for a lopsided debate dominated by well-meaning status quo advocates who weren’t ready to unleash a transformative medicine they didn’t understand.

Kim O. Witczak, PDAC consumer representative, put it this way:

“Once you let the genie out of the bottle, you can’t put it back in.”

The Unprecedented Nature of the MDMA Review

The Unprecedented Nature of the MDMA Review

To be fair, the committee faced an incredibly challenging task of reviewing the FDA’s first-ever new drug application (NDA) for a psychedelic compound.

Members received a data packet with MAPS clinical trials findings and the FDA’s concerns prior to the meeting. They may have also reviewed the critical ICER report and citizen petition that prompted the hearing. Together, these documents feasibly served as their first foray into psychedelic medicine before casting incredibly consequential votes affecting 13 million Americans with PTSD. 

Additionally, it was the first NDA that merged a medicine, MDMA, with psychotherapy. The FDA does not regulate psychotherapy, so the committee had never seen such a proposal before. Until the MAPS MDMA trials for PTSD, they had only ever reviewed standalone prescription drugs.

This dual application caused distress and confusion as panelists struggled to reconcile their mandate with their desire to oversee the therapeutic aspect outside their jurisdiction. Admittedly, they were out of their wheelhouse, operating under a framework that didn’t adequately address the task at hand. 

“Maybe it’s time to say we have to look at the current way that we’ve always approved and reviewed drugs differently,” Witczak said.

Resistance to the Therapeutic Component

Resistance to the Therapeutic Component

With confusion looming, Lykos’ patient-directed therapy model was central to the panel’s skepticism throughout the hearing. They consistently questioned its validity and whether psychotherapy was even necessary alongside MDMA to alleviate PTSD. 

In my discussion with Witczak, she reiterated the concerns that Lykos’ protocol wasn’t tested against “recognized therapies” or no therapy at all, leading to doubts about its credibility.

She’s right that Lykos didn’t compare its MDMA-AT model to status quo approaches, like Prolonged Exposure. They also didn’t study an MDMA-only group.

In hindsight, they should have, given the panel’s doubt about alternative therapies amplified by public accusations that Lykos is a therapy cult imposing spirituality onto patients. But hindsight won’t help now. At the time of the trial, the FDA had approved the inner healer method. Also, though Lykos didn’t explicitly test mainstream therapies, scientific data give us a clear picture of their effectiveness, according to Dr. Scott Shannon, Principal Investigator in MAPS Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Spoiler alert: mainstream therapies are not performing great. 

“Psychotherapy does something [for PTSD] but not that much,” said Dr. Shannon, who co-signed an open letter advocating for MDMA-AT’s safety and efficacy. 

According to Dr. Shannon, about 50% of people in PTSD psychotherapy trials drop out immediately, and of the 50% that pursue it, only half get better. 

“Our medications are even worse,” he said, adding that PTSD medicine hasn’t had a significant innovation in the last 23 years, and up to 17 veterans are taking their lives daily as a result.

Still, PDAC insisted that Lykos’ therapy was a significant X factor that might not be effective or safe.

Therapeutic Safety

Therapeutic Safety

A confirmed case of therapist misconduct within MAPS clinical trials exacerbated the panelists’ pushback. The case involved Meaghan Buisson, a participant in the phase-two trial, who filed a lawsuit against two MAPS therapists, Richard Yensen and Donna Dryer, alleging sexual assault and professional negligence. Buisson’s claims included video evidence showing the therapists physically restraining and spooning her during a session. Buisson moved near the therapists after the trial, where she alleges the abuse continued.

I’m not here to defend the therapists’ actions. I watched the MDMA session clip and was not ok with what I saw. I’m also uninterested in conjecture about what occurred between Buisson and Yensen after the clinical trial ended. No matter the details, this situation is a stain on the program, and the public needs to know about it so we can hold people accountable and prevent future harm.

At the same time, this inexcusable case does not erase MDMA-AT’s profound impact. For instance, Lykos’ second Phase III trial found that 71.2% of the MDMA cohort no longer held a diagnosis, compared to 47.6% in the placebo group. Additionally, its MDMA trials for PTSD had some of the lowest dropout rates in history.

We need to be able to hold two truths at once. 

1. Psychotherapist misconduct is unacceptable. We must continue raising ethical standards, recording therapy sessions, and holding offenders accountable for their actions.

2. At the same time, about 7% of conventional male therapists admit to having sex with at least one patient, and no one is suggesting we ban talk therapy as a result. Lykos’ misconduct case represents a lower risk profile than the status quo, and people with PTSD deserve a treatment that works. 

And not to beat a dead horse, but Dr. Shannon reminded me that the FDA has no mandate or interest in regulating psychotherapy. State licensing boards, professional associations, and the legal system assume that role.

Ultimately, the panel and public debated an issue that the FDA likely won’t factor into their final decision.

Broader Issues of Mistrust

Broader Issues of Mistrust in the MAPS Clinical Trial

The FDA cares about drug safety and efficacy data. But the panel’s broad dialogue extended well beyond the numbers into downright mistrust.

“I was surprised because usually [a drug] is approved more quickly, or [the panel] doesn’t raise many concerns. But this meeting had much more discussion,“ said Witczak, who added that it was “good conversation.”

Another committee member said, “It felt strange to vote no when the p-value started with three zeros.”

A low p-value, typically below 0.05, suggests that the results did not occur by random chance. So, a P < 0.0001 value – which was present in the MAPS clinical trial – is extraordinarily statistically significant.

Members cited functional unblinding (inadvertent awareness of group assignments) and expectation bias (preconceived notions about MDMA) as reasons why they didn’t believe the results. Additionally, they floated rumors from the citizen petition that the trial’s principal investigators and therapists engaged in data manipulation.

I’ll be honest. I wondered whether their points held weight, given the fact that most people in the MDMA group knew they were on MDMA.

Dr. Shannon explained that despite functional unblinding, the trial exhibited a significant effect size of 0.9. Effect size quantifies the magnitude of the treatment’s impact compared to placebo. Moderate effect sizes range from 0.4 to 0.6, according to Dr. Shannon, who explained that the best we for current SSRIs is a dismal 0.23.

“Even if our (MDMA-AT) effect size only turned out to be half of what we measured, it’s still much better than [the current treatments],” said Dr. Shannon.

But what about the potential fraud in MDMA trials for PTSD?

“I know several sites, and I know they did nothing untoward, nothing malicious, nothing underhanded. We knew we had to perform at the highest level of ethical and scientific investigation, and that’s what we did.”

Dr. Shannon added that FDA investigators were at his site for a week and had visited most sites throughout the clinical trial.

“We have been scrutinized to a high degree and stand by our data.”

Dr. Shannon could be wrong about the integrity of other actors in the trial. Some shenanigans may have occurred, and if they did, we need to question every single outcome.

However, such accusations are grave and rely on the FDA to investigate and determine their validity. The advisory panel meeting was not the format to litigate, yet the panel members clearly factored these stories into their votes.

Trying to Keep the Genie in the Bottle

MDMA-assisted therapy will revolutionize mental health treatment and society as we know it. I see that as broadly beneficial and necessary. But what do I know? I’m just one anecdote.

The data matter more than my opinion or that of any naysayer. But almost no committee member could speak to it with authority or provide any context on decades of historical MDMA therapy use. Without such a person, I witnessed the panel circle the drain in unison until they concluded they weren’t ready to let the genie out of the bottle.

I believe most members voted no out of genuine concern, like Watzeck, who said she entered the meeting with hope and optimism before the pervasive criticism impacted her vote. But others may have arrived with a pre-packaged vote.

“I would say some probably had biases. They may never agree to [MDMA therapy],” said Watzeck.

And that right there encapsulates why a committee hearing stacked with psychedelic novices could not come to an intellectually honest decision despite what may have been an utterly genuine effort.

Why the Political and Social Reality Might Supercede the Rejection of MDMA clinical trial

Why the Political and Social Reality Might Supercede the Rejection

Fortunately, the FDA’s decision is not made in a vacuum.

Witczak thinks the FDA may still approve MDMA-AT despite the panel’s concerns because of pressure from veterans groups and Congress to deliver effective PTSD therapies.

Dr. Shannon also thinks that the FDA will consider MDMA because of the dire need for innovation in mental health treatment. He believes the FDA will likely impose safety restrictions, like a limited rollout, enhanced data collection, and a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. Still, he thinks the organization will ultimately say yes.

The FDA decision whether to approve or deny MDMA therapy is expected to be announced by Aug. 11.

“We’re in a paradigm shift from either a psychotherapy or a pharmacology model, which have grave limitations, into a new model that combines them both,” Dr. Shannon said.

I’d like to agree, but I suspect the FDA is filled with well-meaning experts who fear unleashing the unknown.

I hope I’m wrong.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 19, 2024July 23, 2024

Ecopsychology, Plant Dietas, and Plant Consciousness: Building a Relationship with Nature

In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Monica Nieto: Vital graduate, psychedelic facilitator and integration coach, and founder of Holistic TherapeutiX, a retreat center offering cannabis and breathwork retreats; and Jordana Ma: past Vital instructor and psychological counselor who runs retreats in Peru following the Asháninkan tradition of traditional Amazonian medicine.

They discuss their similar paths to psychedelics and healing, the power of plant dietas and fully immersing yourself into nature, and learning to hear your true teacher: the inner healer. They highlight how we’ve lost the connection to the ecological consciousness within our bodies, and how the plants – perhaps in a self-serving way – have become allies, trying to teach us to heal the web we’re a part of and reconnect to nature and ourselves.

They discuss:

  • The importance of combining traditional perspectives and Western psychotherapy into a spiritual practice
  • The similarities between yoga and traditional Amazonian medicine
  • Singing as a somatic (and breathwork) practice
  • How things are meant to work in synergy, and the problem with science trying to extract compounds rather than respecting the power of the whole plant
  • Their role models who have inspired them and informed their work

and more!

The Vital Early Bird discount ($2000 off!) ends on July 22, so make sure to apply today!

Links

Vitalpsychedelictraining.com

Holistictherapeutix.com

Jordanama.one

Hakomiinstitute.com: Ron Kurtz

Joannamacy.net

Joanhalifax.org

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 16, 2024July 23, 2024

Meditation, Exploring Spiritual Traditions, and the Wisdom of Plant Medicine

In this episode, Joe interviews Jon Reiss: critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, and host of the Plantscendence podcast, which tells people’s psychedelic stories and is beginning its second season soon.

He talks about his early days of directing Nine Inch Nails and Type O Negative videos, and how Plantscendence was born after he realized that the conversations he was having with people about their most transformative experiences were perfect for a podcast. He discusses his first psychedelic experience with ayahuasca, how microdosing is helping him today, and his realization that people can get to these big experiences in many different ways.

He discusses:

  • The two episodes of Plantscendence that stand out the most to him
  • Using the term, ‘plant medicine’
  • His 30 years of meditation practice and how it likely helped him to integrate his first psychedelic experiences
  • The concept of plant intelligence and how plants can stop you from being a “consciousness tourist”
  • Kabbalah, Kashmir Shaivism, non-duality, and his Shaktipat experience

and more!

Links

Plantscendence.com

Jonreiss.com

8above.com

Apple Podcasts: Plantscendence

Spotify: Plantscendence

YouTube: Type O Negative – Christian Woman (Official video)

Imdb.com: Have a Good Trip

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, by Michael Pollan

Goodreads.com: Alan Watts’ quote

The Ethical and Ecological Considerations of Inhaling Bufotoxins from Incilius Alvarius, by Malin Vedøy Uthaug

Oneacreproject.org

Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics, by Gary Zukav

Wikipedia.org: Kashmir Shaivism

Wikipedia.org: Shaktipata

Plantscendence: #1 Vera Sola: Iboga Unlocks Musicianship

Plantscendence: #7 Doris La Frenais A Life Transformed

Wikipedia.org: Mark Pauline

PT443 – Swimming in the Sacred: The Wisdom of Underground Female Elders, featuring: Rachel Harris, Ph.D.

Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia, Revised and Expanded: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings, by Rob Brezsny

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

Transforming Trauma: Community, Connection, and the Healing Power of Vulnerability

In this episode, Kyle interviews Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.: developer of Somatic Experiencing®, educator, and author of several best-selling books on trauma.

His most recent book, An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey, is exactly that: a change from more scholarly writing into an extremely vulnerable telling of his early childhood trauma and how he has healed over the years. He talks about how his unconscious convinced him to write the book, how trauma can move into the body, and how he needed a student to identify how his trauma was affecting him. He believes that we all have wounding, but it’s how we carry these wounds and tell our truth that matters.

He discusses:

  • The need to allow space for both Indigenous traditions and evidence-based Western frameworks
  • The power of having even just one distinct moment of feeling cared for and loved
  • How Colin Turnbull saw healing differently after living with an African tribe for three years
  • Why he suggests 15-20 sober experiences with non-ordinary states for each drug experience
  • Why not having a community or empathetic other makes us more vulnerable to trauma

and more!

Links

Somaticexperiencing.com

An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey, by Peter A. Levine

Ted.com: How to live passionately—no matter your age

Wikipedia.org: Colin Turnbull

YouTube.com: The Moth Presents Andrew Solomon: Notes on an Exorcism

YouTube.com: Marvin Gaye – It Takes Two

Imdb.com: The Last Shaman

PT464 – Bodywork, Somatic Literacy, and Understanding Trauma: The Mind and Body Connection, featuring: Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Vitalpsychedelictraining.com

Navigating Psychedelics: Australia – 9-Week Certificate Program in Psychedelic-Informed Practice

*Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on June 27, 2024July 4, 2024

Understanding Microdosing: Integrating Small Doses for Big Therapeutic Gains

Microdosing. By now the practice has fully emerged from the underground and into the mainstream. No longer the domain of self-healing psychonauts and efficiency-chasing CEOs, the benefits of microdosing can be found in major magazines and clinical trials with Ivy-league universities.

The concept is relatively simple: taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics (generally one-tenth to one-twentieth of a recreational or therapeutic dose). This practice has been reported to provide some of the benefits of psychedelic substances without strong sensory effects and, sometimes, help with the difficult work involved in full psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions.

Many people swear by microdosing and say it has greatly improved their mental health and daily lives. It seems we’ve passed a tipping point and that microdosing is here to stay.

As we move towards possible approval of psychedelic medicines by the FDA, and with decriminalization measures making progress in jurisdictions across the globe, how will microdosing fit into this future of psychedelic-assisted therapy? What benefits does it provide to therapists, practitioners, and the clients they serve? 

Microdosing as a Tool For Practitioners and Clients 

Microdosing as a Tool For Practitioners and Clients 

Despite an overwhelming number of positive personal stories and self-reported research, the hard science is still out as to the level of tangible benefits patients might gain from microdosing psychedelics. However, this combination of enthusiastic anecdotal reports and (slowly) mounting clinical research makes microdosing an intriguing tool for people looking to better their mental health and the practitioners who help them do it. 

We spoke with Kayse Gehret, microdosing expert and founder of Microdosing for Healing, for her perspective on how microdosing can improve therapeutic results for both patients and practitioners.

Microdosing is the ideal way to introduce most individuals to psychedelic practice and therapy.

“Its relative subtlety is an advantage as it provides people a gentler introductory experience and begins to allow some challenging or unfamiliar emotions to surface incrementally versus all at once,” Gehret said. “My colleagues and I are seeing an increasing number of clients coming to us after returning from a high dose ceremonial retreat feeling destabilized. While psychedelics can bring us big truths, we must also recognize that much of the public is not appropriately prepared, resourced, or ready to receive these truths in a single weekend.”

The therapeutic potential of psychedelics has been known for decades (centuries or milenia if considering insights from ancestral and indigenous communities). From PTSD to depression, high dose psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown impressive therapeutic results.

How Does Microdosing Work with Therapy?

How Does Microdosing Work with Therapy?

Psychedelics primarily work by modulating the brain’s serotonin system, which plays a key role in mood regulation, cognition, and perception. They can also enhance neural plasticity and connectivity. These types of effects create states of mind that are fertile ground for mental health therapies. Openness, creativity, dissolution of the ego, the breaking of bad habits of mind — all are typical benefits of psychedelic therapy that may also be accessible through microdosing regimens. 

According to Gehret, microdosing has a lighter touch, and is less of a jarring and intimidating experience. This allows patients to take part in psychedelic therapies with a gentler, more accessible introduction.

“By starting with microdosing, individuals can begin to heal and discover threads and shadow material leading up to and in preparation for their high dose journey,” Gehret explained. “In our microdosing community, I’ve witnessed repeatedly that when people begin with microdosing and work to deepen their relationship with the medicine over time, when they ultimately journey they tend to have much less fear, resistance and ‘challenging trip’ experience.”

Gehret leads the microdosing specialization course offered as part of the Vital Professional Certificate Training in Integrative Psychedelic Studies. She believes microdosing offers unique opportunities for mental health professionals.

“Professionally, I also believe microdosing is wonderfully supportive of the therapeutic bond between the client and their facilitator. By beginning with a microdosing protocol, a psychedelic guide can establish, deepen, and develop their bond with a client well in advance of the journey, which I believe can lead to much better outcomes and experiences for both client and guide.”

Therapeutic Benefits of Microdosing Psychedelics

Therapeutic Benefits of Microdosing Psychedelics

While the efficacy of psychedelic medicine is becoming increasingly known to mental health professionals, it’s useful to look at some of the potential benefits of microdosing protocols and how practitioners may be able to incorporate them into their practices. 

  • Depression and Anxiety: One of the most promising areas for microdosing psychedelics is in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Anecdotal reports and preliminary studies suggest that microdosing can lead to improvements in mood, reduced anxiety, and increased emotional resilience. For clients who have not responded well to traditional talk therapy or antidepressants, microdosing may offer an alternative or adjunctive treatment option. For recent clinical results, see the Phase 2 results from MindBio Therapeutics’ microdosing trial using LSD for depression. 
  • Enhanced Creativity and Problem-Solving: Microdosing has been reported to enhance creativity, focus, and problem-solving abilities. These cognitive benefits can be particularly useful in therapeutic settings, where patients are often encouraged to engage in introspective and creative processes as part of their treatment. Enhanced cognitive flexibility may also help patients break out of rigid thought patterns that contribute to unhealthy states of mind. 
  • Improved Emotional Regulation: Emotional dysregulation is a common feature of many mental health conditions. Some studies have shown that microdosing may help individuals better manage their emotions, leading to greater emotional stability and reduced reactivity. This can be particularly beneficial in therapies aimed at addressing trauma, where patients need to confront and process difficult emotions.
  • Increased Mindfulness and Presence: Personal reports and self-reported research has shown increased mindfulness and a greater sense of presence in their daily lives. This heightened awareness can enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic practices such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and other mindfulness-based interventions.

Gehret has been guiding therapies and teaching Vital’s microdosing courses for several years, sharing her first-hand experience with burgeoning student practitioners. In addition to the therapeutic possibilities, microdosing protocols can help solve issues around access, as traditional psychedelic-assisted therapy can be a costly and lengthy endeavor, she says. 

“Microdosing is a subtle and gentle way to explore a therapeutic relationship with psychedelics and test how your body, mind, and spirit respond. It’s also far more accessible and affordable than clinical psychedelic therapy treatments, which can run into multiple thousands of dollars for a single experience, is not covered by most insurers, and will leave out most of the under-insured population,” she told Psychedelics Today. “On the other hand, cultivating your own medicines and becoming part of a microdosing community will cost far less, plus provide you with the ongoing benefits of community, education and support.”

As psychedelic therapy continues to enter the mainstream, it seems that microdosing will become an important introductory tool for those looking for help but are perhaps not yet fully comfortable with the idea of psychedelics. From a logistical perspective, the shorter session time and lack of hallucinatory journey means that microdosing can provide a tool for practitioners that offers some of the benefits of psychedelic therapies but with fewer demands on resources (time and costs), which can create a more accessible experience for clients. 

Microdosing group work and peer-to-peer models are also advantageous over traditional one-to-one therapy, as more people can be served, while eliminating the potential for practitioner burnout 

“These models also empower people to step into their own healing, self-trust, and intuition, and support each other in the process. In our microdosing community, we have people who have been attending our gatherings since our inception – and many of them have gone on to become microdosing coaches, guides and community builders. They serve as models, mentors and inspiration for the participants just starting out.”

This psychedelic resurgence is in an exciting moment, one that offers the possibility to create new modes and models for mental health treatments. Yet as with any new frontier, it’s crucial to build solid foundations based on education and responsibility. Ensuring that tomorrow’s practitioners are receiving the proper training is vital to the health of the growing landscape. Mentors like Gehret are lending their expertise to help build these paradigms.

In the future, Gehret envisions practitioners offering a range of microdosing support: integration circles, one to one support, group programs, and weaving the practice into their existing healing modalities like bodywork, psychotherapy, end-of-life care, human design, hypnotherapy, and more.

“This new way of incorporating and blending complementary modalities is incredibly effective and also a breath of fresh air from the silos and gate-keeping we see within medical models of care where you need to get a referral for everything and the system is rigged for profit over the best interest of the patient,” she said. “It really is an exciting time to be in the healing professions and microdosing is an ideal practice and bridge for people to begin to think differently about their health and healing.”

Interested in learning more about how to become a professional specializing in microdosing? Enrollment for the September cohort of Vital is open, with limited seats available.
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on June 24, 2024June 24, 2024

What is MDMA’s FDA Approval Status? A Look Ahead

Following the multi-decade regulatory pursuit, legal MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) seemed imminent to many people. In February 2024, the FDA accepted Lykos Therapeutics’ New Drug Application (NDA), and all markers indicated a likely approval.

However, on June 4, the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) shattered optimism when nearly all members advised the FDA to reject Lykos’ application.

In a 9-2 and 10-1 vote, the committee asserted its belief that MDMA therapy, as it stands, is neither effective nor safe for Americans with PTSD.

So, what is MDMA’s FDA approval status following the hearing? 

The outlook seems grim, given that the FDA aligns with the advisory panel 88% of the time. Still, Lykos (formerly MAPS Public Benefit Corporation) remains hopeful.

“We believe there is a path forward and are focused on collaborating with the FDA as they continue to review our NDA over the months,” said Lykos in an email interview.

A final decision on MDMA for PTSD is expected on or around August 11th.

Unpacking the events that led to the recent developments in FDA approval for MDMA.

The Backstory

Starry-eyed psychedelic proponents didn’t see the dissent coming. The FDA had just granted Lykos’ NDA priority review, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. 

However, the contention became clear on March 26, when the Institute of Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) published draft evidence on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. In the report, ICER acknowledged MDMA’s potential to help people heal from trauma. However, it raised significant concerns about weaving this novel treatment into traditional medicine.

The TLDR of the report’s criticism was that Lykos’ clinical evidence did not sufficiently support MDMA therapy for PTSD. The report cited alleged data validity issues, potential biases from therapists and participants, and a reported incident of sexual misconduct. It also highlighted MDMA’s cardiovascular risks, unexamined adverse events, and lack of long-term data proving the therapy’s enduring effects.

A month later, five people submitted a citizen petition to the FDA commissioner requesting the organization convene an advisory committee meeting on MDMA-AT to discuss the application’s “shortcomings and risks.” The letter also called for an extended public comment period prioritizing concerned speakers, and a live webcast.

The letter’s primary claim against the NDA was that MAPS/Lykos allegedly “manipulated clinical trial data to hide adverse events from regulatory agencies, motivated in part by a belief that these agencies would not understand that these adverse events are a necessary part of their MDMA-AT.”

The FDA responded to the petition by granting the advisory committee meeting with an extended comment period. However, it denied the request to prioritize input from concerned stakeholders.

The Meeting

June 4th’s meeting was a nine-hour saga, inviting FDA members, public participants, Lykos representatives, and eleven PDAC panelists to debate the risks and benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy. 

PDAC boasted various roles in the psychopharmacologic field, including consumer representatives, pharmacists, patient representatives, scholars, and physicians. It did not include experts from the field of psychedelic research. Nevertheless, by 5:30 p.m., the board confidently dismissed MDMA-AT’s ability to do more good than harm for PTSD. 

Lykos told Psychedelics Today that they didn’t see the rejection coming.

“Going into the meeting, we knew this was a unique assignment for the panel to review a drug-plus therapy combination. We did, however, believe that the fact that studies showed MDMA-assisted therapy offers statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms and functional impairment compared to placebo across two phase 3 trials with evidence of durability over time would compel the panel to support approval.”

MAPS / Lykos’ second Phase III Trial (MAPP2) found:

  • 86.5% of patients in the MMDA-AT group clinically benefited from the treatment compared to 69% in the placebo group. 
  • 71.2% of the MDMA cohort no longer held a PTSD diagnosis, compared to 47.6% in the placebo group. 
  • 46.2% of MDMA patients achieved remission compared to 21.4% in the placebo cohort. 

Despite the clinically impressive results, PDAC emphasized significant doubts about the data’s validity and MDMA-AT’s overall safety.

Functional Unblinding and Expectation Bias

Functional unblinding occurs when participants or researchers accurately predict the treatment they receive or administer. Expectation bias occurs when someone anticipates a particular result. Prior experience, previously held beliefs, and functional unblinding can cause such biases, potentially impacting patient experiences and reporting.

Dr. Paul Holtzheimer from the National Center for PTSD said, “Expectation bias can work in two ways. It can exaggerate the effect of the active treatment and blunt the effect of the placebo treatment.” 

It’s true that 40% of the trial participants used MDMA in the past and may have assumed the drug worked based on prior positive experiences. 

However, as Lykos points out in a recent statement, “The data indicates that prior illicit MDMA use had no impact on the results, as there was no meaningful difference in primary outcome measure or adverse events reported between the subgroup of Phase 3 participants who reported prior illicit MDMA use and the subgroup of participants who did not.”

Functional unblinding impacts, however, are far more debatable.

Renowned psychedelic drug researcher Matthew Johnson, PhD, explained Lykos’ unblinding problem in a recent X post. 

Johnson said, “For those [in the study] thinking they got MDMA, the therapeutic effect was nearly identical between MDMA and placebo [groups]. Yikes.” 

In other words, people who guessed they were on MDMA achieved similar therapeutic responses, whether or not they really took the drug.

Still, Johnson points out in The Illusion of Consensus podcast that functional unblinding is not a new issue for psychedelics, nor is it unique.

“There are a whole host of drugs that have been [FDA] approved. All of the sleep drugs… all of the anti-anxiety benzodiazepines, all the ADHD drugs… all of the opioid pain relievers. The practice of psychiatry is filled with psychoactive drugs that have very clear signatures… I want to know to what degree in FDA advisory panels this [functional unblinding issue] has come up… Because cutting through the blind is an issue for all these [compounds]… I don’t think psychedelics should be held to a higher standard than the normal process.”

Exploring misconduct and data integrity in MDMA clinical trials.

Misconduct and Data Integrity

Potential misconduct during the MAPS / Lykos trials added to PDAC’s concerns about the integrity of the results.

Allegations included reports that principal investigators: 

  • Discouraged patients with negative experiences, like suicidality, from participating in follow-up studies. 
  • Influenced patients to report favorable outcomes.
  • Inconsistently recorded adverse events. 
  • Purposely recruited patients who would respond well to MDMA therapy for PTSD.

PDAC also lamented the trials’ insufficient data on patients with severe trauma as well as an overall lack of diversity, citing low Black and Asian representation. 

Dr. Melissa Barone, a psychologist from the Maryland Healthcare System, said, “There are so many problems with the data that each one alone might [be okay]… But when you pile them up on top of each other… I think there are still a lot of questions about how effective the treatment is and how durable it is.”

At least some of the mistrust centered on the perception that Lykos and MAPS founder Rick Doblin, PhD, are determined to push MDMA approval at any cost.

Lykos says, “Like all research sponsors, Lykos and its clinical sites are subject to regular FDA inspections. We have full confidence that the FDA will continue to assess the integrity of Lykos’ research through its inspection process.”

Durability of Effect

Lykos’ clinical trials show that MDMA-assisted therapy exhibited durable therapeutic effects for at least six months. However, PDAC questioned the claim for several reasons. 

One was that patients utilized other integrative treatments in between MDMA therapy and the follow-up analysis, including:

  • Psychodynamic therapy
  • Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Other cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Group psychotherapy
  • Prolonged exposure
  • Cognitive processing therapy
  • Holotropic breathwork
  • Interpersonal therapy

The committee expressed that these therapies introduced “confounding factors,” which made it challenging to isolate MDMA-AT’s specific impact.

Meeting chair, Dr. Rajesh Narendran, added more skepticism. He said, “I’m not convinced that this drug is effective in the short term… PTSD is a disorder where symptoms can fluctuate quite a bit. We all know that. And I feel like there should have been more repeated assessments over time to gauge where these people are heading.”

Psychological Intervention

Lykos’ unique psychotherapeutic approach was another confounding factor impacting the data, according to PDAC.

The FDA does not regulate psychotherapy, so this sticking point was beyond the meeting’s scope. However, several participants expressed distrust over what they perceived as an unstandardized and unproven modality. 

In reality, Lykos utilized an approved framework described in its MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD manual. The approach is a non-directive, inner healer method that facilitates patient-led trauma processing.

It employs standard protocols like Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy. It also invites less conventional techniques, like Internal Family systems (IFS), Voice Dialogue, Hakomi, virtual reality, and Buddhist psychology.

Dr. Holtzheimer said, “I think the challenge here is that the psychotherapy in this case is not evidence-based yet.”

Dr. Barone added, “MDMA is not administered without the psychotherapy. And the psychotherapy is really vague. It is not well-determined. It seems like it was not standardized. And that makes it really hard to determine how effective it is…”

PDAC argued that the lack of standardization raises questions about the trials’ reproducibility and reliability. They also questioned the necessity of the therapy itself, wondering whether MDMA alone could elicit similar benefits.

Dr. Amanda Holley, a pharmacologist who previously worked at the FDA, explained this challenge in a recent Psychedelics Today Podcast.

“[The FDA] is having a hard time disentangling the contribution of therapy vs just MDMA. With this trial, they would’ve liked to see a factorial design that [tested] the therapy with the drug, an arm with the drug alone, and an arm with therapy alone. That would’ve given them a more holistic view of the data.”

What are the safety concerns raised about MDMA?

Safety Concerns

Another data gap involved cardiovascular health risks, which panelists said were not fully assessed throughout the studies. They raised concerns that MDMA could cause heart attacks and strokes.

In The Illusion of Consensus podcast, Dr. Johnson explained that this argument was somewhat “absurd” due to MDMA’s known effects. Sure, it raises blood pressure and heart rate. But it’s a reasonable risk-benefit ratio. Johnson compared MDMA’s cardiovascular impact to Adderall, which doctors give to children every day.

“Even with a minor abnormality at the end of a session, it doesn’t mean it will lead to a clinical event like a stroke, which is extremely rare,” said Dr. Johnson.

The FDA said it should have required Lykos to take EKGs and blood samples after MDMA sessions. However, the agency admittedly approved Lykos’ study design without these measures. 

The FDA’s admission did not shift the panelists’ perspective.

Sexual misconduct was another significant concern sparked by an incident in 2015.

A harrowing public comment on the matter came from Speaker 26, Sarah Grosh, who spoke as a proxy for Phase 2 participant Meaghan Buisson. In Buisson’s words, Grosh described the abuse that took place. Buisson’s descriptions of the assaults she suffered in session were recorded and are now publicly available.

Buisson also reported becoming suicidal during the trial and said that Lykos did not document this adverse event. She claimed MDMA therapy left her overwhelmingly vulnerable and led to further exploitation by her therapist, who she said trafficked her while still in the trial. 

Grosh asserted that Lykos’ leadership did nothing to intervene after she filed the ethics complaint in 2018 and that they continue to deny any ethical violations.

Lykos responded in its statement, saying, “This was a terrible and harmful instance of malpractice that caused profound suffering to a participant. Lykos reported this violation to Health Canada, the FDA, and the relevant Institutional Review Board and banned the therapist pair associated with this case from all future work. Since then, we carefully developed and implemented new policies and practices aimed to prevent, detect, investigate, encourage reporting of, and thoroughly respond to potential instances of misconduct or unethical behavior.”

Prospects of FDA Approval

Amid the shadow of alleged misconduct, data misalignment, and safety concerns, PDAC voted an overwhelming no to MDMA treatment for PTSD. The FDA is not required to follow PDAC’s guidance. However, the overwhelming pushback casts serious doubt over whether 2024 will be Lykos’ year. 

“It doesn’t look good at all. I imagine at some point MDMA will be approved for PTSD, but I wouldn’t put bets on it to be approved in August,” said Dr. Johnson.

Many people have read the statistic that the FDA aligns with advisory committees 88% of the time. However, a lesser-known fact is that in cases when the committee did not recommend approval, the FDA only agreed 67% of the time. This disparity leaves the door open for hope. 

Another hopeful sign, according to Dr. Holley, is that the FDA prioritizes public health when making NDA decisions. The fact that current PTSD therapies are highly deficient and no new drugs have been approved in decades represents a significant healthcare failure.

Lykos maintains that MDMA-assisted therapy can meet the nation’s critical mental health needs, and it has not given up on approval.

“While we understand that the FDA considers advisory committee recommendations, most of the conversation at the meeting centered on known issues that have already been discussed and investigated. In addition, the panel was focused on the regulation of therapy outside the FDA’s purview.”

Lykos added that the organization is discussing a potential post-approval REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program with the FDA. REMS would seek to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance through measures to monitor and manage risks.

“If FDA-approved, prescription MDMA-assisted therapy will be launched with careful consideration of its potential benefits and risks, following established medical guidelines, protocols, and quality standards,” said Lykos. 

What’s Next if the FDA Approves MDMA-Assisted Therapy?

If the FDA approves Lykos’ application in August, the decision will spark a timeline that requires several bureaucratic steps before patients can access MDMA treatment for PTSD. 

  • First, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must reschedule MDMA from Schedule I within three months of approval.
  • After the federal rescheduling, states must also reschedule the drug. Most have processes for automatic alignment, while others have state-specific scheduling procedures.

“Our plan is to make MDMA-assisted therapy available, if approved, in 2025,” said Lykos, who clarified that they would initially roll out the program to a limited number of sites.

What’s Next if Lykos’ Application Fails?

Lykos declined to speculate on what they might do if the new drug application for MDMA-AT fails.

However, in similar circumstances, trial sponsors must thoroughly rectify the issues through additional studies, further data collection, or modifications to the drug’s formulation, labeling, or manufacturing process. Once finished, sponsors must resubmit a package with all the information proving the issuers were resolved. The FDA then re-evaluates the application to determine if it meets the safety and regulatory requirements.

The process can delay FDA approval by a median of 435 days, requiring companies to spend significantly more time and money to get to the finish line.

The Bottom Line

PDAC does not think the current data proves MDMA therapy is effective for PTSD, nor does it believe the potential harms outweigh the risks. Lykos asserts that the clinical trial results speak for themselves and that treatment could significantly improve countless lives. Now, 13 million Americans with PTSD await MDMA’s FDA approval status in August. 

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024

An Inside Look at the FDA and Early Drug Development

In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Amanda Holley: pharmacologist and regulatory consultant in nonclinical drug development, and previously a nonclinical pharmacology/toxicology reviewer at the FDA.

With Lykos Therapeutics working towards FDA approval of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, ICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) recently published its draft evidence report, concluding that they couldn’t endorse this modality. While disappointing to the psychedelic space, this report doesn’t determine the FDA’s official stance, and also really highlights a lot about how the FDA works, the knowledge gap between consumers and regulators, and how clinical studies should be designed in the future. Holley talks about the FDA’s dedication to safety and data, and how, essentially, drug development comes down to a risk/benefit analysis. 

She discusses:

  • Misconceptions about the FDA, especially related to psychedelics
  • The path of a substance in early drug development and how breakthrough designation works
  • The complications with blinding psychedelics, the placebo effect, and how much therapy is a factor
  • The contrast between productization and harm reduction: Should we be concerned with creating products, or understanding these substances better?
  • How changing one molecule really does create a different drug

and more!

Links

Icer.org: Institute for Clinical and Economic Review Releases Draft Evidence Report on Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Assisted Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Draft Evidence Report

Psychedelicalpha.com: Exclusive: Therapists and Trialists from Lykos’ Phase 3 MDMA-Assisted Therapy Studies Push Back on ICER’s Critical Draft Report

Lykospbc.com: Lykos Therapeutics Statement on FDA Advisory Committee Meeting

Marijuanaindex.com: Delta 8 vs Delta 9 THC: Understanding the Differences and Effects

David Nutt’s drug harm scale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on May 2, 2024May 1, 2024

Avoid These Psychedelic Mistakes: How to Stop a Bad Trip Before It Starts

Have you been considering taking a psychedelic journey, but want to avoid a bad trip? Do yourself a favor: don’t make the most common psychedelic mistakes.

Understanding the most common pitfalls before you engage with a psychedelic substance can have a colossal impact on the outcome of your experience. Whether you’ve just learned about psychedelics, you’ve recently begun a journey of re-discovery, you’re working to include psychedelics in your career, or you’re a seasoned psychonaut, knowing the most often-made psychedelic mistakes could mean the difference of having a positive or negative – or even dangerous – outcome. 

Ignoring set and setting is one of the most common mistakes that lead to a bad trip. Avoid making this psychedelic mistake!

Ignoring Set and Setting

Psychedelics are powerful tools that can amplify your inner world. Imagine a mirror reflecting back everything you’re feeling – that’s what a psychedelic experience can be like. So, if you’re anxious going in, that anxiety can intensify and make it difficult to avoid a bad trip.

Similarly, a chaotic or unfamiliar environment can create a sense of unease and disrupt the flow of your experience.

This is what we call set and setting:

  • Set (Mindset): Your emotional and psychological state profoundly affects your psychedelic journey. If you’re stressed, worried, or harbor unresolved conflicts, these can manifest and become overwhelming during the experience. 
  • Setting (Environment): The physical and social space you choose can significantly impact your trip. Some settings are inherently riskier than others.

To avoid making this mistake, consider your internal state of being, and if it’s the best time to introduce psychedelics into your life. While some may argue that a period of difficulty is the best time to use psychedelics, take the time to evaluate whether dealing with what may arise will be a wise or productive choice right now – only you can answer this question, but don’t be afraid to share with someone you trust to help you evaluate it.

Think hard about how the setting could impact your overall experience, both positively and negatively. While fun, a noisy party can be disorienting. Unfamiliar surroundings and people could become frightening during the trip, too. Whereas a safe, comfortable space with trusted companions can foster a sense of security and allow you to surrender to the experience. Thoroughly assess what level of comfort and control feels right for you, and choose your setting wisely.

Lack of planning and research is one of the most common mistakes that lead to a bad trip. Avoid making this psychedelic mistake!

Lack of Planning and Research

Ingesting a substance without stopping to understand the substance and its effects is like taking a bad trip to a foreign land without a map. You might end up lost, confused, and potentially in danger.

While psychedelics are increasingly being mentioned or portrayed casually in movies and on social media, they’re powerful substances whose effects vary wildly depending on the individual, the substance, the dosing, and what they’re combined with. Without proper research, you could have a drastically different experience than you signed up for.

Treat your psychedelic journey (and yourself) with an appropriate level of respect. Research the substance you plan to use, including its typical effects, duration, and potential risks and contraindications. Get familiar with typical experiences by reading trip reports and articles, listening to podcasts (we have many to choose from), psychedelic books, and studies.

Begin forming a plan. Decide who you want and who is able to be present, or act as a “sitter.” Make sure this person has some psychedelic experience and can provide emotional support. If you also choose your setting mindfully and have a good understanding of what to expect (while being aware that the unexpected may still arise), you can enter the experience with confidence.

Neglecting drug testing is one of the most common mistakes that lead to a bad trip. Avoid making this psychedelic mistake!

Neglecting Drug Testing

One of the most common mistakes in the modern era of psychedelic use is failure to test your substance. These days, it’s increasingly risky to assume that a substance is safe, pure, or that the substance is even what you believe it to be. Because a great deal of psychedelic use still occurs outside legal frameworks, where substances are tested and verified, there could be adulterants or molecules you are unfamiliar with on board. This potential comes with a high risk of unpredictable and dangerous side effects, ranging from discomfort to death.

Fortunately, there has never been greater access to substance testing for people who are concerned about the safety of their psychedelics and avoiding a bad trip.

At-home testing kits are widely available for a wide variety of substances, with the most common testing for accuracy and adulterants. Services like GetYourDrugsTested.com offer free mail-in drug analysis for free, groups like Dancesafe, Bunk Police, and Test Kit Plus offer kits for home use. Be sure to follow the instructions, and opt for a kit that checks for a wide variety of substances.

While purchasing a test kit is an added expense, strongly consider the cost of your health and well-being: if you can afford to ingest, you can afford to test.

Misjudging your dose is one of the most common mistakes that lead to a bad trip. Avoid making this psychedelic mistake!

Misjudging Your Dose

One of the most common mistakes we see: taking an arbitrary or high dose without realizing it or understanding its potency.

Dosing is highly variable from substance to substance, and highly individualized. The dose that works best for one person may be far too much, or too little for another. Taking too much without realizing it or anticipating the level of intensity can quickly result in an overwhelming and potentially harmful situation.

To avoid this potential for a bad trip, start with a low dose and increase gradually if necessary, tailoring it to your desired experience.

If it’s your first time taking a substance – or even a new batch of a familiar substance – the safest route is to begin with a low dose. It’s far easier to increase the dose if necessary than it is to deal with an overwhelming experience when it’s too late.

Consider your intention: do you want to have a more subtle, amplifying experience, or a mystical experience? How well do you know your body, and how do you typically react to mind-altering substances? What’s been said on message boards and within your local community about the substance recently? Exercising caution, asking yourself important questions, and doing some external research can help you avoid a bad trip.

Remember: you can always take more, but you can’t take less.

Learn the rest of the most common psychedelic mistakes.

Learn the Rest of the Most Common Psychedelic Mistakes

Are you feeling prepared for your journey? Maybe don’t take off just yet. While this article includes crucial information to help you stop a bad trip before it starts, there’s more to learn.

We’ve packaged an extensive list of psychedelic pitfalls (and, most importantly, what to do instead) in a FREE course designed for wherever you’re at in your journey: 8 Common Psychedelic Mistakes.

In this self-guided digital class, you’ll learn:

  • Why you shouldn’t overlook set and setting.
  • How to plan and research thoroughly.
  • Why substance testing is crucial. 
  • The value of knowing your dosing.
  • How to begin vetting your shaman or facilitator. 
  • How to stay present during your trip. 
  • The importance of choosing a support team.
  • How to be set up for success before and after your trip.

Join thousands of other psychedelic explorers and supporters in this FREE course so you can prepare for every psychedelic journey with knowledge and confidence. Students receive a complimentary printable guide and trip checklist, and free, unrestricted access to course materials for life.

Enroll in 8 Common Psychedelic Mistakes HERE.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on April 25, 2024April 25, 2024

The Ketamine Conundrum

What if there was a potentially life-saving drug that could relieve depression and PTSD but also, potentially, force frequent users to rush to the toilet every 15 minutes?

Well, it does exist. It’s ketamine, the most rapid-acting antidepressant in use today.

The drug has morphed in popular consciousness in just half a century from legal anesthetic, to dissociative dancefloor sniffing powder, to FDA-approved depression treatment, to addictive bladder-buster. Like heroin and cocaine, ketamine has much-needed medical uses – but it can be dangerous if abused. Rising problematic recreational use and calls from industry for greater professional accountability in therapeutic settings is showing that ketamine can be fun, restorative, and even addictive. In some cases, all at the same time.

Tracking the ascension of ketamine in culture.

The Ascension of Ketamine in Medicine and Culture

The commonly used anesthetic, in clinical use since 1970, was never placed under the strictest of legal controls like other drugs – partly since recreational ketamine use did not emerge until the 1990s and was rarely demonized. This enabled ketamine-assisted mental health treatment to become the first psychedelic available in therapy form, while in 2019 the FDA approved a ketamine nasal spray named Spravato for depression.

While its therapeutic usage has taken off, recreational consumption has seemingly followed suit.

“Recreational ketamine use has almost tripled over the last decade,” says Dr. Rayyan Zafar, a neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College’s Centre for Psychedelic Research.

In some cases, ketamine appears to be replacing alcohol, and that may broadly be positive for public health, Zafar adds. It’s not the only benefit: Ketamine-assisted therapy, “is a game changer for treatment resistant depression.”

To service the emerging therapeutic demand, ketamine clinics have opened all over the Western world over the last decade (there are a dozen in Manhattan alone).

And the party drug du jour – which along with other psychedelics is today replacing cocaine on dancefloors and at dinner parties – is making its way into pop culture: in ‘Ketflix and Chill’ memes, usage in films such as 2023’s Rotting in the Sun, and the so-called “ketamine chic” look. A song with a perhaps era-defining lyric, “Gimme ket, gimme ket,” recently made the top 20 in the German pop charts.

Naturally, plenty attest to its benefits.

“A ketamine meditation last year was one of the most profound and freeing experiences of my life,” says Bryan. “I only had awareness of peace.”

Others speak of ketamine use precluding suicidal ideations, spawning life changing realizations and facilitating mind-body connection.

For Sophie, ketamine has helped her “to zone in on what my soul purpose is” and spawned a long-overdue, radical career change. “It quietens the noise in the mind.” 

Away from the dancehalls and art studios, there are reports of relief from depression, suicidality, PTSD and anxiety. (The author had a transformative, intentional experience with ketamine which helped him process the memories of a number of traumatic events). Many others, from model Amber Rose to average Canadians, tell of how ketamine saved their lives – wrenching them away from suicidality. “That’s the only thing that saved my life,” Rose said recently.

The hidden dangers of ketamine misuse.

The Hidden Dangers of Ketamine Misuse

But the story of ketamine in 2024 isn’t all healing and happily ever afters for everyone who uses it. The scale of the harm from misuse has become so serious that hundreds on both sides of the Atlantic are undergoing therapy for addiction as ketamine support groups emerge for those who cannot afford rehab.

At a recent meeting in Oakland, California, attendees shared stories about the consequences of daily ketamine use: gastrointestinal pain, neuropathy, tingling in limbs and extremities, and leaky bladders. Tolerance to ketamine develops swiftly. In a short-sighted attempt to get around that, some people are “boofing” – rectally ingesting – several grams a day to get the hit that has become elusive nasally for them.

“Very little is known about how to recognize ketamine addiction,” says Brad Burge, founder of Integration Communications, a public relations agency serving the psychedelic industry, who was present at the well-attended meeting. He went because a friend of his recently died by suicide after more than two years struggling with pain likely caused by ketamine addiction.

Others are still living with the damage from misuse previously in their lives. Ryan was sniffing several grams a day at the height of his addiction.

“Robotripping and dissociation; it’s the ultimate escape. It was only when I moved back to my family home that I was saved.” Ketamine, at mid-to-high doses, he adds, brings about a more lucid and less warm experience than psilocybin or LSD. “It’s like getting lost in an emotional but placid sea of neuronal misfire.”

Ryan has lasting damage to his bladder as a result of ketamine overuse. So does Adam. “I did it every day for a few months years ago,” he says. “To this day I have ‘ket bladder’. I’ll go for a wee four times for every wee my mates have.” 

The mental and spiritual strain of ketamine can range from hallucination persisting perception disorder, to being thrust unwillingly into “k-holes,” a dissociative ego-death realm.

“I felt like I was going to die,” Marie recalls. “I had seizure-like symptoms for about half an hour.” She and others did not know that many take ketamine purposefully to enter the k-hole for pleasure and enlightenment. 

Growing scrutiny on Take-Home ketamine.

Growing Scrutiny On Take-Home Ketamine

Even lesser-known, in the enduring world of “just say no” public drug messaging, is the addictive potential of ketamine, “especially at-home ketamine use,” adds Burge.

The concerns over at-home ketamine use – for which a telehealth industry has sprung up to cater for, with slow release ketamine lozenges and prerecorded trip mixes – were blown wide open in late February when the former CEO of an at-home ketamine provider withdrew his support for at-home ketamine therapy after a female patient had a reported massive overdose and went into hypoxemic respiratory failure. It came after the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, from “the acute effects of ketamine,” a few months earlier. 

“After being at the forefront of at-home ketamine treatment, recent findings, like the case study of unintentional overdose via telehealth have led me to reevaluate,” Juan Pablo Cappello, the former CEO of Nue Life Health, tweeted. “I can no longer endorse ketamine’s prescription without stricter controls. Safety must come first.”

The Ethical Divide: Confronting Challenges in Therapeutic Practice

Some advocates of drug policy reform argue that reducing controls to accessing drugs like ketamine is the whole point – and that greater education and support from the companies purveying the lozenges should come before any knee-jerk legislative responses. 

But with recreational and therapeutic use rising swiftly – bolstered by ads on social media and digital platforms from which at-home lozenges can easily be accessed – it seems like the emerging issues may only worsen, even if far more people experience ketamine’s benefits.

“There’s all sorts of ethical companies and practitioners who are doing the good work every day on the front lines, and we have to recognize that,” Cappello told Psychedelics Today in March. “We also have to be honest that it’s harder and harder for those ethical practitioners to make a living because of what unethical practitioners are doing every day in the trenches, which is slinging ketamine.”

In a letter advocating for standards that prioritize patient safety over profits – profits that seem to be fuelling the trajectory of the ketamine craze (both in the clinics and in the clubs) – Cappello proposed that those at the helm of industry have the power to safeguard the therapeutic potential of ketamine therapy for those in need.

“Do I think that it’s probably a good trade to take ketamine six times a year as opposed to taking an antidepressant every day? Yeah, that’s probably a good trade. But there’s a better trade, which is: let’s address the root cause of your depression, anxiety, or trauma once and for all.”

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on April 19, 2024October 27, 2025

The Microdosing Effect: Connecting the Dots Between Anecdote and Evidence

In 2024, the discourse around the effects of microdosing psychedelics is deeply polarized.

Positioned at opposite ends of the conversation are microdosing evangelists who swear by its benefits and skeptical scientists demanding more empirical evidence.

Ask whether it ‘works,’ and you’ll receive an emphatic ‘yes’ from believers or an all-but-certain ‘no’ from doubters, highlighting a divide that hinges largely on perspective.

Despite plenty of anecdotal reports attesting to the positive effect of microdosing – the practice of taking sub-perceptual or slightly sensory enhancing doses of psilocybin or LSD on a regular basis for wellbeing, to improve focus or diminish depression – the lack of faith is traditionally rooted in an absence of robust science proving its efficacy. But that could all soon change.

MindBio’s Latest Trial Results: Breakthrough or Overreach?

Preliminary clinical data recently released by MindBio Therapeutics, which conducted a minor trial using LSD, suggests that a small dose of the psychedelic could have an boosting effect on energy and mood while reducing depression symptoms. 

“We are delighted to share that MB22001 showed rapid and statistically significant improvements with 60% reduction in depressive symptoms and 53% of patients experiencing complete remission from depression,” said Justin Hanka, Chief Executive Officer of MindBio Therapeutics. “These Phase 2 trial results are transformative for the company as it takes its next steps into late-stage pharma.”

This should all be taken with a grain of salt. The sensationalist manner Mindbio announced the latest microdosing results – which have not yet been released in a scientific paper – provoked the ire of some commentators.

Exploring Microdosing’s Effect on Mental Health

But for the many who have benefitted from the effects of microdosing, it’s only a matter of time before the data corroborates their experiences. I decided to ask my Instagram friends about their experiences.

“I was going through a really hard period at home,” one microdoser said. “I felt almost like the mushrooms held me: Everything softened and I felt safe and held. And, after a while, I felt fine without microdosing and didn’t need it anymore.”

Other microdosers say the practice boosts concentration and productivity, echoing LSD-inventor Albert Hofmann, who suggested that low doses could serve as an alternative to pharmaceutical study drugs like Ritalin.

Decades later, that’s pretty much what is happening. Another microdoser said she uses mushrooms instead of Adderall for focus effects, lending weight to a study released last year which reported that microdosing psychedelics boosted mindfulness among adults with ADHD.

“For me it’s a clean, sustained focus with elevated mood,” she said.

Another microdoser said sub-perceptual psychedelics helped her taper off of SSRI medications.

“I was coming off antidepressants and had a horrendous time,” she said. “The mushrooms were my savior. They took away feelings of negativity and made me feel lighter and more at peace.”

Scientific Scrutiny: Measuring the ‘Real’ Effects of Microdosing

Such reports, however, will do little to convince the doubters. This skepticism is compounded by the trend of bots marauding social media conversations about psychedelics, relentlessly regurgitating pro-microdosing talking points and incessantly hawking magic mushroom capsules. The volume of posts, especially on X, has contributed to claims from psychedelics researchers that microdosing is “ridiculously overhyped and predatory.”​​

Already, there is survey data indicating that microdosing – popularized in Silicon Valley, but not so mainstream that CEOs can’t be fired for taking LSD before meetings – could be a salve. A 2019 paper containing more than 1,000 user reports from people in dozens of countries notes that spaced but repeated microdoses increases positive moods, alleviates migraines and eases premenstrual symptoms.

Other research – and numerous press reports, which began in 2015 when microdosing first entered cultural consciousness – presents the microdose as a versatile tool for increasing contentment effect and improving cognition.

“As of right now, there are still no published clinical trials investigating microdosing on people diagnosed with mental health issues, so their efficacy as a clinical treatment is unknown,” said Manesh Grin, a postdoctoral psychedelic neuroscientist, University of California, San Francisco.

The survey-based papers “generally don’t measure placebo or expectation effects and aren’t the most reliable,” he added, while “in laboratory studies, where they compare against a control group, people do often experience improvements in mood, anxiety, and other measures but so do the people who get an inert placebo and thought they got a microdose.”

The main challenge of the clinical microdosing studies undertaken so far is that most did not observe patients for any significant period – in which time a microdosing protocol might take effect. Perhaps the most robust microdosing study to date, conducted with LSD in New Zealand by University of Auckland associate professor Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy on 14 patients over six weeks, suggests some benefits that are greater than placebo.

“My sense is that, if there are real effects, they are likely particularly for people who are struggling,” added Girn. “Whether they help people who are already healthy and high functioning is more of an open question, but the data so far suggests the effects might only be modest and largely placebo in most cases.”

Some are less enthusiastic about microdosing’s possible efficacy as they believe larger macrodoses, taken less often, are more effective and that there are emerging business interests behind the dubious bots – and others – who seem to want to sell folks a lifetime of pills. Comparing microdosing to psychedelic therapy brings forward many interesting perspectives.

“High-dose psychotherapy (is) about having this transformative experience that one learns from, whereas microdosing psychedelics would be … a traditional psychiatric medicine model,” psychedelic scientist Dr Matthew Johnson tweeted.

“Common for microdosing fans to say: any skeptic hasn’t tried it. Not true,” he said in another tweet last year. “I’ve know [sic] many people (including a number of scientists) who have taken plenty of psychedelics & are believers in high dose therapeutics, who have tried microdosing a bunch and say, meh, not convinced.”

But microdose advocates still maintain that smaller, more regular doses will be more practical, and cheaper, for most people than the hair-raising visionary trips scientists propel themselves into.

Hanka says his company’s data – from a new study led by Muthukumaraswamy – is promising, but that ultimately the jury is still out.

“I’d really like to know for sure that these drugs work better than antidepressants with lower side effects and that is exactly what we are trying to find out,” he said. “I am open minded and will be completely led by the data as we step through clinical trials.”

Studying the effects of a sub-perceptual medicine while calculating the impact of brain power may always be tricky, and the success of any microdose, self-help regime comes down to the intentions and discipline of the microdoser. But I don’t think my Instagram friends are tripping. They didn’t take large doses after all.

Interested in doing your own self-exploration? Consider our Microdosing Masterclass, your complete guide to understanding and integrating the best practices for effective microdosing.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on April 5, 2024January 3, 2025

Women and Psychedelics, Microdosing, and the Challenges of Psychedelic Parenthood

In this episode, Alexa interviews April Pride: creative entrepreneur, veteran of the cannabis space, and now, founder of SetSet, an educational platform and podcast (picking up where The High Guide left off) for women curious about psychedelics.

With Alexa about to embark on the journey of motherhood, she asks many of the questions parents working with psychedelics have to consider: How do you overcome the stigmas of being a psychedelic parent? How do you talk to your children about drugs? How do you know if a substance is ok to use during pregnancy?

Pride discusses:

  • Being dubbed “the weed mom” and why she embraced the nickname
  • Parenting children around drug use and how parents lose credibility when they lie (the kids are going to know)
  • The need for more research into how substances interact with women’s cycles and changing hormones
  • Knowing when to trust your doctor and how more conversations lead to more knowledgeable doctors
  • Microdosing psilocybin and the developing SetSet protocol

and more!

Links

Getsetset.com

Thehigh.guide

Aprilpride.com

Oflikeminds.co

SetSet: The Psychedelic Card Game

Microdosing Masterclass: Your Complete Guide to Understanding and Integrating the Best Practices for Effective Microdosing

Vitalpsychedelictraining.com/

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on April 2, 2024January 3, 2025

Shulgin Farm and the Future of Psychedelic Drug Development

In this episode, Joe interviews Paul F. Daley, Ph.D., who worked with Sasha Shulgin in his lab for the last seven years of his life, helping him finish (and co-authoring) The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds.

He is now the co-founder, Chief Science Officer, and Director of Analytical Science at the Alexander Shulgin Research Institute (ASRI), focusing on the discovery and development of novel psychedelic compounds. While Sasha was passionate about self-experimentation, the Institute is aiming for the next step for these drugs: FDA approval.

He discusses:

  • Meeting Sasha at the 2nd international conference on hallucinogenic mushrooms in Washington D.C.
  • Bonding with Sasha while reviewing the autopsy of researcher Robert van den Bosch for possible foul play
  • The two compounds ASRI is closest to being able to test in clinical trials
  • The 5-HT2B receptor, risk of valvular disease, and why we will likely be hearing more about this going forward
  • How AI and new technology can lead to better safety science

and more!

Links

Shulginresearch.net

Shulginfoundation.org

Shulginfarm.org

The Pesticide Conspiracy, by Robert van den Bosch

The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds, by Alexander T. Shulgin, Tania Manning, Paul F. Daley

Drzee.org

Island, by Aldous Huxley

*Book links are affiliate links, meaning that Psychedelics Today will receive a percentage of the sale

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on March 19, 2024January 3, 2025

Maintenance Doses and Recurring Revenue: The Ethics of At-Home Ketamine Therapy

In this episode, Joe interviews Juan Pablo Cappello: co-founder and former CEO of Nue Life Health, whose assets were subsequently acquired by Beckley Waves.

Cappello digs into his recent article which has been making waves across the psychedelic community: “Profit Over Patients? A Critical Look at At-Home Ketamine Therapy.” He created Nue Life with the goal of helping a million people address the root cause of their anxiety, and while the company was successful, he began to see a problematic trend: that using ketamine while providing services of a mental health company is very expensive and resource-consuming, and as companies saw a large percentage of clients requiring maintenance doses, the most profitable business model became essentially slinging ketamine to patients without providing any real integration or aftercare. Are these companies promising healing but really only guaranteeing recurring revenue?

He talks about:

  • How this emerging model makes it harder for ethical practitioners to be able to provide their services
  • The tools they built at Nue Life for long-term benefit, and why these should be the main focus – not repeated ketamine
  • Matthew Perry’s death and how the media was quick to place the blame on ketamine
  • The need for companies and communities to come to gather and create ethical industry standards for the at-home ketamine model
  • How cannabis was almost decriminalized under the Carter administration

and more!

Notable Quotes

“There’s all sorts of ethical companies and practitioners who are doing the good work every day on the front lines, and we have to recognize that. We also have to be honest that it’s harder and harder for those ethical practitioners to make a living because of what unethical practitioners are doing every day in the trenches, which is slinging ketamine.”

“Do I think that it’s probably a good trade to take ketamine six times a year as opposed to taking an antidepressant every day? Yeah, that’s probably a good trade. But there’s a better trade. which is: Let’s address the root cause of your depression, anxiety, or trauma once and for all. Let’s do the hard work. Let’s use ketamine as a beautiful tool to help you reset and reboot, and let’s get you well. And let’s support you in your wellness journey going forward, rather than putting you on the cycle of feeling better, feeling worse, feeling better, feeling worse.”

“I absolutely believe the pharmaceutical companies are way too close to the regulators, absolutely. But what do we expect when getting a drug approved by the FDA is a billion dollar proposition? I mean, look at what MAPS has gone through. They’re still raising money, notwithstanding the amazing clinical results that they’ve had with MDMA. …[They’re] continuing to raise money for clinical trials of a drug that wasn’t made illegal until 1982. So it’s not as if, in terms of the safety profile of MDMA, we don’t have oodles and oodles of real life data prior to 1982. Nothing’s a better sign of how broken the system is than what MAPS has gone through.”

Links

Profit Over Patients? A Critical Look at At-Home Ketamine Therapy, by Juan Pablo Cappello

Response to Criticism of ‘Profit Over Patients? A Critical Look at At-Home Ketamine Therapy’, by Juan Pablo Cappello

PT274 – Juan Pablo Cappello – Nue Life: Using Digital Phenotyping to Personalize Healthcare

Lexology.com: Ketamine Clinics and Malpractice: Recent New York Litigation

One Year podcast: 1977: Mr. Marijuana and the Drug Czar

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on March 12, 2024January 3, 2025

Soul Retrieval, Moments of Awakening, and Uncovering the Language of Spirit

In this episode, David interviews Itzhak Beery: author, shamanic teacher, speaker, trip leader, and founder of ShamanPortal.org, an online community and resource for people who want to learn, practice, and teach shamanic traditions.

Beery shares his transformational journey, starting from his upbringing on a kibbutz in Israel, to his disillusioned advertising days in Manhattan, to the life-altering sweat lodge experience in Hawaii that eventually led him to write the book, Shamanic Transformations: True Stories of the Moment of Awakening, and realize his true purpose. He discusses the two major sides of trust: how to know when a healing path has truly become your life purpose, and how to know who to trust as a good healer in a world of self-initiated shamans.

He and David dig into:

  • How we all have the innate ability to be a shaman
  • How Westerners are often seeking healing too young, before they have the capacity to truly understand lessons they may receive
  • His upcoming book which attempts to teach practitioners how to create narratives out of symbols, The Language of Spirit
  • The importance in not denying the experiencer’s truth
  • His insights on palm reading and the concept of predetermined paths

and more!

Notable Quotes

“We are all shamans. Every human being is built– Their DNA is built in to be able to see, to vision, to dream, to dance, to sing, to hug, to drink, to hug, to make people feel comfortable. The ability to do the shamanic work is built in with every one of us, to take care of other people, for the well-being of the community.”

“The main problem that I see is that people from the West come to ayahuasca like a magic drink, but they don’t speak the language of spirit. They don’t speak the language of plants of the Amazon. Now, when you start drinking it from the age of six or eight, you are already understanding the intricate visions that [are] connected to your body and are connected to the whole world of spirit. So they have a context where they can hold what your body physically experienced and what they visually experienced. When we come from [a] digital world [with] zero connection to nature, and we just dumped ourselves into a world that is steeped in magic, we don’t know how to accept it. We don’t speak that language.”

“In our culture, we go to the Himalayas, we go to the Amazon, we go to the mountains, we go to who knows where, to the rivers, to wait for the moment that God will just hit us over the head and we’ll be enlightened. And the truth is that every moment of our life is a moment of awe, of enlightenment, and we have to really sit with it for a minute. We are always looking from the enlightenment outside of [ourselves], that somebody will give it to us. …How many people are going to all kinds of places around the world? But that moment that you are already looking for; it’s already happened. You just have to recognize it. …Every moment that we are alive is a moment of miracle. It’s a moment of enlightenment. And we have to live like that, in that awe, in that place; that every moment is a moment that you can transform your life. You don’t have to wait to take ayahuasca, yagé, nátem, all the other stuff, to experience the transformation.”

Links

Itzhakbeery.com

Spiritwalker: Messages from the Future, by Hank Wesselman

The World Is As You Dream It: Teachings from the Amazon and Andes, by John Perkins

Black Smoke: Healing and Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon, by Margaret De Wys

Shamanic Transformations: True Stories of the Moment of Awakening, by Itzhak Beery

Shamanportal.org

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on March 8, 2024January 3, 2025

Sacred Sites, Ayahuasca, and Connecting With the Rhythms of the Earth

In this episode, Johanna interviews Laura Reeves: Glastonbury-based facilitator and medicine woman trained in craniosacral therapy, somatic experiencing, breathwork, and more, who holds retreats at sacred sites in the U.K. and Peruvian Amazon.

She tells of her journey from serendipitously booking a trip to Ecuador just as she first heard about ayahuasca, to the early ayahuasca experiences that showed her our true interconnectedness, to a heroic dose of psilocybin and a trip to the hospital, to being accepted into training with an Indigenous shaman in the Amazon. With a lifelong love of nature, paganism, and ancient traditions, she stresses the importance of connecting to the natural rhythms of the Earth and harnessing its energy.

She talks about:

  • Self-initiated shamans and the dangers that can come from bad actors operating out of integrity and respect for the lineage
  • Ayahuasca as a purgative and the power of energetic clearings
  • Her experience with shamans using Icaros to channel the sounds of plants
  • Shadow work and its role in personal growth and healing
  • The energy of Glastonbury, feeling deep connections to sacred places, and how ley lines inspire places of pilgrimage

and more!

Notable Quotes

“I just walked off on my own, and I remember just standing there. And I started hearing the entire symphony of the rainforest and it was like no sound was a mistake. It was like I could see and feel the interconnectedness of every single sound and every feeling of every sound, and I just was there in this orchestra of nature. I guess that was [my first]] experience of this interconnectedness, the energy that kind of weaves between everything.”

“It’s great that these plants are awakening to awaken us now. But what’s unfortunate is a lot of people are then using it as an opportunity to make money, to be the shaman at the front of the ceremony, and they’re not prepared to do the work to actually be in integrity with these sacred lineages.” 

“The way in which this other tradition works with the medicine is to drink ayahuasca without the DMT active substance (you still have visions, but it’s different), and then you drink warm water, and you’re literally just purging for about two hours. …And the way that I felt after this: It was like the medicine went down into the deepest parts of my body, into my cells, and just pulled out any toxins, any negative thoughts even, anything at all. And I felt completely clear and energized. My nervous system felt really reset at this point. …I was like: How can we create experiences just with the body where we can feel this depth of liberation and openness?” 

Links

Laurareeves.co.uk

Laura Reeves linktree

Friday, April 19 – Sunday, April 21, 2024: Mystical Spring Retreat, Glastonbury: Land Magic, Consciousness Expansion & Heart Opening, with Laura Reeves & Guests

YouTube: The War on Consciousness TEDxTalks Graham Hancock (The talk TED tried to hide/ban) 2013

Psychedelics Today: PT390 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations, featuring: Mackenzie Amara & Dr. Ido Cohen

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on March 1, 2024January 3, 2025

Drug Development, The State of Biotech, and Exploring Non-Hallucinogenic Compounds

In this episode, Christopher Koddermann interviews Dr. Sam Banister: co-founder and chief scientific officer of Psylo, an Australian biotech company developing next-generation psychedelics.

Banister discusses how he got involved in drug development, how Psylo came about, and the hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists Psylo is working on. He talks about the compromise between immediate need and ambition, and the ethical considerations and possibilities behind developing non-hallucinogenic compounds: What can we take from the psychedelic experience for people who aren’t ideal candidates for one? Is the psychedelic experience truly necessary? And for what indications will these new Gen 3 compounds be most useful?

He discusses:

  • What we can infer about the volatility of biotech and the state of the psychedelic industry based on recent mergers and acquisitions
  • The long-term challenges of drug development and the scalability of treatment options
  • How the initial success of Spravato has played a role in allaying fears around new compounds
  • Head twitch response and concerns it’s not as accurate of a metric as we’ve believed
  • Australia’s decision to down-schedule psilocybin and MDMA, and the speed of implementation and licensing: How long will it be before people have easy access?
  • What he sees for the future and why we need to be careful with language around expectations

and more!

Notable Quotes

“I think the reality is, beyond any ethical consideration, there are just people who won’t want to have a psychedelic experience or are contraindicated because of other comorbidities, family history of psychoses, or other things. These are pretty challenging experiences for a lot of people, if you speak to participants in some of these trials. They’re not without risk. There are adverse events reported from these trials as well. So if we can see good efficacy for any given indication for some of these non-hallucinogenic agents, I absolutely think they will have value beyond whatever else is happening with psychedelic-assisted therapy.”

“Given the waiting times we have in the U.S., in parts of Europe, in Australia, and New Zealand as well, for psychiatrists, for psychotherapists; generally, I don’t see this as being something that will be resolved along the timelines that are needed for this to be a broadly accessible treatment for the numbers of patients who are going to need it. So I think that is probably the largest barrier, in my mind, to the broad deployment of these therapeutics.”

“I think this sort of unbridled enthusiasm needs a bit of a sense check, and I think people should be cautious in the language they use. …I think the communication to patients in this space needs to be done very carefully. These are not substances that are without risk. There are plenty of patients who can have very serious adverse events from psychedelics, and some of these can be persistent and quite problematic – more problematic than whatever disease they’re seeking to treat.”

Links

Psylo.bio

Tranquis.com

Quantum Psychology: How Brain Software Programs You and Your World, by Robert Anton Wilson

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, by Tom Wolfe

The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World, by Michael Pollan

National Library of Medicine: Ethical Issues Regarding Nonsubjective Psychedelics as Standard of Care

Pubs.acs.org: The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics May Not Be Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects

Globenewswire.com: Compass Pathways enters into research collaboration agreement with Hackensack Meridian Health…

Nasdaq.com: Compass Pathways and Greenbrook TMS enter into three-year research collaboration agreement

Awjuliani.medium.com: A Phenomenological Report on the Novel Non-Hallucinogenic Psychedelic Tabernanthalog

Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind, by Mike Jay

Biorxiv.org: AlphaFold2 structures template ligand discovery

Prnewswire.com: Psylo Announces Sponsored Research Agreement With Daiichi Sankyo to Develop Non-Hallucinogenic Psychiatric Therapies

Finance.yahoo.com: Otsuka Pharmaceutical to Acquire Mindset Pharma

Finance.yahoo.com: Bristol Myers Squibb acquires Karuna Therapeutics for $14 billion, boosting neuroscience portfolio

Cerevel.com: AbbVie to Acquire Cerevel Therapeutics in Transformative Transaction to Strengthen Neuroscience Pipeline

Psychedelicalpha.com: Psychedelic Funding & Public Markets in 2023

Tga.gov.au: Prescribe an unapproved therapeutic good (health practitioners)

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on February 28, 2024March 6, 2024

Psychedelic Integration: How to Weave Your Experiences Into Daily Life

So, you’ve had a psychedelic experience. And somewhere within the sensory avalanche, the perplexing interior narrative, and avoiding looking at your own face in the bathroom mirror, you (gasp!) may have actually learned something. But what comes next? How can you ensure to take the insights you gathered and apply them to your life? Enter psychedelic integration.

What is Psychedelic Integration? 

The word ‘integration’ comes from the Latin word ‘integrare,’ which means to make whole or begin again. It also has French roots, from the word ‘intégration,’ which speaks to ‘bringing together parts of a whole.’ 

While the psychedelic community has yet to uniformly align on a single definition for integration, we can begin to understand it by acknowledging that psychedelics can help disrupt and loosen our rigid personality structures and long-held beliefs. Integration is about finding a middle ground, fixing the tears in our narratives, and becoming whole again.

Sounds simple, right? Simple, yes. Easy, maybe not. Psychedelic integration is both passive and active. It takes time, willingness, and effort to work through and re-live a psychedelic experience within the natural mind. It can involve taking a thorough inventory of the mind, body, and spirit, and challenging oneself to dig deep, get uncomfortable, and sometimes, make big changes.

But don’t panic. Integration is an extremely personal process and doesn’t look the same for everyone. Before getting started, get grounded, give yourself permission to take your time, and treat yourself with love, compassion, and patience.

Document Everything

Someone I used to work with is fond of saying “it doesn’t exist if it isn’t written down.” And while, for our purposes, he uses it in terms of project management, the same is true for psychedelic integration. 

As soon as you’ve had a little breathing room from the most intense part of the trip – either before the psychedelic substance has worn off, or a few days after – begin journaling. Writing or recording the parts of the experience that stood out to you is a great place to start while the memory is fresh in your mind.

Whether in a blank notebook, or an intentionally designed psychedelic Integration Workbook, capturing those fleeting thoughts and feelings is often considered a foundational step in psychedelic integration. If a blank page feels a little daunting, check out our comprehensive guide to integrating psychedelic experiences, including meditation prompts, structured journaling exercises, and goal planning. 

Find Someone to Listen

After a profound psychedelic experience, it’s often helpful to share your story with someone. Whether a therapist experienced in psychedelic integration, a trusted friend, or a member of a psychedelic community, finding a non-judgmental person to hold space for you is important.

The act of verbalizing your experience can help in processing and understanding it on a deeper level. Your experience may have included some anxiety, depression, and discomfort. It’s crucial to find a person who is open-minded (and did we mention, non-judgmental?), allowing you the space to explore your thoughts and feelings without steering them in any particular direction.

If your resources are limited, or there just isn’t anyone in your circle who fits the bill, consider contacting Fireside Project, a free helpline for peer support before, during, and after a psychedelic experience.

“(The volunteers) come to the experiences having had their own experiences, and desiring to hold space for others as they navigate their experiences and navigate their processing afterwards. They’re not doing therapy. They’re not diagnosing. They’re really with the person (the caller, the texter) as somebody who gets it,” Fireside Project founder Hanifa Washington told Psychedelics Today.

Depending on the intensity of your experience and the state of your well-being in the aftermath, finding a trained professional or a doctor may be necessary – especially if you’re in distress. 

Do Your Homework 

Psychedelic integration also involves educating yourself about the psychedelic experience. Dive into books, scientific research, and personal accounts that discuss psychedelics and their effects on the mind and body. Understanding the psychological, neurological, and spiritual aspects of psychedelics can provide a richer context to your experience.

To really dig into your integration, consider taking an online course. Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care and Integration was designed so you can learn at your own pace, with lessons on how to get the most out of your experience and integrate psychedelic experiences into your daily life.

These days, there is more psychedelic information available to curious people than ever before. While there can be a lot to wade through, it’s best to find a format that’s easy and compelling to digest. This knowledge can help in recognizing common themes and lessons that emerge in psychedelic experiences. Knowledge is power, and there’s a lot of it out there for you to discover.

Take Care of Yourself

Physical health plays a significant role in psychological and spiritual well-being, especially after a psychedelic experience. And if you’ve just had one, your body might have gone through the ringer.

Ensure you’re taking care of your body through proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. Activities you enjoy, like yoga, art, meditation, and nature walks can also be beneficial, helping to ground your experiences in the physical world. Remember, a healthy body is crucial for a healthy mind. Though you may often hear about mental and physical health discussed separately, they are one in the same.

Find the Others

Outside of a therapist or coach, connecting with others who have had similar experiences can be incredibly beneficial for psychedelic integration. Look for community groups, workshops, or online forums where people discuss their psychedelic experiences and integration processes. Sharing with and learning from others can provide different perspectives and insights, and also remind you that you are not alone in this journey.

And even if, for example, you’ve taken psilocybin, don’t discount the experiences of those who have used other substances, from 5-MeO-DMT to ketamine (and all substances in between). While the substances and effects on the body and mind may differ, many of the feelings that can arise and the outcomes can be eerily similar. Finding commonality with many others who use psychedelics for healing and betterment can offer support, understanding, and camaraderie as you navigate your own integration journey.

Don’t Overthink It

The morning after my first ayahuasca experience, I woke up to a text from a friend that read:

Try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now.

I didn’t fully embrace the sentiment of this quote, originally written by Austrian author Rainer Maria Rilke, until much later. My friend was gently urging me to avoid trying to decode the ayahuasca experience too quickly. I didn’t take this advice, and by the time I landed back in Canada, I decided the medicine was, without question, urging me to live with more gratitude. Maybe so, but maybe that wasn’t quite everything I could have learned, or even the most profound. Because I stopped asking questions, I closed the door to new insights.

“How beautiful that we have this access to deep knowledge of the universe through us, but we have to be quiet. We have to be quiet to hear the whispers of the heart. And when you become quiet, the whispers of the heart become louder and they start filling you in. Then you have to start believing it,” Dr. Michael Sapiro told Psychedelics Today.

Sometimes, psychedelic experiences can be colossal, endless, and enlightening.

And sometimes, they can also be underwhelming, unremarkable, and even boring. Resist the urge to define the ‘why’ too quickly after the substance has worn off. Take a beat, unpack it, and let it marinate in your mind for a bit before concluding its significance – there may be more (or less) there than you think.

One Step at a Time

Choosing to take psychedelics can be transformative, opening doors to new perspectives and deeper understanding of oneself. But remember, the true journey begins with integration — weaving these profound experiences into the tapestry of your daily life.

While some may choose to take it slow and make the journey completely personal, others might feel inspired to integrate psychedelic work into their professional lives. If that’s you, consider becoming professionally trained before engaging in psychedelic practice with others.

As you navigate this path, cherish the insights, embrace the challenges, and remember that psychedelic integration is meant to be a journey, not a destination.

Eager to learn more? Check out our comprehensive self-paced course, Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care and Integration for your complete guide to understanding and integrating the psychedelic experience.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on February 15, 2024March 6, 2024

Opinion: How Ayahuasca Could Change You

With ayahuasca being cast into the spotlight, curious minds from all over the world are heading to Central and South America to experience it for themselves. 

And while tales of profound healing are common, there exists a shadowy underbelly within the realm of such experiences – from the onset of psychotic episodes to acts of sexual exploitation.

So it begs the question: is ayahuasca the real deal? Can it profoundly change your life as the evangelists say, or is it just another fad that will fade if psychedelics fall out of the Western spotlight?

Over the last several years, my interest in exploring shamanic traditions led me to work closely with ayahuasca in Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador. I’ve sat in 20 ceremonies, and during a six-month period at a shamanic retreat center, I supported hundreds of individuals through their processes, witnessing various kinds of transformations.

Our left brain driven approach to understanding this medicine tends to fall short, as research and studies struggle to capture the subtleties and complexities of this undoubtedly strange but powerful teacher plant. Rather, we turn to tradition, ceremony, and wisdom passed down over countless generations to explore the consciousness-expanding properties of this plant medicine.

While ayahuasca shows promise in many cases, I want to emphasize that it’s not a miracle cure for anything. Not everyone benefits from it, and there are many instances where people are harmed by it. As with any psychedelic substance, many factors, most notably an individual’s physiology, intentions, circumstances, and location, influence the result. 

So before we dive into some of the ways ayahuasca can change individuals, it’s important to preface: though I’ve witnessed and experienced positive change from ayahuasca, I’ve encountered individuals who suffered after consuming it. 

For example, one woman reported frequent panic attacks following a ceremony. In another instance, I met a man struggling with bipolar disorder, who developed psychosis and required constant support post-experience. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to hear stories of sexual exploitation by shady shamans and cases of retraumatization.

Fortunately, I’ve mostly witnessed the positive side of this medicine, observing deeply transformational experiences that individuals have had on all levels of well-being.

Drawing from collective experiences and those of many people I worked with, here are some of the ways in which ayahuasca may bring about positive changes in individuals’ lives.

How Ayahuasca Affects the Physical Body


Ayahuasca has profound effects on consciousness, but it may also serve as a potent remedy for physical health. Whether it’s cleansing the body or restoring the brain to optimal function, there are many lesser-known physical health benefits this medicine carries.

Look at it this way: the body is a vessel, and the spirit prefers to live in a beautiful temple rather than a dilapidated mansion. This medicine cleanses this vessel to create space for the full expression of your soul. 

Potential for Physical Cleansing

Ayahuasca is believed to remove impurities from the body, such as harmful toxins ingested from particular substances and products. While clinical research that validates this idea is lacking, some people have reported that ayahuasca detoxed their bodies from harmful medications and substances. The cleansing process involves purging, which can include vomiting, crying, sweating, and spontaneous rushes to the bathroom.

One man, who had previously worked with harmful chemicals, believed that ayahuasca flushed them out. Having suffered the long-standing consequences of radiation poisoning, he reported smelling those chemicals in his bucket after purging.

Purging serves as cleansing on a physical level, and it doubles up as an energetic release. After purging, many people report feeling much lighter on both a physical and emotional level.

Potential for Resetting Brain Chemistry

According to some individuals I worked with, ayahuasca helped restore their brain function to a more neutral state. This phenomenon was particularly evident in people with a history of substance abuse, where frequent use of specific substances resulted in physical and psychological imbalances.

These imbalances could manifest as hyperactivity, a lack of focus, mood swings, and depression. Some individuals displaying such behaviors reported feeling healthier following a ceremony, discovering a newfound sense of calmness and composure.

In the Be Conscious Podcast: Drug Addiction and the Power of Ayahuasca, Curandero Michael Thornhill, trained in the Noya Rao lineage, suggests that addiction often stems from deep-rooted trauma. Ayahuasca can aid in healing this trauma, eliminating the urge to escape reality via substance abuse. By considering substance abuse as a coping mechanism, ayahuasca has the potential to help individuals address the root cause, rendering the coping mechanism obsolete. However, an individual I encountered relapsed in the months following an ayahuasca retreat. This illuminates the necessity of ongoing support post-ceremony to solidify new habits and prevent reverting to old ones.

While ayahuasca holds promise, it’s a powerful medicine that can impact individuals differently, yielding unexpected results. Responsible exploration and informed decision-making are crucial when considering its use for addiction recovery, with a strong support network following the experience being necessary.

Potential for Clearing Bodily Dysfunctions

Ayahuasca’s physical effects may go beyond potentially cleansing the body; it may assist individuals dealing with persistent bodily dysfunctions. These issues can span the digestive system, sexual organs, respiratory system, and even nervous system dysregulation.

Several women I spoke to reported experiencing regulation of their menstrual cycle following a ceremony. This suggests that ayahuasca may contribute to restoring our bodies to a more optimal function.

It’s noteworthy that many individuals who believed these dysfunctions to be lifelong conditions have experienced a contrary outcome with ayahuasca. While an ayahuasca ceremony isn’t a substitute for seeking medical advice or treatment, I have witnessed instances where ayahuasca has contributed to the healing of stubborn dysfunctions that individuals have accepted as a part of themselves.

How Ayahuasca Affects the Mental Body

The mental body encompasses the realm of the mind, a powerful tool for organizing your reality. However, the mind is susceptible to wear and tear.

Thoughts, mentalities, and beliefs about the world and oneself originate from the mind. Limiting belief systems can hinder reaching your full potential, as the quality of your thoughts lays the foundation for your life experience.

Needless to say, the mind has a huge influence on well-being. When it’s not functioning optimally, it can contaminate your reality. Ayahuasca, in this context, accesses the roots of perception, resulting in a healthier outlook on life.

Deconstructing Outdated Programming

A potential benefit of ayahuasca lies in its potential to deprogram harmful beliefs and perceptions. During youth, we often absorb information without discernment, forming the foundations of our reality. This can result in a warped or disadvantageous perception of reality, and of ourselves.

For instance, an individual might have developed an aversion to strangers due to parental advice. They may have formed the belief that money is a scarce resource or that humanity is a lost cause, ultimately leading to a reduced quality of life. While these beliefs may have served a purpose at some point, they often become burdensome if not discarded.

Ayahuasca has the potential to bring awareness to our deeply held beliefs, providing an opportunity to replace them with healthier perspectives that enhance one’s life. This may include embracing the belief that change is exciting or recognizing everyone’s potential to experience abundance regardless of their circumstances.

Following a transformative ceremony, an individual chose to reconnect with his estranged father after a decade of avoiding contact. He revealed that during the ceremony, he gained a fresh perspective on the situation, leading to the dissolution of long-standing resentment.

Illuminating Limiting Belief Systems

One’s belief systems play a crucial role in navigating life experiences. Those with spiritual beliefs will likely have a different perspective than those who identify as atheists. These differing belief systems contribute to distinct understandings of mortality, morality, and principles for leading a happy life.

Some people who experienced ayahuasca reported a shift in specific belief systems, most notably the fear of change. They expressed being more at peace with life changes and that they no longer felt the associated anxiety.

Additionally, a common experience reported among individuals was a deepening of curiosity about life after death. Many described significant realizations and insights into their personal lives. It became evident to me through hearing these stories, that ayahuasca can help many individuals connect the dots and perceive certain events in their lives from a different perspective.

Changes to Your Self-Perception

During challenging times, it’s common to criticize oneself. Small mistakes can be magnified into perceived failures, leading to a diminished sense of self worth. This negative self-view can set life on a downward spiral, as our life experiences often mirror our internal landscape.

Feelings of self-worthlessness were common issues faced by individuals I supported during ceremonies. Many of them reported that ayahuasca illuminated the origins of this distorted self-perception. This awareness allowed them to begin empowering themselves and working on their self image.

The Emotional Body

Emotions serve as a powerful medium through which we experience life. The ups and downs, joy and despair, love and heartache are essential to prevent life from becoming mundane. However, life can also be brutal. 

The emotional body represents your connection with feelings. A healthy emotional body means being in touch with feelings, allowing you to be in harmony with your emotions and experience the world in its full colors.

Many people have turned to ayahuasca when grappling with emotional issues like repressed anger and resentment. In many of these cases, ayahuasca illuminates healthier ways for people to experience and express their emotions.

Some individuals may realize the repercussions of bottling up their anger, prompting them to seek healthier outlets for expression. Others might correlate their lack of assertion with childhood experiences of walking on eggshells, leading to an understanding of the importance of speaking up and asserting oneself.

Ayahuasca, as a sacred medicine, is renowned for healing the emotional body, enabling individuals to feel the amazing spectrum of life. With that said, here are a few ways ayahuasca works on the emotional body.

Removing Emotional Baggage

In my experience, a common reason why people seek out ayahuasca is to release painful emotions linked to past experiences. I’ve seen individuals struggle to move on from past circumstances, then continue to suffer as a result.

Significant unaddressed past trauma can potentially lead to adverse physical and emotional effects. If the trauma remains unhealed, its manifestations often accumulate as emotional baggage, described by many as a weight or burden.

As highlighted in a HealthCentral article by Lisa M. Basile and Jessica Rodriguez, trauma can have lasting effects on both physical and mental health, leading to conditions like chronic autoimmune illness, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Within conventional medicine, symptoms are often addressed, but the root cause is not, prompting individuals to seek out traditional alternatives for a holistic approach to healing. Ayahuasca is renowned for helping people identify the root cause of their issues rather than alleviating symptoms, which can lead to genuine healing and growth.

Notably, I’ve worked with individuals who harbored long-standing resentment from childhood abuse, shame from childhood abandonment, and grief from past relationships. Some expressed feeling lighter after addressing the root cause of their pain during ayahuasca journeys, such as the fear of being alone. I witnessed significant transformations in individuals who claimed to have let go of the past by addressing the trauma associated with specific memories. 

Clearing Deep-Rooted Trauma

The notion that one sitting with ayahuasca is equivalent to years of therapy attracts many seeking healing from trauma. In my time working with ayahuasca, I supported people who endured extremely traumatic events such as rape, physical abuse, and the loss of children. Some also grappled with war-related PTSD. Despite years of therapy and medication, many became disillusioned by these approaches, prompting them to explore every healing modality under the sun. For some, ayahuasca became a last resort.

Several individuals who suffered severe trauma reported turning a new leaf in their lives after engaging with the medicine. While ayahuasca cannot rid the pain associated with losing a loved one, those experiencing grief expressed feeling more at peace following a ceremony. A few even believed they had connected with their loved ones in spirit, providing closure.

If ayahuasca has a reputation for anything, it’s helping find light amid life’s tragedies. Needless to say, this isn’t always the case, and a single session may not be enough to facilitate deep healing on this scale. I have also witnessed cases where people became more disillusioned after taking ayahuasca, underscoring the importance of integration and support.

Removing Emotional Blockages

Many issues we face are manifestations of emotional blockages, which come in various forms and result in different emotional challenges. Essentially, a blockage prevents you from fully experiencing life.

Common blockages include struggles with love arising from issues with the heart, avoidance of intimacy and sexual expression due to sexual blockages, challenges in holding authority, and difficulties with self-expression, often leading to an inability to open up.

Past experiences can cause people to build an “emotional dam” as a protective mechanism. For instance, if you had an abusive partner, you might lose the spark for romance. If your parents scolded you for expressing certain needs or desires, you might find it challenging to express yourself later on in life.

In this sense, ayahuasca can act like a drain cleaner, restoring the flow. During ceremonies, individuals often experience the opening up of different parts of themselves and the resurrection of specific feelings that were long buried.

The Spiritual Body

Reality is like an onion, where what we perceive is but a tiny figment of an incomprehensibly grand system. Energetically, we’re always tethered to other dimensions of experience, and our consciousness is thoroughly rooted in them.

Like a tree growing from its roots, your life experience manifests from your soul nature. This is what your spiritual body signifies – your consciousness in its entirety. Your entire reality is a manifestation of your consciousness.

Ayahuasca affects the deepest layers of who you are because, in shamanic traditions, it’s not a drug, it’s not even a psychedelic. “Mother ayahuasca” is a spirit – a conscious, highly intelligent entity that exists within these higher dimensions.

With that said, we’re going to look into the spiritual component of ayahuasca and explore how this medicine can help people tap into their core nature to recreate their reality.

Seeding New Philosophies and Ways of Being

Ayahuasca can be a humbling experience that can allow an individual to step outside their body, mind, and emotions, exploring the deepest layers of self. This opens the door to a whole new world of possibilities, unseen through the clutter. While you will return to reality, what you experienced can never be forgotten.

Ayahuasca can plant new seeds, which if tended to, can flourish in many ways. It can guide individuals to cultivate new ways of understanding our place on this planet, fostering a deeper sense of meaning. Whether it imparts lessons on not taking life so seriously, unveils death as another chapter, or empowers us to become the creator of our life experiences, the insights gained have the potential to drastically improve the quality of our lives.

Cultivating a Deeper Connection with Spirit

Many turn to ayahuasca to help them find meaning in life, seeking answers to questions about who they truly are and why they’re here. The majority of people I’ve encountered sought spiritual exploration through ayahuasca, while others were drawn to it by a deep interest in the afterlife.

For many people who drink this medicine, it steers them toward a journey of discovery. They seek to understand the mysteries of their experiences, to comprehend why they’re here, and to distinguish truth from illusion.

This quest for understanding propels people further down the rabbit hole of self-discovery, nurturing a deeper connection with spirit. As a result, people who take ayahuasca typically open up to different modalities, bodies of information, and practices that they may not have been interested in before.

Although some believe that ayahuasca is solely a drug-induced experience, I found the majority of people who sit with the medicine are convinced that it’s a bridge to hidden realms of consciousness. Many people reported that ayahuasca reinforced their spiritual beliefs, while others stated the experience created spiritual beliefs.

This newfound path often creates a sense of peace in individuals’ lives, allowing them to ultimately recognize their true nature, as souls having a human experience – conjuring feelings of relief and inspiration.

Raising Your Vibration

Ayahuasca’s beauty lies in its capacity to help evolve us into our best selves while showing us the abundance of happiness accessible to all. After all, that’s what the journey is about – discovering the master within, who has an unlimited plethora of wisdom that can be tapped into.

With wisdom, one realizes that happiness is synonymous with love and that destructive behavior grows from suffering. Ayahuasca has the potential to help in recognizing these fundamental truths, significantly impacting well-being and happiness by steering individuals away from attitudes, beliefs, and feelings associated with suffering.

People commonly report increased gratitude after participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. In my own experience, ayahuasca helped shape a “glass half full” perspective, and many others reported feeling more optimistic afterwards. The medicine is often mentioned for its ability to alleviate the fear of death and the unknown, a common motivation for seeking it out.

However, ayahuasca can also cause unwanted effects, including retraumatization. One individual I supported felt existential dread following a retreat, and another reported frequent panic attacks in the months that followed. Feelings of disorientation or confusion after a ceremony underline the necessity of integration work.

These newfound outlooks must be actively maintained or the potential of reverting to old patterns is likely. Without the right support or motivation to follow through with newly developed attitudes, many individuals regress.

This illuminates the importance of seeking out proper support following an ayahuasca experience, especially during the delicate stages post-ceremony, before new outlooks and behaviors have settled.

Remember: Your Mileage May Vary

Ayahuasca is a powerful plant medicine, but it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. While it can be blissful, it can also be vivid, intrusive, erratic, and extremely weird. I have had experiences where I felt deeply disconnected from my mind and body, thrust into an incomprehensibly complex and bizarre alien world. Without a thorough understanding of your mental ecosystem, it’s easy to see how the experience can overwhelm people, potentially causing more harm than good.

Given the multitude of factors involved, it’s important not to view ayahuasca as a miracle cure. I’ve met many who believed ayahuasca would do the work for them, only to be disappointed. Ayahuasca serves as an aid; the individual does the work. It may reveal what needs attention, but the effort to address those aspects is up to the individual. It might illuminate a better path, but you must then walk it.

The experience is not a walk in the park or an observation of pretty patterns. The healing process can be extremely difficult requiring a certain level of mental preparedness. It often involves vomiting, reliving trauma, and confronting one’s demons that some may be ill-prepared for.

Given the vulnerability during these experiences, finding a safe and reputable location to take the medicine is paramount. Sitting with shamans who don’t have your best intentions in mind is a potentially dangerous recipe that should be avoided at all costs.

Furthermore, it’s important to acknowledge that the experience is unique to every individual. Approach the medicine with an open mind, understanding that the experience is different from typical portrayals, and each experience is unique. While it may cause significant shifts in healing, it can also leave you confused or underwhelmed.

While there is a degree of consistency with many psychedelics, ayahuasca is a powerful medicine of its own, with results varying drastically. My best advice: don’t expect the medicine to automatically heal you. However, if you approach it with the best intentions, well-prepared to enter the darker chasms of your subconscious, it may change your life in ways you might never predict.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on February 13, 2024February 13, 2024

PT486 – 5-MeO-DMT, Somatic Release, and Creating Context for Spirituality

In this episode, Joe interviews Steve Rio: psychedelic guide, performance and transformation coach, musician, and co-founder of Enfold, a retreat center in BC, Canada.

While Enfold caters each experience to each client, they largely work with 5-MeO-DMT (which is unregulated in Canada); partly because of its power, and partly because Rio realized how much was missing in terms of safety and process when using the substance. They are trying to fill in the gaps, working with the University Health Network Centre for Mental Health to analyze measurements of mindfulness, DAS tests, the Brief Inventory of Thriving survey, and language used when describing experiences to collect as much qualitative data as possible. He discusses their screening process, why they work with synthetic 5-MeO-DMT, why they encourage everyone to go to a group session, and how 5-MeO seems to bypass psychological processes and largely be related to somatic release.

He talks about:

  • The power of 5-MeO and being humble and honest with yourself: Are you stable enough to handle the dysregulation?
  • 5-MeO bad actors and ‘Drive-by 5’ people who show up, do the drug, and leave
  • The plight of Sonoran Dessert toads and the need for more data around their declining populations
  • How 5-MeO seems to connect people with a higher power, and the need for the experiencer to find their own context for it
  • The importance of creating a clean and open container for spirituality and meeting the client where they are

and more!

Notable Quotes

“I think inserting any type of dogma is not really helpful in taking people through a psychedelic experience. I think there are some core basic principles around love, around compassion, around forgiveness, that I think everyone can agree with, but I think beyond that, it’s important for everybody to be able to contextualize their experience in the framing that feels right to them. …We try and create the clearest and simplest container for spirituality that allows for the depth of spirituality, but doesn’t necessarily try and say spirituality is one thing or another, because frankly, that’s a very personal choice.”

“These toads have quickly become close to extinct. And the whole region is in turmoil because of people coming to harvest toads. There’s cartel activities. I think there’s human safety risks, I think there’s animal safety risks. And once you work with synthetic, you realize that there’s so little difference between Bufo Alvarius and synthetic that it makes no sense to be working on healing, transformation, and consciousness expansion at the expense of this beautiful animal.”

“The more people can open up in a group setting, I think that’s an incredibly healing practice – to be able to be vulnerable, to be able to be heard, to hear other people’s stories and realize you’re not alone. To hear yourself in others is really powerful. I think, ultimately, the deepest healing does happen in community.”

Links

Enfold.org

Psychedelics Today: IG Live with Steve Rio

Psychedelics Today: PT377 – Integrative Medicine: Health, Wellness, and Psychedelics, featuring: Andrew Weil, M.D.

Tucsonherpsociety.org

Psychedelics Today: Could the Sonoran Desert Toad Cure Narcissism?

Drmalinvedoyuthaug.com: Publications

Vice: The Toad Venom That’s Stronger Than DMT: Bufo

Saving Normal: An Insider’s Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life, by Allen Frances, M.D.

UHN Psychedelic Psychotherapy Research Group

Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT) Survey

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

PT484 – Seeing Through the Smoke: The Importance of Telling the Truth About Cannabis

In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Peter Grinspoon: primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, TedX speaker, certified physician life coach, and author of the new book, Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Expert Untangles the Truth about Marijuana.

He tells his story of growing up in a house where academics like John Mack and Carl Sagan regularly smoked cannabis, and being inspired by the groundbreaking books of his father, Lester Grinspoon. An outspoken advocate for drug policy reform and embracing different, non-AA paths to recovery, he talks about how he got there: his opiate addiction, fall from medicine, subsequent return, and learning just how deep the stigma against drugs goes, and how much the medical establishment is another arm of the Drug War. Seeing Through the Smoke aims to tell the truth about cannabis, especially on benefits and real and debunked harms. How can we get more physicians and lawmakers on our side if all they know is propaganda?

He discusses:

-The challenge in speaking honestly with physicians about drug use
-Why physicians are in support of researching psychedelics but not cannabis
-Stigmatized language and Drug War vibes in medical software
-The truth about cannabis, schizophrenia, and the risk of drug-induced psychosis
-Portugal and the ‘Rat Park’ model
-The importance of listening to what patients are saying – especially when we don’t have enough good data

and more!

Notable Quotes

“My dad got John Mack and Carl Sagan together so that Carl can convince John that UFOs aren’t actually real. And apparently, it got very heated, and John Mack yelled at Carl Sagan: ‘You’re being too cartesian!’ So I had a very weird childhood. I mean, all these people were smoking pot frequently in my house when I was growing up, and I grew to associate cannabis with intellectual discussion and very motivated people. I had a very different experience with it than I think it’s fair to say most people did.”

“Back then, the psychiatrists were all completely against psychedelics and people were not at all in favor of medical cannabis. I did my senior presentation as a resident on medical cannabis in the year 2000 (23 years ago), and everybody thought I was so eccentric. And they thought that this was the latest fad, like beta carotene or Omega-3 whatever. And now it’s fun because the same doctors who thought I was eccentric are referring patients to me.”

“94% of Americans support legal access to medical cannabis at this point. …Who’s against medical marijuana? I mean, come on, someone’s dying of cancer; give them some medical marijuana. And again, the AMA still puts it in derogatory quotation marks. So does the American Psychiatric Association. They put ‘medical marijuana’ in these derogatory quotation marks, like, ‘This is just something that only an ignorant patient would believe.’ …I wish they’d just have a little bit more humility and a little bit of interest in rethinking their positions.”

Links

Petergrinspoon.com

Time.com: Decriminalizing Opioids Will Save Countless Lives

Medpagetoday.com: Doobie No Harm: Doctors and the War on Drugs — An excerpt from Grinspoon’s new book, “Seeing Through the Smoke”

Dr. Peter Grinspoon substack

Marihuana Reconsidered, by Lester Grinspoon, M.D.

Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered, by Lester Grinspoon and James B. Bakalar

Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine, by Lester Grinspoon, M.D. and James B. Bakalar

Drugpolicy.org

Psychedelicmedicinecoalition.org

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on January 26, 2024January 26, 2024

PT481 – Kanna: The History, Science, and Potential of an Emerging Legal Alternative

In this episode, Joe interviews Ryan Latreille: Founder of Hearthstone Collective, which sells functional mushrooms and low-dose kanna designed for microdosing; and Kanna Extract Co., which is focused on offering high-potency kanna extracts more for ceremonial and recreational use.

He talks about how he found his way to kanna; his first psychedelic experience (kanna mixed with MDMA); how he worked with a Koi tribal leader to find high-alkaloid kanna; how they created the strain they use; and why so many people are interested in kanna and more people should try it, as he believes it’s not only a natural alternative to other substances and alcohol, but also a great entry point for people looking to experiment with microdosing.

If you want to learn a lot about kanna, this is the episode for you, as it is all discussed: How dosing should be done depending on what you’re looking for; whether or not it’s fair to say kanna is ‘MDMA-lite’; Indigenous history of usage; drug interactions and safety; the journey from seed to harvest; a breakdown of different grades of kanna; how the ratio of different alkaloids creates different experiences; and what could be possible by combining different alkaloids, different strains, and by pairing with different substances.

Notable Quotes

“When you take it, it is stimulating the release of more dopamine, more norepinephrine, more serotonin. And that on its own is going to at least contribute in part to this euphoric, empathogenic feeling that people have when they take it. So I don’t know if it’s fair to say that it’s like MDMA-lite. It definitely is an empathogen, you definitely feel a heart-opening, but it is, I would say, distinctly different.”

“A lot of people are really liking this as an alternative to alcohol; something that’s healthier when you are in a social, festive environment, and you want to feel more open, more connected, more happy and free. This is, I think, a really great alternative for people than other compounds that tend to not leave you feeling so good the next day.”

“Kanna is a very special plant. I mean, there’s 28 known alkaloids at this point, each that have distinct effects on the central nervous system. And with the right chemist, you can make really, really cool extracts with it.”

Links

Kannaextract.com

Hearthstonecollective.com

Vice.com: This Legal Supplement Made Me Roll Like I’d Taken MDMA

Sciencedirect.com: Sceletium tortuosum: A review on its phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, biological and clinical activities

Kanna.health

Zembrin.com

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on January 19, 2024January 19, 2024

PT479 – Psilocybin in the Midwest and the Need for Potency Testing

In this episode, Joe interviews Erik Vaughan: Co-Founder and Manager of Epiphany Mushroom, a mushroom and mental health company based in Akron, Ohio.

Epiphany mushrooms will initially be selling Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps, and they plan to expand into more functional mushrooms while also pursuing a license to operate healing centers in Colorado. Vaughan was involved in changing Colorado’s psilocybin legislation after lobbying to add a section that allows product testing labs to register and charge for their services – while voluntary and complementary to required testing, it allows growers to have an unlimited amount of product for testing purposes; adds an extra step in keeping the grower and lab in compliance with state law; and, as more states work on their own legislation, highlights the need for potency testing to let customers know exactly what they’re ingesting.

He discusses changing attitudes and how Michigan can lead the way for the midwest; why he’s excited about Colorado and what they got right; the enthusiasm of the mycology crowd; Rick Perry’s speech at Psychedelic Science 2023; the iron law of prohibition and mushroom products sold in Ohio; and the incredible inefficiency of the drug war (when viewed like it was not designed to do exactly what it’s doing).

Notable Quotes

“This is how we get to maximum access. There’s a lot of the population that wants a regulated, licensed program. But also, that is going to price out a lot of the population. And so, having access to all of these different delivery methods, all of these different programs, [all of the ways] you can do it, all of the different ranges of costs: I think this is how you allow responsible access to the most amount of people with the least amount of damage.”

“It’s just such an incredible inefficiency. We’re losing that war on every metric, and how is that good for anyone? …You don’t even have to care about the good that it does for the individual, you can just look at it purely from an economic standpoint: it creates this untaxed black market that has dangerous products. And how’s it going? That, again, is what excites me to see; that in 50 years, we’re going to look back and say, ‘Ok. Hey, we made it through that.’”

Links

Epiphanymushroom.com

Epiphanygardens.org

Courier-journal.com: Recreational marijuana is now legal in Ohio. Here’s what you need to know

Themushroomhunter.com

University of Michigan Psychedelic Center

Entheofest.org

Nbcnews.com: Could a little-known psychedelic drug treat opioid addiction? Kentucky wants to find out.

Vetsolutions.org: Stanford University Ibogaine Study

Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel, by Tom Wainwright

Psychedelics Today: PT427 – The Philosophy of Law Enforcement, The Criminalization of Self-Directed Behavior, and Transformative Care for Police, featuring: Sarko Gergerian, MS, MHC, CARC

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on January 3, 2024March 6, 2024

Gender Challenges in Psychedelic Retreats and Clinical Settings

Do women respond differently to psychedelics than men? And, if so, how are their needs different when approaching these powerful substances?

While crucial research is still limited to help us understand how and why the psychedelic experience might vary vastly among genders, the rise of female-only retreats, clinical settings, and thoughtfully designed psychedelic products and services, are helping provide women safer, more inclusive, and empowering psychedelic experiences.

The Need to Focus on the Female Experience

In an article in MIT Technology Review focusing on women and psychedelics, Juan Pablo Cappello, co-founder and CEO of the ketamine therapy platform Nue Life said, “We started our company knowing that women over 40 are prescribed antidepressants at more than three to four times the rate of men, which has led to one in every five women taking an antidepressant to get through the day.”

Gender differences in the effects of psychedelics remain a topic of mixed evidence, necessitating further investigation. Nevertheless, gender-specific challenges persist. Safety concerns, childcare responsibilities, and the stigma linked to drug use are among women’s hurdles within the psychedelic landscape.

The redesign of healthcare services should prioritize women’s needs. Women frequently experience misdiagnosis and dismissive treatment from healthcare providers, emphasizing the urgency for a more attentive and responsive approach.

One aspect that merits attention is the potential impact of hormonal fluctuations on women’s psychedelic experiences. The menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can influence the subjective effects and therapeutic outcomes of psychedelics, underscoring the need for tailored research that considers these hormonal factors. Moreover, societal expectations and gender norms place pressure on women, shaping their experiences and interpretations of psychedelic encounters. The struggle to balance femininity, career, and family life can affect a woman’s sense of self and her ability to fully engage in the transformative potential of psychedelics.
With psychedelics being non-specific amplifiers, the external setting, the internal set — the mindset and psychological preparedness of the individual — plays a pivotal role. Women may face self-doubt, fear of losing control, or concern about exposure to vulnerable emotions during psychedelic experiences. Carhart-Harris et al. have emphasized the importance of context, including internal barriers that could potentially hinder the therapeutic benefits of the journey.

Underrepresentation and Male Dominance

Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials across various therapeutic areas, and psychedelics are no exception. For example, the term “inclusion of women” refers to the legal mandate outlined in the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, which requires the involvement of women as subjects in clinical research. This mandate applies to all clinical research funded by NIH unless it is deemed “inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects,” “inappropriate with respect to the purpose of the research,” or “inappropriate under such other circumstances as the Director of NIH may designate.”

This gender bias limits our understanding of the specific effects, safety profiles, and therapeutic outcomes of psychedelics for women. The limited diversity among research participants has considerable implications for the generalizability and dissemination of treatments. Research suggests that women may exhibit different responses to psychedelics compared to men.

For example, a recent article examined the adverse effects of drugs targeting serotonin GPCRs in the CNS and PNS. These drugs interact with serotonin GPCRs in the brain and various peripheral areas, potentially causing side effects. Estrogen, which is more prevalent in women, influences serotonin synthesis and receptor densities, and drugs targeting serotonin GPCRs disrupt this process. The periodic increase in estrogen levels and the interference with the serotonin system mediated by estrogen could explain why women experience more adverse effects. Women also have lower serotonin concentrations and faster serotonin metabolism than men, which may contribute to the observed differences.

Biological factors, such as hormonal fluctuations, make research on women more complex and, therefore, more expensive. This highlights the necessity of considering gender as a factor in understanding the impact of psychedelics on mental health and well-being. Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can influence the subjective effects and therapeutic outcomes of psychedelics. It is also worth consideration that many women experience disruptions in their menstrual cycles. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2022, “most females ages 18-64 (90%) have used contraceptives at some point in their reproductive years, and most have used more than one contraceptive method throughout their lifetime (76%).”

Gender disparity extends beyond research and permeates psychedelic communities, retreat centers, and therapeutic settings. Women may experience subtle or overt forms of discrimination, objectification, or microaggressions, negatively impacting their sense of safety, trust, and overall well-being. Addressing these systemic issues requires a concerted effort to challenge and dismantle patriarchal structures, promote inclusivity, and amplify women’s voices within the psychedelic landscape.

The pharmaceutical industry’s growing interest in psychedelic therapy necessitates a deliberate focus on gender equality and inclusion. As psychedelics become more accepted by the mainstream, it’s essential to ensure that the creation, promotion, and delivery of psychedelic therapies take into account the specific needs of different genders. This entails promoting gender-balanced research teams, conducting gender-sensitive clinical trials, and tailoring interventions to address the diversity of the human species.

While exploring women’s experiences in the psychedelic space, it is also essential to recognize and acknowledge the intersectionality of gender. The experiences of non-binary individuals, as well as those who do not conform to traditional gender norms, deserve attention and inclusion in research and discourse. Non-binary individuals may face unique challenges in navigating psychedelic experiences as they navigate intersecting identities and societal expectations. Let’s foster an inclusive and respectful psychedelic community.

Research into Women’s Bodies

Today, there is limited psychedelic research on factors like drug metabolism, hormonal contraceptives, and womens’ unique physiological traits, hindering the development of tailored psychedelic guidelines and creating unique safety concerns for women who take psychedelics.

Variations in drug metabolism, potential interactions with hormonal contraceptives or reproductive health conditions, and other physiological factors may influence the safety and efficacy of psychedelic experiences for women. Though complex and expensive, funding research focused on women’s bodies and tailoring medicine accordingly will be a game changer.

Certain psychedelics have been associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate, potentially posing distinct implications for women compared to men due to physiological differences. The absence of adequate data raises obstacles in providing accurate information, guidelines, and risk assessments to support women in making informed decisions about psychedelic use.

Studies highlight the relationship between estrogen and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Classic psychedelics work by activating serotonin, and research indicates that estrogen enhances receptor density in brain areas governing mood, emotion, cognition, and behavior. This connection may offer insights into gender-based variations in conditions like schizophrenia and depression, more prevalent in women. Additionally, disruptions in estrogen during menopause could affect the 5-HT2A and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling pathway, potentially predisposing the brain to depression.

The scarcity of research on women’s experiences using psychedelics to support the process of motherhood and postpartum care poses additional challenges. The limited research perpetuates the perception that psychedelics may pose additional risks to pregnant women or those breastfeeding. Without concrete evidence, caution is often prioritized, leading to a blanket discouragement of psychedelic use during these periods. While caution is essential, the absence of research leaves the potential benefits or risks associated with psychedelic use during pregnancy or breastfeeding unclear, further perpetuating uncertainty and fear.

To address these concerns, there is a need for studies that examine the physiological, psychological, and experiential aspects of psychedelic use in women. Such studies should take into consideration menstrual cycles (including those influenced by birth control), hormonal fluctuations, and reproductive health.

Societal Expectations of Femininity and Motherhood: Safety Concerns

The societal expectations tied to femininity and motherhood can significantly influence women engaging with psychedelics, similar to how men navigate their own situations and societal pressures. These norms shape our human experiences, create additional burdens, and contribute to safety concerns and stigma surrounding psychedelic use. Women may sense societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, limiting their willingness to explore psychedelic experiences. Fear of judgment and stigmatization, along with challenges reconciling maternal responsibilities, can constrain their ability to fully embrace the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

Moreover, internalized notions of femininity can lead to self-doubt, fear of losing control, or concerns about expressing vulnerable emotions during psychedelic experiences. Women may grapple with the balance between societal expectations and personal growth, inhibiting their ability to surrender to the psychedelic experience.

Sexual Assault in Psychedelic Spaces

The issue of sexual assault in psychedelic spaces has garnered significant attention in recent years, with instances of misconduct and exploitation reported within the community. Such incidents harm individuals and contribute to the stigmatization and fear surrounding psychedelic compounds. These concerns further emphasize the importance of providing safe and supportive settings, prioritizing consent and boundaries, and promoting gender equality.

While psychedelics hold tremendous therapeutic potential, the occurrence of sexual assault within psychedelic spaces remains a disturbing reality. Addressing conscious consent, creating safe environments, and implementing policies to prevent and respond to assault are crucial steps in fostering a culture of safety and respect.

After movements like #MeToo, female-only spaces have become safe havens for women to explore psychedelic experiences without fearing male dominance and sexual assault. These spaces provide a supportive and empowering environment, allowing women to navigate their journeys free from the constraints of societal expectations and potential gender-based harm. Such spaces recognize the importance of reclaiming agency, voice, and autonomy for women within the psychedelic realm.

The Rise of Women-Only Retreats

Women-only retreats create a unique and transformative space for women to explore their inner worlds, cultivate deep connections with one another, and embark on journeys of self-discovery and healing. Such retreats provide a safe space where participants can fully embrace vulnerability. The absence of men often fosters an environment where women feel more comfortable sharing their deepest fears, hopes, and emotions. This sense of safety encourages authentic exploration and expression during psychedelic experiences, helping women ‘take up space’.

Women-only retreats tend to nurture a profound sense of sisterhood and community. The shared experiences, both during and between psychedelic sessions, can forge lasting bonds and connections. These connections often lead to a deep sense of belonging and support, facilitating sustained relationships beyond the retreat experience.

Women-only retreats also provide participants with the opportunity to explore and reclaim their narratives and identities. Many women join these retreats with experiences of societal and cultural expectations, traumas, and limitations. Psychedelic experiences within this supportive environment can pave the way for self-liberation, empowering women to redefine themselves and their place in the world on their own terms.

Many of these retreats often focus on the exploration and celebration of feminine energy and aspects of the self. This journey can be deeply healing, helping women reestablish a connection with their inner wisdom, intuition, and creativity. Additionally, it can foster a deeper appreciation for the unique strengths and qualities that women bring to the world.

Held frequently in natural settings, many women-only retreats incorporate rituals and ceremonies. Reconnecting with nature and participating in rituals can deepen the psychedelic experience, helping participants feel more in tune with the cycles of life and the natural world. This reconnection can be both spiritually and emotionally enriching, assisting many women in reconnecting with the cycles of their bodies.

In her role as a psychedelic facilitator, Jessika has witnessed women emerging from these retreats with a newfound sense of purpose, self-love, and empowerment. This unique quality of women-only retreats lies in their ability to provide a nurturing and transformative space where women can explore the depths of their psyche, connect profoundly with others, and emerge as stronger, more authentic versions of themselves.

Designing Just for Women

Innovating with women-centered design in mind calls for products and services to be designed for, with, and by women, based on their specific needs. It also requires clearly conveying and enforcing guidelines for respectful communication, boundaries, and consent throughout the process.

The world we live in has been shaped by designers, and it is noteworthy that the creative industry, responsible for much of this design, tends to be male-dominated.

The seatbelt serves as the most cited example of a product designed for men but commonly used by women for safety. Using crash test dummies based on average male sizes and weights has resulted in significant safety disparities for women, making them 73% more likely to be injured in a car accident. Beyond physical safety concerns, women face ongoing challenges related to everyday comfort and practicality. Consider the dilemma faced by pregnant women when deciding whether to position the seatbelt above or below their bellies. Another everyday example is the smartphone, tailored for the average male hand, and transforming into a cumbersome object in the grasp of the average woman.

Taking into account the significant impact of these design hurdles on women’s lives, it warrants a thoughtful approach to designing specifically for women in the context of mind-altering substances. Jemma Campbell, head of U.S. creative of Moving Brands, notes “It is very easy to think that design is aesthetics and aesthetics alone. Design is about much more than aesthetics – it’s about solving real-world problems and improving lives. When done right, it gives brands the ability to build connections with people much like human relationships.”

Focusing solely on aesthetics and neglecting research, strategy, and the overall product experience means you might project your own perspective, adopt codes rooted in learned behaviors and societal norms, and follow cues that may not lead to the best solutions.

“So, when it comes to creating women-only spaces for psychedelic treatment, when patients may feel vulnerable and exposed, we need to fully understand and reflect their unique needs and experiences. And that means women designers must not only be involved – they must be leading the vision,” Campbell says.

Key Considerations in Psychedelic Design for Women

Include More Female Designers, Scientists, Researchers, and Engineers

Women buy or influence 85% of all consumer purchases, control 73% of household spending, and make 69% of household health decisions. However, research consistently demonstrates that women are not satisfied with the product and service innovations offered to them. One possible reason: 85% of product designers and engineers are men. In areas like healthcare, where setting and environment are critical, designing with empathy is vital. It’s what makes having diverse design teams so important. Therefore, actively seek the involvement of more female designers, scientists, researchers, and engineers. Diverse teams bring a broader range of perspectives and insights, essential for understanding and meeting the unique needs and preferences of women consumers.

Listen and Learn

Cultivate a culture of inclusivity and diversity within design teams, fostering an environment where women from diverse backgrounds feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and experiences. Actively listen to their feedback, concerns, and ideas, and use this input to drive innovation and product development. Establish a safe and confidential space where women can share without judgment or fear of repercussions. Start small and build it organically.

Increase the representation of women in leadership positions and decision-making roles within design and engineering teams. When women have a seat at the table, they can advocate for designs and innovations that better resonate with female consumers.

User-Centered Design

Prioritize user-centered design principles, ensuring that products and experiences are designed with women in mind. Conduct thorough research to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points, involving women from diverse backgrounds and age groups. The experience doesn’t commence solely upon entering a clinic, retreat space, or product use; it begins with communication. For instance, inviting individuals to observe a retreat to ease them in or incorporating controlled microdosing to facilitate their entry could be part of designing the overall experience.

Collaboration

Collaborate with women’s organizations, advocacy groups, and female-focused communities to gain insights and build strong connections with potential users. These collaborations can lead to valuable co-creation opportunities.

In an ideal healthcare scenario, we envision truly bespoke care tailored to individual needs, irrespective of gender, becoming the norm. While acknowledging the historical challenges and potential future obstacles, we, as professionals, understand the complexities. Yet, as women, we recognize the oversight of subtle but crucial distinctions in female bodies and systems. The lingering patriarchal influence in Western research, product, and system development is a fact. We are now on the journey toward equal opportunities. Undertaking specialized research, embracing user-centered design, and holding space to heal past trauma, we hope to see a more inclusive and supportive psychedelic landscape, where everyone’s distinct needs and perspectives receive the recognition and respect they deserve.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 29, 2023January 8, 2024

PT473 – Microdosing for Healing: The Importance of Journaling and Group Process

In this episode, Kyle interviews Kayse Gehret, the Founder of Microdosing for Healing, an international virtual community and coaching program supporting microdosing practice.

She tells the story of embracing microdosing and her grand mal seizure disorder going away, and how the inability to touch people during the pandemic led to the creation of Microdosing for Healing. She breaks down the details of the program, challenges she’s seen, and the importance of using every effective modality possible to align with each person’s individual experience. The next 6-Week Immersion Group course begins January 26.

She talks about how accessing the body is usually the best entry point to healing; how effective journaling and other personal development practices are to recognize change (especially with how subtle microdosing can be); the efficacy of group process; how physicians are beginning to see the power in community and connection; concerns over the “jump in the deep end” attitude of many people leading to destabilizing experiences; how regular check-ins are important to keep people connected to their original intention; and the idea that people are striving for an unattainable state of perfection – that our goal should be a constant state of improvement and aligning ourselves to who we are meant to be – and microdosing until we don’t need to microdose anymore.

Notable Quotes

“I grew up with a grand mal seizure disorder, so I had always, growing up, shied away from anything that would destabilize my brain more than it already was doing on its own. So doing high dose or experimenting with drugs was never appealing to me and kind of a bit scary to me. But when I was introduced to the concept of microdosing, there was something that just was like ding! And the idea that I could do something that felt more like a natural supplementation, a spiritual vitamin if you will, over time, as kind of an expansiveness [tool] and a healing modality – not anticipating at all it would have the effect that it it did end up happening for me – but that sounded more appealing than high dose work at the time. So I started microdosing and among other things, my seizure disorder disappeared completely, immediately upon practicing.”

“Somatics and body work is fundamental, I think, to our healing, especially where we are in society right now. I think accessing the body is, for many people, the best first access point to their own healing.”

“I really feel like the majority of the public, especially now that it’s mainstream, most people (and again, this is just my opinion) are not resourced and resilient and in a place where going straight to a high dose experience is going to best serve them. And what we have witnessed loud and clear over the last three years is when people take the time to lay the foundation and really apprentice themselves to their practice – incorporate breathwork, body work, other healing modalities first – and they lay a foundation of trust with themselves and the medicine; then they move into higher dose work with a guide and facilitator, it is a completely different experience.” 

Links

Kaysegehret.com

Microdosingforhealing.com

Microdosing for Healing podcast

Body Work: Careers in Massage Therapy, by Kayse Gehret

Psychedelics Today: PT231 – Dr. Hassan Tetteh – Human Care Over Health Care

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 26, 2023December 26, 2023

PT472 – Psychedelics and Comedy: Finding the Humor in Personal Growth

In this episode, Joe interviews Mike Finoia: standup comedian, Producer for the hit show, “Impractical Jokers,” and co-host of the Comes a Time Podcast with Dead & Company bassist, Oteil Burbridge. His new Special, “Don’t Let Me Down,” is out now.

He talks about his early days of recreational drug use at jam band shows; a powerful psilocybin experience; passing out before his first ketamine experience and how his commitment has made subsequent experiences much smoother; and how his continued work has allowed him to focus on what’s truly important. He’s seen positive results from talking about his ketamine-assisted psychotherapy experiences on stage, and he’s working on new material that will be much more focused on not just psychedelics, but the therapy, self-work, and growth he’s gone through in his journey.

He also discusses the influence of other comedians; the bioavailability in different ketamine methods; how psychedelics are like a performance-enhancing drug; the importance of having a working, attainable idea of success and not getting caught up in other people’s lives; the benefit of asking people in the audience to raise their hands if they’ve done psychedelics; and the importance of recognizing that psychedelics are absolutely not for everyone – at least if they’re not ready.

Notable Quotes

“It’s interesting because I’m trying to work out the material and figure out what’s funny, but also, some of the stuff I’m saying that’s from my gut is getting laughter and applause, and also, people are coming up afterwards and they’re like, ‘That’s really awesome that you’re talking about this.’ …I have to pay attention to that.”

“A comic, just like anything else really – you know, a podcaster, an entrepreneur, a businessman, whatever – you’re 10 different things. You’re the Director of social media, you’re the Director of advertising and marketing and promotions. You have your art and you have the thing you like to do, but then there’s a hundred other gigs that come with it, and you have to kind of stay on top of all those things. And that can get extremely overwhelming. And if you already have that imposter voice or that critic that’s beating the hell out of you all the time, it’s more ammo or more fuel for their fire. So to me, psychedelics have been– It’s almost like a vacation. It’s like a way to shut that crap off and get to what really matters.”

“When you have the anxieties and the depressions and the imposter syndrome, things like that; sometimes the most psychedelic part of a psychedelic experience is the absence of the bullshit, where it’s just: you get down to being a living being and you’re out of your own way. And that, to me, is the most valuable part.”

Links

Linktree: Mike Finoia

YouTube: Mike Finoia

YouTube: “Don’t Let Me Down” comedy special

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on December 1, 2023December 1, 2023

PT465 – Beta-carbolines, Haoma, and Syrian Rue: Rediscovering Ancestral Knowledge

In this episode, David interviews Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D. and Jonathan Lu: Co-Founders of Magi Ancestral Supplements.

Through studying ancient Zoroastrian writings and 2,000 year-old Chinese texts in search of compounds and formulations forgotten by history, Etminan and Lu co-founded drug discovery company VCENNA in 2019 to use extraction technology to isolate these compounds. This led to an understanding of the health properties behind beta-carbolines, which led to their nootropic company, Magi Ancestral Supplements. They talk about the early days and experimenting on themselves, how beta-carbolines create dream-like states, and how their research sent each of them further into their own heritage, and asking themselves: How do we remember what our ancestors knew? 

They discuss espand, haoma, Syrian rue, and how common Syrian rue is in both Iranian culture and psychedelic history; what is a drug vs. what is a supplement; common threads they’ve seen across different cultures and how we may be repeating some of their mistakes; Etminan’s recent ayahuasca experience with the Santo Daime church; and of course, some of Magi Ancestral Supplements’ products and their expected effects – from deep meditation to lucid dreaming to even mild hallucinations. You can get 10% off any product using code PT10 here.

Notable Quotes

“The journey started with basically experimenting with different alkaloid’s extracts. So we were able to extract these compounds from different plants. Specifically, the journey started with just doing some experimentation with psilocybin, looking into what are those alkaloids inside the psilocybin mushroom. And then basically, this story took us into our own heritage and trying to see what other plants are psychoactives but they’re less studied in the West.” -Shauheen

“This terminology you put between what is a supplement, what is a drug, what is food; even going back to what Andrew Weil talks about here, like, is caffeine a drug? Is nicotine a drug? …These words that we apply to what is a drug vs. what is a supplement are fairly arbitrary. We give the label of something as being a drug just because it’s gone through the medical establishment of a thousand people have tested it and based upon the evaluation of a guy wearing a white lab coat with a diploma on the wall, he said that more than 65% of them (or vs. those who were given a placebo) had a positive response, and therefore I can call it a drug now instead of a supplement and you can make a medical claim. But you know, the plants, the compounds: They don’t really care what we call them.” -Jon

“I am not very fascinated about psychedelics in general; I’m fascinated about the effect of psychedelics on human consciousness, because we are really behind our capacity, and I would love to see that we come together with good intention in a way that we can pave that way for fostering something that is serving everybody rather than just a group of people.” -Shauheen

Links

Ancestralmagi.com (Use code PT10 for 10% off)

Linktree: Ancestral Magi

Vcenna.com

YouTube: Chemically-Induced Otherworldly Experiences of Zoroastrians in Iran – Shauheen Etminan

Thethirdwave.co: Magi Review: Rediscovering a 4000 Year Old Spiritual Elixir

Researchsquare.com: Ritual revealed: psychotropic substances in a Ptolemaic Egyptian vase

YouTube: Ethnopharmacology of Psychedelic Substances in Chinese Culture – Jonathan Lu

Ancestralmagi.com: Haoma Revelation Aid

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 14, 2023November 14, 2023

PT460 – Psychedelics in Film, Drugs as Bases and Modifiers, and Ketamine With Friends

In this episode, Joe interviews internationally renowned musician, comedian, writer, and actor, Reggie Watts. Watts starred on “Comedy Bang! Bang!,” most recently was the bandleader on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden” for the last 8 seasons, and just released his memoir, Great Falls, MT.

Watts discusses his early days of LSD use and how he felt psychedelics and cannabis were useful (in contrast to alcohol); how movies and TV rarely get the psychedelic experience right (and is that because writers haven’t experienced it?); and how the Situationist Movement inspired his concept of being a “disinformationist,” which he uses to bring an instability and psychedelic nature to his shows. And he discusses ketamine: why he loves it (especially with other people), a party he recently attended where everyone was open to trying it together, and why the group collectively agreeing to go deeper is so important to the experience. 

He shares his thoughts on treating certain drugs as bases and others as modifiers, and how the wrong drugs are being treated as bases; the negative feedback loops some drugs (cocaine, nitrous oxide) send us into; psychedelic exceptionalism and the low quality, synthesized drugs created solely out of capitalistic greed; microdosing and the question of whether or not it’s become popular out of a fear of going deeper; what he wants to bring to to the psychedelic conversation; and why sometimes (in the right context), “going off the rails” can be a great thing.

Notable Quotes

“When I took LSD, just the whole universe opened up as one of the most absurdly humorous, funny things I’d ever experienced. …I wanted more. I wanted to explore more. It just was definitely one of those times when I thought, ‘I need to find out what else lies beyond what I’d already experienced.’”

“An unstable audience is my ideal state for an audience, because then they’re no longer in an expectational mindset. They’re more freed and open to whatever’s coming down the pike and happening in real time.”

“What I love about psychedelics, especially when you’re mindful about it, is: It’s an adventure. It’s an adventure into self-discovery, and from that, into worldview-understanding and your relationship to reality, and I think that that’s incredibly powerful and helpful and can help resolve a lot of conflicting issues that we have. It might not solve, but it’ll definitely soften and put you on a road to having a different relationship to trauma and a different relationship to ruts and cycles that you find not efficient for your lifestyle, and just create a greater connection to the whole of existence. And so I promote that at all costs. My message is: Reduce the fear of it, if you want to try – if you’re truly curious.”

“When you’re in the right context, going off the rails is awesome, because you need to break all of those patterns. You need to reassociate to the reasons why you want to keep living. And I think taking a psychedelic trip and allowing yourself to go wherever it is that you want to go and just keeping that thought in your mind that it’s a trip and it’s going to end at some point, and when it does end, you will be back on the rails, so here’s your opportunity to just go for it: I think that that’s just important for people to experience.”

Links

Linktree

Great Falls, MT, by Reggie Watts

EW.com: Exclusive: Read an excerpt from Reggie Watts’ memoir debut

Imdb.com: Bongwater

Levelexperience.com

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on November 10, 2023November 21, 2023

PT459 – Internal Family Systems Combined with Ketamine and Holotropic Breathwork

In this episode, Kyle interviews Ted Riskin, LCSW: psychotherapist running group KAP sessions and certified in Core Energetics, Internal Family Systems, and Holotropic Breathwork, which he has taught in various forms for 26 years.

He discusses group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy: how he runs sessions, why being welcomed and loved in a group seems to be a bigger factor than the psychedelic, how he came to combine IFS with ketamine or breathwork, and why exploring the parts work of IFS seems to work so well with non-ordinary states of consciousness. And he talks about two complications we often don’t think about with Group KAP: the challenge of getting our different parts to all truly consent to an experience (and how do you get them to?), and how very safe spaces can inspire oversharing, and sadly, subsequent shame.

He discusses knowing when to use a non-directive approach vs. intervening; how people often learn more about themselves as a sitter; using core energetics before experiences to move energy we’re often afraid to work with; the importance of embracing anger (when necessary); memory reconsolidation and bringing exiles from the past into the present; the concept of double bookkeeping; and finding the magic in realizing that sometimes, just being there (“being a useless person” as he says) is all that’s needed.

Notable Quotes

“I think people underestimate the power of breathwork. These days, a lot more, people are coming to do breathwork for the first time and they have done psychedelics. In the past, that was more the minority, now it’s probably the majority. And I’ll tell them, ‘The difference is, you’re used to riding a motorcycle, and now this is a bicycle. You’ve got to pedal this one.’ And yet they’re shocked sometimes how deep just the breathing takes them.”

“We’re realizing that there’s so many things happening that it’s impossible to tease it apart. We don’t know how much the ketamine increases self-leadership, we don’t know if it’s the IFS work that people are doing, but I suspect it’s a combination – that the ketamine seems to really lubricate the IFS work and invites protectors to relax so that people can do deeper, and the rearrangement of the techniques of IFS happens much more deeply.”

“We also think the group experience is as powerful as anything else that’s happening, especially when people are anxious or depressed. Often, they have assumptions about how they will be welcomed by other people, and to be in a loving group where people are vulnerable and find out, ‘I can say anything. I can talk about my shame and fears and people are just with me and accepting’: I sometimes wonder if that’s doing more than the medicine, even.”

Links

Tedriskin.com

Groupkap.com

IFSessentials.com

YouTube: Overview of our Group Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy program

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on October 27, 2023October 27, 2023

PT455 – Psychedelics and Success: Conscious Leadership and Investing in Yourself

In this episode, Alexa interviews Dom Farnan: Founder of DotConnect; author of the best seller, “Now Here: A Journey from Toxic Boss to Conscious Connector”; and Founder and Chief Consciousness Connector of DoseConnect™, a first-of-its-kind company blending organizational strategy, systems thinking, and talent acquisition in the psychedelic space.

Farnan shares her personal journey with psychedelics, discussing her experiences with psilocybin, ayahuasca, and 5-MeO-DMT, and how the last few years of her life have been focused on slowing down and integrating those experiences. She discusses the current state of the psychedelic industry, including downsizing and company closures, but also opportunities from networking, community engagement, and volunteering. She believes that while options may not be clear now, they will be there in the future, and may be jobs we never anticipated. So get to know companies now, and pay close attention with good discernment – not everything is as it appears.

She discusses her experiences with mentors and coaches; how psychedelic journeys and integration build onto each other; the importance of journaling; the need for patience as the industry grows; her book and the concept of conscious leadership over toxic leadership; and the beauty of embracing the openness we experience after a psychedelic experience: Can we use what we’ve learned to reprogram what we’re taught about life, invest in ourselves, let go of dissenting and limiting voices, and truly redefine what success (and happiness) means to us?

Notable Quotes

“It’s not always about the substance or the plant medicine. It is underlying about the healing and being more conscious as a leader and as a human being and as a contributor to the community that we live in. And so, for me, that’s what all of this is really grounded in. As much as I’m an advocate, I’m also very much aware that not everyone can leverage these medicines, and a lot of people are still scared and don’t quite know and maybe they can’t handle it and all of that. And that’s totally fine. …I just look at life as being psychedelic, and there’s so many things that you can do in your daily life that create this beautiful experience that don’t require any other things to contribute to that.”

“When you do this exercise, the invitation is to give yourself full permission to let go of everything that you’ve ever heard from anybody else. So, like, get out of the shoulds or your parents say this or your partner thinks that, or your best friends think this or your boss says that. Let all that shit go and just drop into truly your own heart space. Like, what does success look and feel like to me? If money were not an option, what would I be doing? How would I be spending my days? And the energy that I want to feel and be in – less so even, like, the tasks and the doing stuff, but it’s like, how do you want to feel? Because that helps you to then think through opportunities that will be in alignment of you achieving that feeling every day.” 

“Understand the energetics, because if you’re going to be leading from a place of fear in your life, it’s only going to attract more of that stuff. If you’re really leading from a place of faith and looking at this as an opening for something new in your life, then that is when something new will show up. You have to be in that energetic vibe.”

Links

Domfarnan.com

Doseconnect.io

Dotconnectllc.com

Now Here: A Journey from Toxic Boss to Conscious Connector, by Dominique Farnan

Try Homecoming free for 90 days!

Visit remindmedia.com and use code REMPT20 for 20% off your registration.
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

PT448 – Ibogaine, Noribogaine, and the Challenges of Federal Drug Policy

In this episode, Joe interviews Deborah C. Mash, Ph.D.: neuroscientist; Professor Emerita of Neurology and Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; and leading researcher in addiction and brain disorders for over 30 years.

She is also the CEO and Founder of DemeRx Inc., a clinical stage drug development company working to advance ibogaine and its active metabolite, noribogaine, for the treatment of opioid use disorder. She talks about the Federal and state complications behind ibogaine research, the need for partnerships between clinics and researchers, what needs to be done to collect much needed Phase II and III ibogaine data, and why this all has to be in partnership with the FDA. 

And she discusses much more: her story of how studying Cocaethylene led to her finding out about ibogaine; ibogaine and QTc-prolongation; deaths related to iboga and the amount of variables that aren’t considered; how the French were essentially using noribogaine in the 1930s; and, as this was recorded at Psychedelic Science 2023, her thoughts on the event and Rick Doblin’s opening statement.

Notable Quotes

“We can now study all of the neurons in the brain for the first time and genetically phenotype them. So now we know there are subclasses of GABA neurons, there are subclasses of glutamate neurons. I mean, this is profound. And so here we are. We’re at, again, another next wave of learning about the human brain. There’s more neurons and neural connections in the human brain than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. So it’s a complicated story.” 

“If anything, ibogaine is the hardest psychedelic to work with. But I’m here for the challenge.” 

Links

DemeRx.com

ATAI.life

Tribecafilm.com: Of Night and Light: The Story of Iboga and Ibogaine

IPCI.life

Fireflyvr.com

Try Homecoming free for 90 days!

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 19, 2023September 19, 2023

PT443 – Swimming in the Sacred: The Wisdom of Underground Female Elders

In this episode, Kyle interviews Rachel Harris, Ph.D.: Psychologist in private practice for over 40 years, researcher who has published more than 40 peer-reviewed studies, and author of the new book, Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground.

She talks about graduating college and going straight to Esalen, where she had little concern over therapy or integration, and how, after 20 years of ayahuasca experiences, she learned to see psychedelic-assisted therapy and ceremonial, transformational experiences as very different things. She discusses her ayahuasca journeys; a surprising MDMA experience; what having an ongoing relationship with the spirit of ayahuasca means; Ann Shulgin’s concerns over going through death’s door while in a journey; what true integration is; how psychedelics can help prepare for death, and more.

And she talks about her new book, Swimming in the Sacred, which collects the stories, unique perspectives, and wisdom of 15 female elders who have been working in the underground for at least 15 years each, and how their experience has led to a somatic-based intuition and ‘know it in their bones’ feeling that so many new practitioners and facilitators need – and can only come with time. 

Notable Quotes

“I kind of want to say to the newly-hatched psychedelic therapists: ‘Well, get this experience,’ but it’s very hard. And they’re not going to wait six years before practicing, so there’s such a need for them, and I can’t, in every podcast, (I mean, you’ll laugh at this), I can’t say, ‘Go do a lot of drugs,’ right? I’m trying to be more elegant about this, but that’s part of the elder women’s experience, is they really know the territory.”

“I know you’ve done a real apprenticeship, and I really respect that. And, yes, it’s very hard to find them, but that is the way people learn. So, what’s the best way to become a psychedelic therapist? It’s to be a patient with someone who’s a very experienced psychedelic therapist.”

“My priority was to work on myself and to grow and evolve. And so I always think of integration as part of a whole life: it’s not something that happens in a couple of sessions. But after these experiences, then what do we do with our lives and how do we live a more integrated life? And how do our lives unfold?”

Links

Swimminginthesacred.com

Buy Swimming in the Sacred on Amazon

Ayahuasca in My Blood: 25 Years of Medicine Dreaming, by Peter Gorman

The Secret Chief Revealed, by Myron J. Stolaroff

Pubmed: A study of ayahuasca use in North America

The Sacred Speaks podcast: 96: Rachel Harris – Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground

Lament of the Dead: Psychology After Jung’s Red Book, by James Hillman & Sonu Shamdasani

Eatfungies.com (Use code TODAY20 for 20% off at checkout)

New course starts October 10: Navigating Psychedelics: Jewish-Informed Perspectives on Psychedelics

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on September 1, 2023September 1, 2023

PT437 – Exploring Psychedelic Therapies: Iboga, CBD, and Cannabis Paired With Ketamine

In this episode, Alexa interviews Chase Hudson: Founder of HempLucid, a premium CBD wellness brand.

Hudson discusses his journey from being a firefighter to becoming involved in the cannabis and hemp industry, the origins of HempLucid, the restrictions they faced, and their current genetics and flagship water soluble tincture. He talks about the benefits of CBD and cannabis used in conjunction with psychedelic therapy – especially ketamine-assisted therapy, which he gives to his employees as a benefit. And he talks about Lamar Odom and the documentary he executive produced, “Lamar Odom Reborn,” which chronicles how Odom came back from rock bottom through high dose CBD, iboga, and ketamine therapy.

He also discusses the idea of cannabis as a gateway drug to healing; the need for insurance to cover psychedelic therapy; the changing landscape of Utah from religious ideology to psychedelics; ketamine as the bridge between old and new models of healthcare, and more. And they talk about their own journeys a lot, with Hudson telling the story of his powerful and life-changing ibogaine treatment, and Alexa sharing stories from her tragic car accident and recovery, as well as the ketamine sessions she recently began. The conversation ultimately becomes one about the need for education and conversation to help us all climb out from decades of drug war propaganda.

Notable Quotes

“We do a lot with kids with seizures. I also do a lot of work with children with autism, and we’ve seen great results over the years. We’ve been in business seven years, so we’ve been fortunate to just see the impact and the change that happens within people personally, but then also within their family. And it’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

“There’s this whole frontier that is going to open up here. I mean, it’s opening now, but it’s going to be accelerated as this old guard starts to collapse. We’re living in a time where Babylon is really falling. These pillars of what reality has been structured on are failing because it’s been built on a bed of lies. Our government, our financial system, our healthcare system, our media: these structures of the matrix, essentially, are failing. And as it fails, there has to be something to kind of transition people into the new world, and that new world is everything that we’ve discussed and are doing. And it’s exciting to see, but as Terence McKenna says: we’re in the birth canal for sure, and there’s going to be blood, it’s going to be hard. But we’ll make it out, and humanity will turn into something beautiful on the other side of this.”

Links

Hemplucid.com

YouTube: “Lamar Odom Reborn”

Numinus.com

Taramind.com

Thankyoulife.org

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on August 18, 2023August 18, 2023

PT433 – From Personal Healing to Public Policy: The Path to Psychedelic Decriminalization in Mexico

In this episode, recorded in-person at Psychedelic Science 2023, Kyle interviews Senator for the Mexican Green Party, Alejandra Lagunes.

Lagunes is the first Senator in Mexico to promote the use of psychedelics, and has been organizing open parliaments to foster collaboration between researchers, scientists, politicians, and Indigenous people, culminating in a groundbreaking decriminalization initiative to decriminalize psilocybin and psilocin from list 1 to list 3 (meaning they could be prescribed), create a new chapter for entheogens (and move mushrooms there), build an economically beneficial framework for Indigenous people, protect ancestor knowledge by law, and make big bioconservation moves with changes to environmental laws. 

She discusses her personal journey with depression, anxiety, and a life-saving ayahuasca journey; how Covid uncovered a crisis in meaning and an openness to talk about mental health; the need for accessibility and safety in psychedelics against challenges in politics and policy implementation; our mental health crisis and the need for innovation, education, and overcoming stigma; the influence of US drug control policies on international regulations; the power of storytelling; and why we need to go back to our origins.

Notable Quotes

“The world means to go back to the beginning, to the point of beginning. And I like to think that this psychedelic revolution or renaissance is actually going back to the beginning, to the essence. And that space: you have to talk about environment, you have to talk about the planet, you have to talk about ancestors and their relationship with the planet and with the community. …The revolution is going back to that space, outside and inside. It’s like going back to the origin.”

“The medicine is as important as the places they grow in. The medicine is in the ecosystem. You have heard about the mycelium. You can grow a mushroom in your house. That’s great. But the mycelium in those places: it’s for them, the medicine. The rain, the thunder, and the earth, the soil where the mushrooms are grown: it’s the medicine. So we have to protect those areas.”

“You know what I think all the countries should do? The World Health Organization (the WHO) has these lists of substances, and as countries, we can ask our governments to ask for a revision of those lists. So we have to start. Like, there are many ways we have to work the decriminalization. I mean, the psychedelics shouldn’t be in that list, and they are in an international list. So my question is why governments aren’t moving that list?”

Links

Alejandralagunes.mx

Join us in the Netherlands for the Kiyumí Psilocybin Retreat & Vital Training: September 6-11, 2023. Click here to learn more and apply!
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on August 15, 2023August 15, 2023

PT432 – From NBA Dreams to Cultural Healing: Iboga and a Mission to Empower Gabon

In this episode, Joe interviews Stéphane Lasme, a former professional basketball player from Gabon who is now a partner at SteddeCapital, a private markets investment platform investing long-term capital into U.S.- and Africa-based opportunities across sports ownership, infrastructure, technology and plant medicine.

Lasme speaks of his childhood, growing up in Gabon with more traditional Catholic values while journeying deep into the jungle to visit his Grandmother every summer. It was there that he embraced the cultural aspect of Gabon and community, and first learned of iboga, which he had a profound experience with at age 12, and would later revisit in his basketball days. He discusses the drive and passion that led him to become the first person from Gabon to play in the NBA, and the subsequent pressure, stress, cultural differences, and “ok, what now?” moments that came at the end. He talks about Gabonese traditions; how iboga improved his stress relief and mental focus; how embracing yoga and Buddhist methods of self-discovery improved his life; scientific reductionism vs. the magic of mystery and trying to define an experience; and more. 

While Gabon allows for the export of iboga, Lasme’s goal is to build a lab and treatment center in Gabon and share the power of Gabonese culture with people – so they can experience the medicine in its own country, with its traditional rituals and music. He has begun the fundraising process, and through his investment and facilitation work, is working to get African athletes to invest back into Africa and make Gabon a major destination for iboga.

Notable Quotes

“Deep inside, I wanted to be the first basketball player from Gabon to get drafted in the NBA. I never advertised this as a kid. I never advertised it to anyone. Even while I was at UMass, I never talked about it. But I know there is a relation between me going through that culture, that traditional experience, and me deciding to be that person. That’s why I say ‘me deciding who I want to be’; I think there is a big connection. And I can’t tell you or explain to you where the connection started, what triggered me thinking that way, but I just know it’s connected.”

“We have to believe in ourselves. Our stuff here, whatever we have in Gabon, is actually the shit. It’s actually the stuff that’s going to help everyone. Everyone is going to run towards us to look for solutions, so we should be prepared. We should be working on a better environment for people to come and just witness what kind of a great thing that we have going on in Gabon. This is the motivation I have today: really building this company, building this network, this ecosystem, this network of people in the states and in Gabon around this plant. That’s the main thing that motivates me.”

Links

Erbnworld.com

Steddecapital.com

NBA G League YouTube: Stephane Lasme posts 14 points & 10 rebounds vs. the Energy

NBA.com: Stéphane Lasme

Wonder-bags.com: Use code PSTODAY at checkout for 25% off!

Join us in the Netherlands for the Kiyumí Psilocybin Retreat & Vital Training: September 6-11, 2023. Click here to learn more and apply!
Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on August 4, 2023August 4, 2023

PT429 – From Mycophobia to Fungi Fever: The Psychedelic Space’s Growing Interest in Functional Mushrooms

In this episode, Kyle interviews the Founder and CEO of FreshCap Mushrooms and host of The Mushroom Show on YouTube, Tony Shields.

He talks about how an early interest in lucid dreaming sent him down a psychedelic path, and how, as his interest in mushrooms has grown, he’s watched the culture shift from a narrative of mycophobia to one of appreciation and interest. With FreshCap Mushrooms and The Mushroom Show, he aims to provide much needed education around this vast and mysterious world of fungi.

He talks about the thriving psilocybin scene in Jamaica, and how, through filming a documentary there, he learned how much communities still don’t know about mushrooms, how much tourism supports the country, and how much of a special vibe Jamaica has for psilocybin retreats.

And he discusses much more: why lion’s mane should help with concussions and TBIs; indications mushrooms could heal, from long Covid to paralysis; concerns over over-medicalization; why Terence McKennas’ ideas weren’t as crazy as many thought; visiting mushroom shops in Canada; the secret language of mushrooms; where psychedelic people can start to learn about functional mushrooms; and why, if he could embody any mushroom, it’d be cordyceps.

Notable Quotes

“We draw these arbitrary lines as human beings between: psychedelic mushrooms are over here, functional mushrooms are over here, and poisonous mushrooms are over here. But the mushrooms don’t do that. It’s just a spectrum where they’re creating all these crazy compounds for all these different reasons and they just happen to interact with our bodies in different ways.”

“It’s not just that they change your consciousness or make you see colors or make you laugh or whatever; they do seem to have this ability to dig out very specific things or show you things in a different way that can have really profound impacts on your life afterwards. And that’s something I think we still haven’t figured out, is like: how the hell did mushrooms do that? How do they know how to find exactly what you might need to be dealing with? Not always, but they have this ability to be like, ‘Hey, here’s something you haven’t thought about in 20 years. This is important. You should look at this.’ I still can’t get over how amazing that is and how that works.”

“I thought, ‘Okay, the reason why people are going down here is just because they forgot to make it illegal and it just provided this weird niche opportunity in the world for people to go and experience mushrooms.’ But it’s way more than that. Jamaica is a very special, magical place. …The fact that they grow there, it’s just a vibe. It’s a whole thing, and I can see why. I can see why people would want to go there for psilocybin therapy or the psilocybin retreat experience, just because number one: it takes you away from your normal kind of day-to-day life, but there is something special about sitting in front of the ocean as the sun is going down in a beautiful location and feeling that profound impact of mushrooms at the same time. It’s a very special place.”

Links

Freshcap.com

YouTube: FreshCap Mushrooms

YouTube: Spreading Spores with Super-Soakers? (The Mushroom Show EP 9, with Kyle)

YouTube: Can Lion’s Mane Mushroom Grow Brain Cells (NEW Research)

Outsideonline.com: Jim Harris Was Paralyzed. Then He Ate Magic Mushrooms.

Traddcotter.com

Mycologypress.com

Psacredtherapeutics.com

Mycomeditations.com

Allthatsinteresting.com: New Study Shows Mushrooms Communicate With Each Other Using A Vocabulary Of 50 Words

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 11, 2023July 24, 2023

PT422 – Curative Mushrooms: Exploring the World of Grow Kits and Home Growing

In this episode, Joe interviews Oliver Carlin, Founder of Curative Mushrooms, a grow kit solution company designed to produce mushrooms of one’s choosing within 30 days with little effort and no growing experience.

Carlin tells his personal story of 20 years in the Navy to a 7g psilocybin journey and the work of perfecting these grow bags; how a grow bag works; how easy it can be to grow your own mushrooms; the advantages of growing your own mushrooms vs. buying them; the legalities of grow kits and how he has been able to do this; steps growers can take to reduce their legal risks; the variety of people benefitting from mushrooms (especially in the veteran community); and how growing your own mushrooms seems to make the experience more curated and special.

Curative Mushrooms recently hired someone to create new strains for them every month, they do bimonthly live Q&As for people interested in growing, and they ship a bonus mycology book with each kit that shows how to study spores. They offer growing kits for Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, and Shiitake mushrooms, but his most popular option is the “All-in-One Happy Mushrooms for Sad People” kit.

Notable Quotes

“I do believe there’s always going to be a market for growers, because it’s just fun. And you can create your own strains of mushrooms if you really get into it. I mean, you can even name strains after yourself. And plus, isn’t it cool to grow your own, because now you have super fresh mushrooms, you know exactly what it is, how fresh, it’s going to be the most potent because you just grew it, and I’ll be honest, when you grow your own, it feels like the mushrooms were, like, grown specifically for you. I don’t know, there’s something special about them.”

“I didn’t take mushrooms because I was specifically doing it to overcome depression or anything like that. The reason I took mushrooms was: it was like answering questions about the world that I’ve always wanted to know. I’ve always had a problem with everything I’ve been told, and this was my opportunity to finally get some type of an answer for things that I didn’t understand. And that was my reason. And it completely changed my life.”

Links

Curativemushrooms.com (purchase using our affiliate link!)

Curativemushrooms.com: Content Hub

YouTube: Curative Mushrooms

Join us for A Vital Journey: Transpersonal Breathwork Retreat in PA, July 28

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 4, 2023July 4, 2023

PT420 – DanceSafe: Drug Testing, Fentanyl Myths, and the Importance of Consent

In this episode, Alexa interviews Rachel Clark: Education Manager for DanceSafe, a public health nonprofit specializing in serving people who use drugs and their communities.

As we move into the prime festival season, more people are going to be doing drugs, and the importance of harm reduction and drug testing becomes even more central to the experience. She discusses the complications of drug testing and how it’s more of an act of ruling substances out rather than determining purity; the fentanyl problem and its surrounding myths; how to identify and treat an overdose (and what not to do); Philadelphia’s struggles with Xylazine highlighting the problem with regional cross contamination; and DanceSafe’s “We Love Consent” and “Healing is Power” campaigns, which aim to open up the dialogue of true harm reduction and safe spaces outside of the substance alone.

Check out DanceSafe.org for more info, and use this link when you’re ready to make a purchase!

Notable Quotes

“You’re looking for red flags and not green lights. You’re not looking for confirmation that something is in your substance, you’re looking for a red flag about whether something is obviously or potentially not what you expected.”

“The three major symptoms of opioid overdose are very, very slow, shallow, and or stopped breathing, reduced or absent consciousness, and pinpoint/constricted pupils. And I want everyone to understand that the cause of opioid overdose is when your respiration, your breathing slows to the point that your tissues are not being oxygenated and perfused and your heart stops. That is the sequence. …If people understood that this is about a lack of oxygen because your breathing is too slow, I think that the public understanding of fentanyl overdose and opioid overdose would change a lot, because that, in and of itself, gives you a lot of information when you’re looking at someone and evaluating if an opioid could be involved.”

“Always communicate the limitations of what you know. Assume that you are missing information, because you are. And when you are reporting on something that you witnessed, share only what you saw and what you did, including timelines. This is a major, major note for anybody, especially people who work in EMS, because there have been a lot of very well-intentioned folks who have ended up spreading misinformation like wildfire by saying things as certainties instead of sharing observations.”

Links

Dancesafe.org

Dancesafe.org: We Love Consent

Dancesafe.org: Healing is Power

Erowid.org

Psychonautwiki.org

Effectindex.com

Drugsdata.org

Streetsafe.supply

Energycontrol-international.org

Check out the Lumenate app, and download it through the App store here!

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on July 4, 2023July 4, 2023

Psychedelic Summer Safety: The Ultimate Guide to Making the Most Out of Your Trip

Planning on hitting a festival this summer? You’re not alone. With COVID restrictions and cancellations now a thing of the past, many music lovers are heading back into the wild and hitting summer concerts and festivals all around the world with renewed energy, making up for lost time with their psychedelic communities and their favorite artists.

But with the freedom and joy that comes along with dancing, hugging, and partying with thousands of strangers until the sun comes up, also comes the potential for mishaps, and at worst, serious harm to you and your friends.

Gathered from our team at Psychedelics Today – who have decades of festival experience between them – here are some tips to help you stay safe and get the most out of your party time during this psychedelic summer.

Pre-Purchase Your Substances and Test Them

In 2023, there is no excuse for having to resort to taking whatever substances you can get your hands on at a festival. While it’s possible (and likely!) you’ll be offered psychedelics at festivals, never take anything from someone you don’t know. Should you choose to take psychedelics (or any other substances), acquire them ahead of time from sources you trust and test them before consuming any. Groups like DanceSafe, Qtests, Bunk Police, and Test Kit Plus offer a wide variety of regent testing kits to give you a better understanding of what is (and isn’t) in your substances, including fentanyl. And if you’re in Canada, you can send a sample of your substance to getyourdrugstested.com for a free analysis. You can also browse their results catalog to get a sense of what’s going around in your area, and what the lab results reveal. Many festivals partner with harm reduction groups to provide substance testing on-site, so if you can’t test ahead of time, check to see if your festival offers on-site testing – and use it.

Plan Your Transportation Ahead

Figuring out how you’re getting to – and perhaps, more importantly – from the festival grounds ahead of time is crucial. This may include public transportation, shuttle services, or carpooling, so determine which option suits your needs and budget. Assign a designated driver, don’t get in a vehicle with someone who might be intoxicated, don’t drive if you’ve been consuming, and avoid walking or biking on poorly lit roads or paths. And when in doubt, call your parents – even if you’re 35, chances are they’ll be happy to give you a safe ride home (and they might even make you breakfast).

A summer festival in full swing.

Get Familiar With the Festival Grounds

Upon arriving at the festival, get a map of the grounds and familiarize yourself with its layout. Locate important areas such as the first aid tent, water stations, restrooms, camping area, and stages. Knowing where these facilities are will save you time and effort when you need them most. Pay attention to emergency exit points as well, ensuring you have a plan in case of an emergency.

Pack Smart: Essentials for a Comfortable Experience

Preparing a well-thought-out festival survival kit will make your experience much more enjoyable. Some essential items to consider packing include:

Energy bars or nutrient-dense snacks: these will provide quick bursts of energy to keep you going during long sets.

Toiletries: pack travel-sized toiletries to keep your body clean. Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and tissues are particularly useful in festival environments where you can get real grimy, real fast.

Changes of clothes and socks: staying fresh and dry is crucial in preventing discomfort, blisters, and skin irritation.

SPF protection: apply sunscreen liberally to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Pain relievers: bring some over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol in case of headaches or injuries.

Upset stomach relief: bring TUMS or Pepto in case of heartburn or indigestion.

Phone charger or battery pack: keep your phone charged at all times to stay connected with friends and have access to emergency services if needed.

Sunglasses: shield your eyes from the sun and prevent eye strain caused by bright lights or lasers during performances.

Set Your Intention

Just like you might with a ceremony, or guided psychedelic journey, ask yourself what you’re hoping to achieve before you dose. Is it a greater connection with your friends and community? Is it a deeper exploration of your inner mind and heart? Is it appreciation for the musicians, artists, or to experience the music more intensely? Or is it simply celebration, unwinding, and feeling good? Whatever it is, big or small, it’s ok! Just try to define it, and go into your experience knowing what you hope to achieve. It also helps to tell your friends what your plan is for the evening or weekend (both the substances you plan to consume and your goals). Added transparency can help you with your psychedelic integration, but can also help mitigate any potential harms, if your friends are watching your back and know your consumption plans.

Stay with Your Friends: Safety in Numbers

Attending a festival with good friends is not only more fun, but helps keep you safe. Try to make sure you always have a sightline to your friends in the crowd, but develop a plan to find each other in case you get separated (which can happen easily). Pre-designate a central meeting point to wait for your friends if you get separated, just in case there’s no cell service or one of your devices dies. If you’re attending alone, consider joining or creating a meet-up group to connect with other people, so you’ll have at least a few festival friends. Whatever you do, don’t leave the event with strangers – even if they seem nice, or you’re hoping to hook up – you really don’t know who you’re going home with. Grab that number, and hit up the person in a few days instead.

A daytime summer music festival.

Hydrate: The Key to Beat the Heat

Summer festivals often take place under the scorching sun, and staying hydrated is paramount to keep the good times flowing. Dehydration can occur a lot more easily than you might think, and can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and even heatstroke – a potentially life-threatening condition. Make it a priority to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Carry a refillable water bottle and take advantage of water stations if available at the festival grounds, and consider bringing electrolyte-rich drinks, or drink powders to replenish essential minerals lost through sweat. Pro tip: Bring an extra bottle cap with you. Refillable water stations aren’t always available and venues usually sell water bottles without caps. Being able to seal your water can make all the difference in the world.

Take Breaks From the Dance Floor

When you’re really feeling the vibe, it’s tempting to dance non-stop. However, it’s crucial to give your body regular breaks. Even though you might feel like you have the stamina to go all day or night, dancing for hours on end can exhaust you physically and mentally – and you might not realize it until it’s too late. Take short breaks between sets in shaded areas to rest and recharge. Find a spot where you can sit down and relax while enjoying the music from a distance. Taking regular breaks will pay off – it ensures that you can last throughout the festival without feeling completely drained by the end of the first day. 

Pace Your Consumption

And speaking of completely wrecking yourself the first day – you don’t want to be that guy. You the one we mean – the guy who’s rolling around naked in the mud a couple of hours after the gates open. Not only is it not a great look, but if you go too hard, too fast, you could spend the rest of the weekend feeling like shit in your tent and miss out on all the great acts you wanted to see. Finally getting to that big event you’ve been waiting for feels incredible, and the urge to go completely off the rails is real (we’ve all been there!) but the best festivals are a marathon – never a sprint.

Remember to Eat

Amidst all the sets and activities, it can be easy to forget about eating, especially when substances are involved that suppress appetite. And sometimes, eating is inconvenient – vendors might run out of food before the event ends, or pricing for simple snacks or bottled water can cost a lot. However, proper nutrition is essential for maintaining your energy levels. Try to pack a variety of portable snacks like granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, or energy bars. Incorporate water-rich foods into your diet, like watermelon, oranges, or berries to help you stay hydrated while providing essential vitamins and minerals. And if you eat from the food carts, look for options that offer a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables to keep your energy levels stable.

A psychedelic integration course.
Are you looking for more insight into your trips? Check out this self-paced course, Navigating Psychedelics, your complete guide to understanding and integrating the psychedelic experience.

Remember: This Too Shall Pass

Sometimes, the combination of psychedelics and an intense festival environment can be extremely overwhelming. Should you find yourself in an uncomfortable headspace, surround yourself with people you trust, breathe through the emotions, and just remember – it won’t last forever. If a friend is going through a tough time, sit with them, let them know you’re there for them, and remain calm, and hold space. However, there is a difference between a challenging psychedelic experience, and a serious medical issue, so ALWAYS keep a watchful eye out for signs of drug toxicity in yourself and others (nausea, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, etc.) and seek out medical attention if necessary. When in doubt, a trip to the medical tent is never a bad idea.

Stretch It Out

Dancing and standing for long periods of time can strain your muscles and lead to discomfort. Take breaks to stretch and release tension. Stretching exercises can improve circulation, prevent muscle cramps, and help you stay flexible. Consider incorporating gentle yoga poses or basic stretching routines into your festival experience to keep you limber and feeling good on the dance floor.

Find Quiet Places: Retreat From the Chaos

Finding moments of tranquility from all the festival stimuli can be crucial for recharging and regaining focus. Seek out quiet places within the festival grounds:

Chill-out areas: many festivals have designated chill-out zones where you can relax and escape the noise. These areas may feature comfortable seating, hammocks, or shaded spaces. Take advantage of these spaces to unwind, socialize with other festival-goers, or simply enjoy a moment of solitude.

Natural surroundings: if the festival grounds allow, explore nearby natural areas. Find a serene spot under a tree, by a lake, or on a hilltop to enjoy some peace and connect with nature. Nature has a calming effect on the mind and can provide a much-needed break from the intensity of the festival atmosphere.

Silent disco or acoustic sets: some festivals offer silent discos or acoustic sets, where you can enjoy music with headphones or experience stripped-down performances. These intimate settings provide a break from the overwhelming sound levels of main stages while still allowing you to enjoy live music.

And for the Love of God – Sleep

Unpopular opinion: acting on the phrase ‘I can sleep when I’m dead’ is, while kind of true, a really great way to ruin your festival experience. Adequate sleep is crucial for recharging your body and mind, so try to establish a sleep routine if you’re on a multi-day trip. Find a quiet and comfortable place to rest, whether it’s in your tent or a designated camping area. Invest in earplugs, an eye mask, some CBD (visit our friends at HempLucid for 10% off all products with code PSYCHEDELICS10) or noise-canceling headphones to create a peaceful sleeping environment, and get some shuteye – even just for a few hours. 

What are some of your top tips for staying safe and having a great time at festivals? Join in the conversation on our socials, and tell us how you make the most out of your trips.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on June 27, 2023June 27, 2023

PT419 – Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Severe Alcohol Use Disorder

In this episode, David interviews Professor Celia Morgan, Ph.D., who holds the Chair of Psychopharmacology and co-leads the Transdisciplinary Psychedelics Group at The University of Exeter.

This was recorded on the dawn of UK’s Breaking Convention conference, where Morgan was speaking about the therapeutic potential of ketamine as well as the danger of people developing a dependence on it. She touches on that topic, but largely discusses her current Phase III Trial for ketamine-assisted therapy for the treatment of severe alcohol use disorder (also called the KARE model (Ketamine for reduction of Alcohol Relapse)), a collaboration with Awakn Life Sciences.

She discusses her other research: studies on mindfulness intervention before and after ketamine, epigenetic changes after ayahuasca use, the antidepressant qualities of ayahuasca, and CBD for cannabis dependence. And she talks about the necessary balance for making treatments amazing but affordable; how connecting with nature during integration is key; how the drug is just a tool, yet we focus on it too much; and how we need studies on how different therapies work with different substances.

Notable Quotes

“People always focus on the drugs, but it’s more about the people, and as you say, their relationship – what you’re getting from that experience. The drugs themselves are just tools. You can hit someone over the head with a spade, but you can dig an amazing garden. I see the drugs as the spade, basically, but obviously a really unusual spade.”

“Taking a step back from your thoughts and not being over-engaged with everything you’re doing; the ketamine really helps to facilitate that, because they can see how that works. Mindfulness can be really tricky. Mindfulness practice is hard work. So I see this as a big step that makes it work better in that first bit, especially when people are struggling. …Ketamine, to my mind, gives this kind of boost and insight that can help engage them with the therapy going forward.” 

Links

A Vital Journey: Transpersonal Breathwork Retreat in PA, July 28

Check out the Lumenate app, and download it through the App store here!

University of Exeter department of Psychology: Professor Celia Morgan

Ketamine for reduction of Alcoholic Relapse (KARE)

Awaknlifesciences.com: Awakn Life Sciences Signs Collaboration Agreement With University of Exeter for Upcoming Phase III Trial

Breakingconvention.co.uk

Nice.org.uk: Nasal spray medicine for treatment-resistant depression not recommended by NICE

The NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression program (formerly known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT))

Nushama.com

Awaknlifesciences.com: Awakn Life Sciences Signs MOU with NHS (Devon Partnership NHS Trust) and University of Exeter with a View of Increasing Access to Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy in the UK

Frontiersin.org: Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian Retreats—Mental Health and Epigenetic Outcomes From a Six-Month Naturalistic Study

Journals.sagepub.com: Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years

Thelancet.com: Cannabidiol for the treatment of cannabis use disorder: a phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, adaptive Bayesian trial

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on June 2, 2023June 2, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Drug Testing and Harm Reduction, Ketamine vs. ECT, and Does Therapy Really Work?

In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle are once again able to take advantage of Kyle’s temporary Colorado residency and record together in Joe’s office.

While last week focused on the numerous challenges facing a rapidly growing industry of psychedelic therapists, facilitators, and guides, the topic of therapy itself is put under the microscope this week, as they dissect a New York Times article titled, “Does Therapy Really Work? Let’s Unpack That.” They discuss whether or not therapy is right for everyone, the efficacy of different types of therapy, the role of the therapeutic alliance in treatment outcomes, and how (if it’s even possible) to measure all of these factors.

They also discuss:

-a study showing that ketamine was more effective than ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) for patients with treatment-resistant depression;

-the potential benefits of the LSD analog, Br-LSD, in treating people with major depressive disorders, cluster headaches, and more;

-Ireland’s Health Service Executive launching the Safer Nightlife program, which will partner with music festivals this summer to establish on-site drug testing;

-the U.S. slowly beginning to legalize fentanyl test strips, which, for some reason, are illegal in many parts of the country;

and much more!

See you next week, and if you’re in the NYC area, make sure to check out “Tales of Transformation,” an in-person event Thursday, June 8 at the Athenæum, moderated by David, and featuring Ifetayo Harvey, Juliana Mulligan, and Raad Seraj.

Links

(bolded links are the discussed articles)

Navigating Psychedelics For Clinicians and Wellness Practitioners (the next edition begins July 12 and 13)

Psychedelicscience.org (use code PT15 for 15% off tickets)

Joe’s IG live with Global Psychedelic Society

Globalpsychedelic.org

California Psychedelic Conference: June 3-4 in Los Angeles

Nytimes.com: Does Therapy Really Work? Let’s Unpack That.

Besselvanderkolk.com

Wiley.com: The efficacy of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for mental disorders in adults: an umbrella review and meta-analytic evaluation of recent meta-analyses

Psychiatryonline.org: Effect of a Layperson-Delivered Telephone Program for People With Depressive Symptoms

The Cato Institute: Jeffrey A. Singer

Forbes.com: New York City’s Psychedelic Athenæum: A Place To Find The Others

Psychedelics Today – Tales of Transformation: Thursday, June 8, at the Athenæum, 7:00 – 9:30pm EST

Thealchemistskitchen.com

Gizmodo.com: Ketamine Might Be on Par With the Gold Standard for Treatment-Resistant Depression, Study Finds

Psychologytoday.com: A Beneficial Psychedelic That Does Not Cause Hallucinations

Psychedelics Today: PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer?, featuring: Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD

Psychedelics Today: PT245 – Robin Carhart-Harris – Psychedelics, Entropy, and Plasticity

Neurosciencenews.com: How Neurons That Wire Together Fire Together

Psychedelics Today: PT409 – Pathology, The DSM, and The Ontological Shock of Psychedelic Experiences, featuring: Erica Rex & Mona Sobhani, Ph.D.

Irishmirror.ie: Drug testing to be rolled out at music festivals in Ireland this summer

Everydayhealth.com: Fentanyl Testing Strips Are Illegal in Many States — but That’s Changing

Time.com: How Conservatives Are Changing Their Mind on Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips

Alchemically Stoned: The Psychedelic Secret of Freemasonry, by P. D. Newman

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on May 19, 2023May 19, 2023

Psychedelics Weekly – Challenging the ‘Gifting’ Part of Prop 122, Public Perception in Oregon, and The Medicine of Music

In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle are both on the road, so David and Alexa take the helm.

They cover news stories about:

-a man in Colorado facing a Class 3 drug felony for giving people psilocybin mushrooms in exchange for monetary donations – pointing out the bold (or stupid?) stances some are taking to highlight the absurdity of legislation that allows possession and donation as long as no money changes hands;

-a study showing what many of us have felt ourselves: that the day after psilocybin-assisted therapy, depressed patients had a stronger brain response to music and saw improvements in the ability to find pleasure in previously empty activities;

-a trip report from a psychedelically-naive 50-year old, showing the power and beauty of MDMA-assisted therapy;

-the New Hampshire state Senate continuing to be behind the times and voting down House Bill 639, which would have created a legal recreational cannabis framework for the state;

-a video where people on the street in Oregon were asked how much they thought psilocybin therapy would cost, showing a drastic misalignment between public perception and reality;

and a local TV news feature touring Rose City Laboratories, the first licensed psilocybin testing lab in Oregon.

And in conversation, they talk about some of the lesser-discussed (and often dismissed) tools like CBD, THC patches, and very low-dose edibles; the problem with drug dealers and harm reduction; the power of music in guiding a psychedelic experience (and in living a pleasurable life); and the importance of dosing and listening to your body to know what’s right for you.

Links

(bolded links are the discussed articles)

Myjewishlearning.com: Why Cheesecake on Shavuot?

Tales of Transformation: A panel on how psychedelic experiences can evolve into collective transformation and new life callings, featuring Ifetayo Harvey, Juliana Mulligan, Raad Seraj

Hemplucid.com (Use PSYCHEDELICS10 for 10% off)

YouTube: “Moms on Mushrooms”: A Growing Trend? (Tracey Tee on Dr. Phil)

Our IG live with Tracey Tee, hosted by Victoria

Entheoventures substack: Balancing the Psychedelic Narrative: A Call for Accuracy and Responsibility from All Sides

Summitdaily.com: Dillon man accused of selling psychedelic ‘magic mushrooms’ claims he was gifting them under Colorado’s new proposition

Psypost.org: Psilocybin therapy for depression appears to have a curious effect on the brain’s response to music

Sciencedirect.com: Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression

Journal of Psychopharmacology: Changes in music-evoked emotion and ventral striatal functional connectivity after psilocybin therapy for depression

Alexa Jesse (with Host Bodies)- “Hourglass”

Psychedelicscene.com: The Healing Beauty of Ecstasy

Erowid.org

Hightimes.com: New Hampshire Senate Votes Down Cannabis Legalization Bill

Marysmedicinals.com

Wweek.com: How Much Would You Expect to Pay for Psilocybin Mushroom Therapy?

Epichealingeugene.com

Kgw.com: Touring the first Oregon lab licensed to test the strength of legal psilocybin

Psycon.org

Psychedelicscience.org (use code PT15 for 15% off)

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on May 16, 2023

PT410 – Manufacturing MDMA and Why Creating MDMA Analogs Is So Important

In this episode, Joe interviews Nick Kadysh: Founder and CEO of PharmAla Biotech and member of the board of directors for The Canadian Psychedelic Businesses Association. 

PharmAla Biotech is a Toronto-based Life Sciences company with two focuses: contracting with manufacturers to provide researchers with GMP MDMA (created under Good Manufacturing Practice regulations), and creating and researching novel analogs of MDMA. And just today, they announced that Health Canada has authorized them (and their distribution partner, Shaman Pharma) to supply their LaNeo™ MDMA for the treatment of a patient under Canada’s Special Access Program – the first time this has happened in Canada. 

He discusses the creation of PharmAla and why their model changed from primarily researching analogs to manufacturing; why they’re operating out of Canada and using manufacturers instead of running the lab themselves; the excitement around Australia’s recent about-face on MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy; the bureaucracy of U.S. drug policy and how much a broken supply chain affects the whole industry; bad IP and companies filing rapid fire patents; why creating new analogs of MDMA is so important; and why the psychedelic space needs to bring culture along with us.

He also talks about Spravato, cannabis and risks of cancer, THC nasal sprays, and research he’s most excited about: that MDMA seems to alleviate dyskinesia caused from Parkinson’s disease, and that MDMA could improve social anxiety in people with autism. He’s aiming to run a clinical trial and believes they have developed a safe MDMA analog that the autistic community will respond to very well.

Notable Quotes

“I don’t want to give the impression that we think that MDMA is unsafe. In the case of PTSD-assisted psychotherapy the way that it’s being presented by MAPS, I think it’s remarkably safe. But, you know, better is still possible.” 

“If you told me that you have a brand new drug that was developed in a lab that nobody has ever seen or tried or tested before, and let’s call it drug A. And then you have drug B, which is derived from a mushroom, that people have been consuming regularly for the past 5,000 years and no one’s died. And you’re asking me which one is safer? It’s the mushroom, man. It’s not even a question.”

“We owe it to ourselves in this industry to take the population along for the ride. This is why I think safety is so important, because if you’re working on safety, people like that. People trust that. That’s what happened last time: there was the counterculture and the culture, and the culture won, and we’re still paying for it today. So let’s bring the culture along.”

Links

Pharmala.ca

News.bbc.co.uk: Ecstasy ‘not worse than riding’

Revivethera.com

Tga.gov.au: Change to classification of psilocybin and MDMA to enable prescribing by authorised psychiatrists

Psychedelics Today: Canada’s SAP Expansion Signals a Step Forward for Psychedelics

The Canadian Psychedelic Businesses Association

Uams.edu: William E. Fantegrossi, Ph.D.

YouTube: Researchers look at Ecstacy to ease Parkinsons Agony

Maps.org: MDMA-Assisted Therapy Shows Promise for Reducing Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults, New Study Shows

Psychedelics Today: Can Psychedelics Provide Relief for Autistic Individuals?

Autisticpsychedelic.com

Psychedelics Today: PT233 – JR Rahn of MindMed – LSD, ADHD, and Decriminalization

Pharmaphorum.com: J&J builds case for antidepressant Spravato with head-to-head trial

National Library of Medicine: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research.

Feather.com: THC and CBD Rapid Sprays

Thecse.com: Pharmala Biotech Holdings Inc.

Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
Posted on April 27, 2023May 3, 2023

The Psychedelic Mind: How Neuroscience Can Help You Navigate Your Inner Landscape

Psychedelics are a fascinating class of compounds that have potent effects on our consciousness. After a multi-decade hiatus, scientific research on psychedelics has now resumed with full force. One field that has rapidly developed in recent years is psychedelic neuroscience, which applies the cutting-edge frameworks and tools of modern neuroscience to understand how psychedelics affect the brain and nervous system to elicit their profound effects. The latest findings from this breakthrough field have increasingly spilled into popular culture and are often profiled in the media – it’s now commonplace to hear terms like ‘default mode network’ and ‘neuroplasticity’ casually thrown around when discussing psychedelics and their effects.

However, much of the research is quite technical, and typical media treatments are often either highly simplistic and watered-down, or plainly inaccurate and sensationalistic. Most people just don’t have the necessary background to properly understand and communicate findings beyond repeatable buzzwords and trickle-down narratives. 

It’s easy to wonder: what’s the practical relevance of psychedelic neuroscience for psychotherapy or for individuals navigating their own psychedelic experiences?

Don’t Worry – It’s Only Temporary

Understanding the science of psychedelics can be really helpful for therapists and clinicians preparing their clients for psychedelic experiences, and helping clients conceptualize and understand their experiences afterward. Psychedelic experiences can sometimes be quite overwhelming and hard to make sense of. It can be challenging to experience the profound alterations of consciousness they can elicit, which span from complex dream-like images and vivid memory recall, to ego-dissolving mystical-type effects, to perceptual distortions and synesthesia.

However, neuroimaging studies increasingly reveal what is unfolding in the brain during a psychedelic experience, and how these changes might map onto aspects of the subjective experience. Serotonergic psychedelics (like LSD, psilocybin and mescaline) disintegrate typically observed networks, including the default mode network, which is superseded by a more globally interconnected brain and more complex (or ‘entropic’) brain dynamics. In this globally interconnected state, there is a temporary increase in the connectivity and communication between different regions of the brain that normally don’t communicate much with each other. It’s like different cliques at a high school party spontaneously starting to intermingle with each other and party as a unified whole. 

By reminding and reassuring clients that the intense effects they are experiencing are directly related to temporary changes in brain activity, clients may be less concerned that they are “gone without return” or that there is something inherently “wrong” or “bad” about their experience. It can also provide a useful model or framework to ground and interpret what emerges during their journey. They can rest assured that no matter how radical and reality-shattering their psychedelic experience is, it’s being underpinned by temporary changes in how brain regions are communicating and interacting over time. 

Predicting the Unpredictable

Research has found that an individual’s psychological traits and brain characteristics can help predict the nature of their psychedelic experience, as well as the likelihood that they might experience long-lasting therapeutic benefits. The principles of ‘set and setting’ are deeply ingrained in psychedelic therapies, and signify the integral role that context plays in determining therapeutic outcomes. ‘Set’ concerns one’s mental and emotional state immediately before the psychedelic experience, encompassing such facets as personality and mood. Meanwhile, ‘setting’ pertains to the physical, social, and cultural milieu in which the psychedelic is taken. Given that traits and moods have been shown to correspond with differences in brain function, it is likely that brain structure and function may prove effective in predicting subjective effects and treatment response. This ‘precision medicine’ approach – using brain markers to forecast how individuals will respond to a given drug – has been applied to antidepressants and ADHD medications, providing a precedent for such a strategy in the realm of psychedelic therapy.

A recent study conducted by Enzo Tagliazucchi and colleagues illustrates this point. Neuroscientists have found that certain brain waves, called theta waves, may affect how people experience psychedelic drugs like DMT, as theta waves are associated with mind-wandering. Tagliazucchi and colleagues conducted electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings of brain electrical activity and discovered that people who had high levels of theta waves before taking DMT had less intense feelings of unity and transcendence during their psychedelic experience, showing that greater theta waves likely reflect a brain state that is not conducive to being immersed in a psychedelic experience. They suggest that measuring theta waves with EEG before taking DMT could help predict how likely someone is to have a mystical-type experience.

Their findings also appear to suggest that priming subjects to reduce theta power before taking a serotonergic psychedelic may help increase the depth of their mystical experience. For example, an individual could reduce theta with neurofeedback training, in which feedback from an EEG headset would allow them to modulate their brain activity to achieve a desired brain and psychological state. Although further research is required before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, emerging research like this suggests that capturing information about brain states – beyond what can be subjectively reported – may prove to be a valuable tool in predicting an individual’s psychological readiness for a psychedelic experience. ​​

Download the FREE intro guide and discover the 8 reasons why understanding neuroscience is important for psychedelic use.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
    Built with ConvertKit

    The Nuances of Psychedelically Boosted Neuroplasticity

    The proliferation of interest in serotonergic psychedelics, MDMA, and ketamine is in no small part due to their remarkable ability to act as ‘psychoplastogens’ – compounds that enhance neuroplasticity in the brain. Neuroplasticity refers to the ways in which neurons in the brain change their connections with each other or create new ones, which is critical for the brain’s ability to learn, adapt to new experiences, and recover from injury. Psychedelics’ ability to enhance neuroplasticity has frequently been highlighted as central in eliciting therapeutic effects across a range of mood disorders and stress-related conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which makes sense because impaired neuroplasticity has been reported for all of these disorders.

    Research in rodents has suggested that, generally, for most psychedelics, the period between six and 72 hours post-psychedelic experience is when neuroplasticity is at its highest.

    However, changes may last for much longer. For instance, LSD has been shown to promote the expression of neuroplasticity-related genes in rodents even one month after treatment had ceased. More and more research is being conducted on these effects, but there is clear practical relevance for clinicians, therapists, and everyday people. Understanding the nuances of psychedelically boosted neuroplasticity – including how long the effects last and where in the brain they occur for a given substance – is critical for designing optimal integration practices.

    An in-depth understanding of psychedelic neuroscience can serve as a valuable tool for therapists and individuals seeking to navigate the intricate and potentially transformative realm of psychedelics. Familiarity with scientific research can empower practitioners to tailor their approach to preparation, the acute experience itself, and integration, thus optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

    What’s more, the field of psychedelic neuroscience is profoundly intriguing and sometimes referred to as the “quantum mechanics” of neuroscience – neuroscientists are exploring the frontiers of consciousness with a cutting-edge discipline, and unearthing fascinating gems along the way. For example, did you know that psychedelics can enhance the firing rate of excitatory neurons in rodents’ prefrontal cortex by an astounding 481% over baseline, significantly altering communication throughout brain networks? Did you know that research is uncovering that the brain effects of psychedelics might also be tightly linked to our immune system and microbiome, with relevance to mental health? Or that both MDMA and LSD increase oxytocin levels, which plays a role in social bonding?

    These and other fascinating discoveries will be covered in our upcoming eight-week course, “Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified: How Psychedelics Alter Consciousness and Produce Therapeutic Effects.” This course was designed to be accessible to clinicians, therapists, and curious everyday people, making students well-versed in this emerging field, giving them the ability to understand new findings, put them into practice, and be informed participants in ongoing discussions.

    Class begins May 17. Learn more here:

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

    Psychedelics Weekly – The Church of Psilomethoxin Controversy, Psychedelics for Long COVID, and The Growth of Bicycle Day

    In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle once again record in person, diving into novel compounds, changing opinions, Bicycle Day, and more. 

    They start by dissecting a very recent controversy around The Church of Psilomethoxin and whether the sacrament they label as psilomethoxin – supposedly created by adding 5-MeO-DMT to the substrate of cultivated Psilocybe mushrooms – actually contains any psilomethoxin in it. Usona Institute published a paper last week reporting on their analysis of a sample they allegedly collected from the Church, which only showed what we’d see in a sample of a typical psilocybin-containing mushroom. While the Church has issues with Usona’s data collection, analytical methods, and motives, they also reiterate a main component of the church: that their “claims to the existence of Psilomethoxin, at this time, are solely based on faith,” and bolstered by their “own direct experiences with the Sacrament.” It’s a very interesting story that touches on faith, consent, personal safety, and the harms of the drug war, which Joe covered extensively in a Twitter Space last night with Andrew Gallimore and the writer of a very critical article, Mario de la Fuente. 

    They also discuss: 

    -a Time magazine article about the mystery of Long COVID, and how many believe the anti-inflammatory and neuroplastic benefits of psychedelics could be the answer; 

    -how Bicycle Day may soon become more popular than 4/20, likely due to society’s warmer reception to the life-changing effects of psychedelics (as opposed to their propagandized and unmoving beliefs about cannabis); 

    -how some analysts believe that seven in 10 ketamine companies will likely face financial challenges as the industry grows too quickly; 

    and why Snoop Dogg apparently microwaves blunts before smoking them (and does that actually do anything?).

    Links

    (bolded links are for the discussed articles)

    Andrew Gallimore’s twitter thread about psilomethoxin

    Chemrxiv.org: Fungi Fiction: Analytical Investigation into the Church Of Psilomethoxin’s Alleged Novel Compound Using UPLC-HRMS

    Psychedelicalpha.com: Opinions | The Church of Psilomethoxin: Fantasy Chemistry Gets Fact Checked

    Psilomethoxin.com: Psychedelic Capitalism, Scientific Integrity, and a Wider Look Into Current Events; Response to USONA Article

    Psychedelics Today: PT393 – Religious Freedom and the Church of Psilomethoxin, featuring: Greg Lake, Esq.

    You Have the Right to Remain Innocent, by James Duane

    Time.com: The Latest Promising Long COVID Treatment? Psychedelic Drugs

    Psychedelics Today: PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer? featuring: Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD

    Marijuanamoment.net: Top Colorado Senator Files Psychedelics Regulations Bill, Drawing Mixed Reactions

    Marijuanamoment.net: Majority Of Americans Back Legalizing Psychedelics Therapy And Federally Decriminalizing Substances Like Psilocybin, Poll Finds

    Breakthroughbulletin.com: New Poll Shows Strong Support For Psychedelic Medicine

    Theatlantic.com: The Pandemic Did Not Affect Mental Health the Way You Think

    Forbes.com: Bicycle Day May Soon Overtake Cannabis Holiday 4/20

    Dosed 2

    Psychedelics Today: PT271 – Jeremy Narby, Ph.D. – Anthropology, Ayahuasca, and Plant Teachers

    Psychedelics Today: PT406 – Alex & Allyson Grey – Bicycle Day, Unveiling Entheon, & the Mystical Experience Through Art

    PT’s Bicycle Day Instagram post showcasing submitted art

    PT’s 2nd Bicycle Day Instagram post showcasing submitted art

    Theguardian.com: Ketamine clinics have emerged across the US. They’re already going bust

    Benzinga.com: Snoop Dogg Microwaves His Blunts Before Smoking And For Good Reason, Here’s Why

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on April 18, 2023April 18, 2023

    PT406 – Bicycle Day, Unveiling Entheon, and The Mystical Experience Through Art

    In this episode, on the eve of Bicycle Day, Victoria and Kyle interview two long-standing icons of visionary psychedelic art: Alex and Allyson Grey.

    They talk about the LSD trip that saved Alex’s life, connected him to Allyson, inspired his art, and even made him change his name; his decades-in-the-making “Sacred Mirrors” project of 21 7-foot tall pieces depicting the complex layers of human existence; the interconnectedness of life; the history of psychedelic art; how imagination and non-ordinary states help us connect with the divine; and the value of art in conveying the mystical experience.

    Alex and Allyson are the Co-Founders of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, an interspiritual church/retreat center in upstate New York that, after years of work, is debuting Entheon: an art sanctuary and psychedelic reliquary featuring much of their art and work from favorite artists, a shrine to Tool (who Alex has worked with for most of their career), and a collection of relics from psychedelic legends that includes Albert Hofmann’s glasses, art signed by Stan Grof and the Shulgins, and even Timothy Leary’s ashes. Entheon opens on June 3, on the anniversary of the first acid trip the Greys took together, which gave them a framework for understanding life and an inspiration for art they still follow to this day.

    And in honor of Bicycle Day, Alex talks about two pieces dedicated to Albert Hofmann, and continues his Bicycle Day tradition of reading a statement Hofmann made a year before he passed about psychedelics being the “absolute highest importance to consciousness change.” In celebration of Albert Hofmann and the gift he gave us, and with inspiration from the incredibly complex and beautiful art Alex and Allyson create, have a happy, safe, and creative Bicycle Day!

    “St. Albert and the LSD Revelation Revolution” by Alex Grey

    Notable Quotes

    “I hadn’t had any insight that would prove to me any kind of spiritual reality was really there, even though I was making art. And I think from my perspective now: hey, if you’re being creative, you’re evidence. The creative spirit is what birthed the universe, and you’re an expression here and now of it. You’re evolving on that wavefront of reality that is binding time together and our beings together.” -Alex

    “We could see the vast vista of fountains and drains of everyone, and every being and thing in the universe was interconnected and made of light, and in that, I think we felt connected rather than disconnected. We felt like we were individual and independent, but also interconnected with all beings and things. [It] makes you feel like there’s some importance to yourself, that you really are necessary in the web of the eternal.” -Allyson

    “You’re making love with the divine in the mystical experience, in the divine imagination. That’s where the small self meets the larger self and becomes no self. So I think that the mystical experience is the cornerstone of the sacred traditions, and the artistic sacred traditions as well.” -Alex

    “It took me right outside of my miserable psychodrama self and immediately, I got a psychic swirlie to show me the way. So that was a confirmation, and all my prayers basically were answered in that, and I got to meet the love of my life, really, because of it. So we’re very thankful, and it’s one of the reasons why we’ve always loved celebrating Bicycle Day.” -Alex

    Links

    Alexgrey.com

    Allysongrey.com

    Cosm.org (the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors)

    Entheon

    Be Here Now, by Ram Dass

    Alexgrey.com: Sacred Mirrors

    Alexgrey.com: Life Energy

    Learnreligions.com: Indra’s Jewel Net

    Mushroomstone.com: Breaking the Mushroom Code

    Psychedelicreview.com: Early Inhabitants of Algeria Create Cave Art that Shows Mushrooms

    Mythology.net: Sekhmet

    Dr. Albert Hofmann’s quote from 2007 that they read every Bicycle Day

    Wikipedia.org: Paracelsus

    Toolband.com

    Alexgrey.com: “Net of Being”

    Alexgrey.com: “Theologue”

    Allysongrey.com: “Jewel Net of Indra”

    Alexgrey.com: “Transfiguration”

    Alexgrey.com: “The Great Turn”

    “Albert Hofmann and the New Eleusis” by Alex Grey
    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on April 11, 2023April 11, 2023

    PT404 – Clusterbusters: The Horrors of Cluster Headaches and the Miracle of Psilocybin

    In this episode, Joe lets Court Wing take lead in interviewing two of the leaders behind Clusterbusters: Founder and Executive Director, Bob Wold; and President, Eileen Brewer.

    A long-time friend of the show, Court Wing has become our resident expert on chronic pain, writing articles about how psilocybin relieved his chronic pain, and hosting Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD in their episode about phantom limb pain. Now he speaks with Clusterbusters, a non-profit dedicated to educating people about the horrors of cluster headaches, funding ongoing research into new treatments, and normalizing the miracle that psilocybin has been to so many sufferers in alleviating their headaches. 

    Wold and Brewer discuss their past struggles (Wold is a cluster sufferer and Brewer has migraine disease) and discovering the amazing intervention of psychedelics; the battles they’ve gone through in spreading this knowledge; how using psychedelics is also helping people work through PTSD; the barriers that legal psilocybin is creating; the concept of schools having a drug education program; the research looking at cluster headaches and other headache diseases; their creation of the Pain And Psychedelics Association, and more. While cluster headache sufferers have a lot to be frustrated about; as psilocybin becomes more mainstream and more and more research is funded, they now have a lot of hope.

    Notable Quotes

    “A couple of people started growing their own mushrooms and self-treating themselves just to try it to see if it might actually help, and the results were incredible. It was better than anything that any of them had tried in the past. It wasn’t really an abortive (it wasn’t treating one headache) and it wasn’t really a preventive, where you would take it and you would prevent some of your cluster attacks. It was something that was actually doing both of those things, and people were getting long-lasting results by one or two doses of magic mushrooms.” -Bob

    “It makes sense that that would happen within a disease community, it happens outside of disease communities too. Some people just use psychedelics occasionally just to get that perspective back and to work within themselves (and without themselves) to sort it all out, [and] get themselves back together. And I think there’s a real division there between people who do that and people who don’t.” -Eileen

    “The two or three years before my first dose of psilocybin, my medical bills were like $20,000 a year trying to treat my clusters. That included hospital stays and specialists and travel. …The first time I grew my own mushrooms, it cost me a hundred dollars to grow a year’s supply and I didn’t have to go to Walgreens to pick up my medicine. So my medical treatment for the following year for my cluster headaches was $100 versus $20,000 and I was able to take as much as I needed when I needed it. And at this point, that’s what most people with headache disorders are doing; they’re growing their own because the system is going to take years and years to be built into something that’s actually accessible to everybody – and affordable.” -Bob

    “People are dying while we’re waiting for these policies to happen, and I’m really struggling with the fact that we are setting up more barriers. I know that all the intentions are good, but we are hurting people.” -Eileen

    Links

    Clusterbusters.org

    Remaptherapeutics.com

    Psychedelics Today: Surprising Results: Psilocybin Trial for Depression Alleviates Chronic Pain

    Psychedelics Today: Why Did Psychedelics Relieve My Chronic Pain?

    Psychedelics Today: PT391 – MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For Fibromyalgia and Other Central Sensitization Syndromes, featuring: Dr. Devon Christie & Dr. Pamela Kryskow, MD

    Psychedelics Today: PT306 – Dr. Devon Christie – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Psychedelics Today: PT315 – Dr. Dominique Morisano – From Research to Reality: Planning a Global Psychedelic Summit

    Psychedelics Today: PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer?, featuring: Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD

    UC San Diego Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative

    Newswire.ca: Apex Labs Granted Approval for 294 Patient Take Home Psilocybin Clinical Trial

    FDA.gov: Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies | REMS

    Yalemedicine.org: Emmanuelle Schindler, MD, Ph.D.

    Maastrichtuniversity.nl: Dr. Jan Ramaekers

    Clinicaltrials.gov: Psilocybin in Patients With Fibromyalgia: EEG-measured Brain Biomarkers of Action (Psilopain)

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023

    PT403 – Understanding the Brain: Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified

    In this episode, David interviews neuroscientist, artist, and educator, Melanie Pincus, Ph.D.; and Ph.D. candidate in Neuroscience, lead or co-author on over a dozen scientific publications, and regular contributor to PT, Manesh Girn. 

    They tell their stories of how they became interested in neuroscience, and stress the importance of staying radically open-minded (or “epistemically naive”) when it comes to how much we can claim we understand about the brain, the mind-body connection, and consciousness itself – that while fMRI and other advances have brought us a long way, there are still a ton of “unknown unknowns,” especially around creativity, decision making, and imagination. They discuss the misconception that we only use 10% of our brains; comparisons between the brain and the universe; society’s misunderstanding of “happy hormones” (dopamine, serotonin, etc.); how chronic stress takes a toll on all parts of the body; how MDMA works with memory processing; and how stacking modalities with the psychedelic experience (like play or activities focused on emotion regulation) can really help with personal goals and growth. 

    They have taken their understanding and fascination with neuroscience and applied it to a new course in our Psychedelic Education Center: “Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified: How Psychedelics Alter Consciousness and Produce Therapeutic Effects“: an 8-week live course with 10 hours of prerecorded material and a built-in community. It was designed with practitioners and clinicians in mind, but with the goal of still being as accessible as possible for anyone who is curious about the neuroscience of psychedelics, and how that knowledge can help with preparation, the journey, integration, and working with a heightened window of neuroplasticity. 

    Class begins on May 17, and if you sign up before April 12, you can get $100 off!

    Notable Quotes

    “There’s so much good science now, and good neuroscience that can inform how people work with their clients in terms of helping them set up for and make sense of their psychedelic experience and ways to optimize the preparation before going into a psychedelic journey, the actual psychedelic journey in terms of thinking about dosing and type of substance to work with, and then also in the integration period, where there’s this heightened window of neuroplasticity and how one could really work with a client to best take advantage of that window of opportunity to lead to lasting change.” -Melanie

    “It’s just this blob, this squishy blob of matter. And you think: for that person, their entire life, experiences, memories, [and] hopes were all happening in this little blob that’s in my hand. And just seeing all the layers of blood vessels and how everything’s connected to each other, it’s just fascinating and it’s downright bizarre that somehow, this thing can give rise to experience and consciousness. It’s like, how the hell is that even possible?” -Manesh

    “For people who are interested in stacking modalities, there’s other modalities that are really potent at promoting neuroplasticity. So if you want to synergize with the window of plasticity during the integration period, you could for sure partake in regular exercise, because that’s one of the most well-known plasticity promoters.” -Melanie

    “How do we respond adaptively to times of change? How do we adjust ourselves? How do we create homeostasis in a changing environment, and how do we adapt to new circumstances? And this is also a whole brain/nervous system/body affair as well, on how to regulate your entire organism to deal with change and to be resilient and to be adaptable. It’s not just in the brain. It’s not just in the brain at all.” -Manesh

    Links

    Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified: How Psychedelics Alter Consciousness and Produce Therapeutic Effects (Sign up before April 12 for $100 off)

    Syncopydesignlab.com

    YouTube: The Psychedelic Scientist

    Psychedelics Today: Psychedelics Weekly – Research Explained: Ketamine and the Corticothalamic Network, Psilocybin and the Immune System, & Canalization and Plasticity, featuring Manesh Girn

    Psychedelics Today: PT258 – Manesh Girn – Psychedelics and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and Creativity

    Theguardian.com: Dreamachine, the psychedelic contraption hoping to blow British minds

    Huffpost.com: What Exactly Are Sweetbreads, Anyway? A Guide For Anyone Who Doesn’t Already Know

    Wikipedia.org: Jamais vu

    Jannalevin.com

    Britannica.com: Do We Really Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain?

    Sciencedaily.com: Massive study reveals few differences between men’s and women’s brains

    Healthline.com: How to Hack Your Hormones for a Better Mood

    The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor’s Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine, by Joseph Tafur, MD

    Psychologytoday.com: What Does ‘Allostatic Load’ Mean for Your Health?

    Psychedelics Today: PT288 – Annie & Michael Mithoefer – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Minoritytrip.com: s1e8 – Manesh Girn: Curiosity as Freedom from Circumstance, the Default Mode Network, and Nature of the Networked Mind

    Attending Breaking Convention? Come see us and use code PSYCHTODAYBC10 for 10% off all purchases!
    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

    Psychedelics Weekly – Investors Form REIT for Psychedelic Therapy, Diplo Runs a Marathon on LSD, and Is Cannabis a Psychedelic?

    In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe calls in from Los Angeles to cover the week’s news with David. 

    They review: 

    -Dr. Julie Holland’s recent appearance on the The Cannabis Investing Podcast, where she discussed the concept of cannabis being a psychedelic;

    -Vancouver Island University in British Columbia, Canada, planning to establish a Psychedelic Research Centre, with a focus on the historical and ethical context of psychedelic substances, using a “two eyed seeing” approach that combines Western-style science with Indigenous perspectives;

    -A group of investors creating a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to purchase real estate for the purposes of psychedelic therapy, which, if used as the collaborative model we imagine it could be, could solve a lot of problems;

    -Diplo completing the Los Angeles Marathon in 3 hours and 35 minutes while under a reported 4-5 drops of LSD, and the dismissive spin mainstream media added to the story; 

    and a Rolling Stone article focusing on (and somewhat oversimplifying) the conflicts between the medicalization and decriminalization/legalization camps (can we just do both?).

    The articles of course lead to much larger discussions: how cannabis has helped David overcome OCD; the need for more transparency and a review system based on abusive behavior in the psychedelic space; the idea of collectivization in therapy models; the need to agree on ethical foundations; and our general misunderstanding of IP and IP law: was all the criticism of Compass Pathways unwarranted?

    Links

    “The Mushroom Cure” tickets

    Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified: How Psychedelics Alter Consciousness and Produce Therapeutic Effects

    Mortlakeandcompany.com

    Seekingalpha.com: Cannabis Is A Psychedelic – Dr. Julie Holland

    Psychedelics Today: PT314 – Daniel McQueen, MA – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Gaia.com: What is the Ayurvedic Perspective on Cannabis?

    Psychedelics Today: PT398 – Lost Civilizations, DMT Entities, & Altered States of Consciousness and Early Religion, featuring: Graham Hancock

    Imdb.com: “Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste”

    Firesideproject.org

    CBC.ca: First Nations researcher exploring psychedelics as healing tool for intergenerational trauma

    Rootstothrive.com: Shannon Dames, RN, MPH, EdD

    Bisnow.com: ‘Nothing Short Of Incredible’: Investors Look To Form REIT To Buy Real Estate For Psychedelic Therapy

    Usatoday.com: Diplo says he ran a marathon while on LSD. Experts say he’s tripping.

    Concussionrepairmanual.com

    Rollingstone.com: Market Battle Lines are Being Drawn in Psychedelics—But What are the Warring Camps Really Fighting About?

    Drrosalindwatts.com

    Psychedelics Today: PT233 – JR Rahn of MindMed – LSD, ADHD, and Decriminalization

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on March 30, 2023October 5, 2023

    PT402 – Magic, Virtual Reality, and Ketamine & Internal Family Systems

    In this episode, David interviews Sunny Strasburg, LMFT: Clinical Director at TRIPP PsyAssist; psychedelic trainer, consultant, therapist, and writer, specializing in EMDR and Internal Family Systems, and offering ketamine-assisted therapy as well as ketamine therapy retreats (often co-led by Dr. Richard Schwartz). 

    She talks about her family history with magic, and how the act of calling energy in and out pairs with psychedelic work; how the human experience is made up of contrasts; why we need to embrace the recreational part of psychedelics; how art can be used more in therapy; and how post-experience group integration is the act of creating mythology, recreating the small-community-sitting-by-the-fire archetype – that community we so desperately need. And she discusses ketamine: different ways she uses it; how it pairs perfectly with Internal Family Systems; and how it’s autobiographical medicine, making us an observer and allowing us to separate ourselves from our story.

    While passionate about the mystical, magic, and reconnecting to nature, she is also very involved with virtual reality, and she discusses how VR and meditation apps are easing people into non-ordinary states and familiarizing people with breathwork. With the help of pioneering psychedelic DJ, David Starfire, she created PsyAssist, an app with music playlists and voice integration for people to enhance ketamine experiences that don’t otherwise include therapy or integration work. PsyAssist was acquired by VR company, TRIPP, and they’re running a study on people using VR before a psychedelic experience to see if data proves that VR really does reduce the anxiety so many of us feel before taking that big journey. But she reminds us: as we become more connected to technology, VR, and AI, being connected to other human beings will become more and more important.

    Notable Quotes

    “I call ketamine the open source code of psychedelics because it doesn’t have a very strong signature or agenda in and of itself. Psychedelics like ayahuasca and psilocybin definitely have a presence. DMT has a presence of beings that live in that space, and it seems like you go to this place that’s informed by the beings that run that space. Ketamine is more open-ended. It feels like it takes autobiographical content and feeds it back to you in interesting ways. …It has this interesting signature of pulling us out of the experience and into ‘observer mind,’ and it also has a signature of traveling. That combination is super interesting for therapy.”

    “I do not see VR as a replacement for therapists at all. In fact, I think the more we get into technology and AI, the more in-person experiences with another human being are going to become increasingly valuable to us. We have evolved for hundreds of thousands of years to be prosocial animals that connect with other beings like us, and that’s not going away anytime soon. …I actually think that as AI and technology takes a lot of jobs, I think there are certain sectors of human connection that are going to become more important than ever.” 

    “I love [how] in holotropic breathwork, they have the mandalas with art materials and they encourage you to create a drawing or painting of what you experienced before you speak to anyone as part of that experience. And I really like that, because as soon as you start giving words to ineffable experience, it collapses it down to something that’s simplified beyond what it was. But you can keep it in that open-ended space when you make art …or you make music or dance around what you experienced. It holds that openness and that sublime energy of the ineffable.”

    Links

    Sunnystrasburgtherapy.com

    Sunnystrasburgretreats.com

    The Theradelic Approach: Psychedelic Therapy, Perspective, Preparation, and Practice, by Sunny Strasburg, LMFT, with foreword by Dr, Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.

    PsyAssist.com

    Wikipedia.org: Stregheria

    LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven, by Christopher M. Bache, Ph.D.

    Psychedelics Today: Chris Bache – LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven

    Psychedelics Today: PT300 – Dr. Richard C. Schwartz – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Psychedelics Today: PT288 – Annie & Michael Mithoefer – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, by Douglas Rushkoff

    Davidstarfire.com

    Imdb.com: Entheogen: Awakening the Divine Within

    Melissawhippo.com

    Thank You Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to revolutionize mental healthcare and help the world heal by eliminating the financial barriers to psychedelic therapy. Click the link to donate!
    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on March 14, 2023March 15, 2023

    PT398 – Lost Civilizations, DMT Entities, & Altered States of Consciousness and Early Religion

    In this episode, Joe interviews Graham Hancock: legendary bestselling author and writer and presenter of the new Netflix docuseries, “Ancient Apocalypse,” where he travels the world looking for evidence of lost civilizations likely much more advanced than historians previously believed.

    Hancock talks about his early books and how ayahuasca influenced his writing; the similarities in cave art and the common link of altered states of consciousness; how integral these states likely were toward the creation of early religion (especially Christianity); how much the annihilation of religious traditions has hidden history; why his and Rupert Sheldrake’s Tedx talks were originally taken offline; new understandings of Neanderthals’ intelligence and creativity; the Quetzalcóatl; and the concept of the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis: could there have been an advanced civilization 12,800 years ago that we’re just starting to comprehend? Could it have been Atlantis? 

    He discusses the conflict with mystery and archaeology’s obsession with scientism and materialist reductionism – that we keep trying to force everything into little boxes of approved science and have lost our imaginations and openness to possibility, especially when you realize how often narratives are built based on interpretations of data rather than facts (since the farther back we go, evidence becomes harder to come by). He believes science needs humility, a willingness to listen to Indigenous history, and a much more open mind when it comes to altered states of consciousness: “I’m convinced we’re missing something important from our past, and if we don’t look for it, we won’t find it.

    Hancock has just announced that he will be a speaker at UK’s Breaking Convention, April 20 – 22 at the University of Exeter, and some of the PT team will be there too! To save 10% off tickets, use code PSYCHTODAYBC10 at checkout.

    Notable Quotes

    “I think there’s a huge amount of genuine mystery in the past, and there’s an attempt by archaeologists to explain away that mystery, …to just drain the past of mystery and to leave nothing there except dry facts (supposed facts) as archaeologists claim, but which, when you dig deep enough, you find are actually interpretations of limited data sets. I don’t know why archaeologists just want the past to be so boring. …Of course there’s a need for rigor and discipline, but there’s also a need for imagination and openness of mind when it comes to interpreting our collective past.”

    “Those paintings included the same geometric patterns and the same therianthropic entities construed in slightly different ways, but clearly the same kind of encounter is being documented in the cave art from 30 or 40 thousand years ago and is being documented by shamans in the Amazon rainforest today. And what’s the common factor? The common factor is altered states of consciousness.”

    “With extended release DMT, volunteers are going into the DMT state for an hour and they’re making remarkably homogeneous reports about entity encounters and about the space in which they encounter those entities. One reasonable supposition has to be: there are many possibilities for this, but when people from all over the world see the same things [and] have the same encounters in the same sort of space, you have to consider the possibility that that space is real in some way that our science doesn’t recognize.”

    “Psychedelics and experiences in altered states of consciousness have actually been foundational and fundamental to human culture, and by pretending that they’re not, as we’ve been doing for the last 50 years, we’re making a huge mistake. We have to change that outlook and welcome and embrace what these gifts of the universe have to give us.”

    Links

    Grahamhancock.com

    Netflix: Ancient Apocalypse

    Fingerprints of the Gods – Evidence of Earth’s Lost Civilization

    Journey Through Pakistan

    Ethiopia: The Challenge of Hunger

    AIDS: The Deadly Epidemic

    Lords of Poverty

    African Ark: Peoples of the Horn

    Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind

    Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (The Definitive Edition of Supernatural)

    Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age

    A-Z-animals.com: Denisovan vs Neanderthal: What’s the Difference?

    The Mind in the Cave: Consciousness and the Origins of Art, by David Lewis-Williams

    ​​The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name, by Brian C. Muraresku

    Psychedelics Today: PTSF 35 (with Brian Muraresku)

    Interestingengineering.com: Mysterious disappearance of megafauna: why humans may share the blame

    Cometresearchgroup.org

    YouTube: Graham Hancock – The War on Consciousness BANNED TED TALK

    TEDBlog: Open for discussion: Graham Hancock and Rupert Sheldrake from TEDxWhitechapel

    Psychedelics Today: PT381 – DMT, Hierarchies of Complexity, and Reality Switch Technologies, featuring: Dr. Andrew R. Gallimore

    Reality Switch Technologies: Psychedelics as Tools for the Discovery and Exploration of New Worlds, by Andrew R. Gallimore

    Britannica.com: Quetzalcóatl

    The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas S. Kuhn

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on March 7, 2023March 7, 2023

    PT396 – Moms on Mushrooms: Motherhood and Psychedelics Inside a Broken Culture

    In this episode, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Victoria interviews Tracey Tee: co-founder and CEO of Band of Mothers Media, co-producer and co-host of the Band of Mothers podcast, and founder of Moms on Mushrooms, an online educational community for psychedelic-curious moms outside the prying eyes of social media.

    With similar histories of womb trauma, self discovery, and body reconnection, Victoria and Tracey discuss the complications of motherhood, substance use and embracing psychedelics in a broken culture, in which engaging with small, approved coping mechanisms is fine – where the “wine mom” archetype and numbing yourself with medications is celebrated, but where we don’t often talk about how challenging motherhood can really be, and the lasting mental, physical, and spiritual impacts of birth, loss, and grief. Tracey’s goal with Moms on Mushrooms is to bring mothers together for personal growth, healing, and most of all, for the safe, supportive container that so many women considering plant medicine need.

    She tells her story of creating and performing “The Pump and Dump Show” and the psychedelic journeys that led her to creating M.O.M., and discusses much more: how those large dose journeys reconnected her with her body; how microdosing has helped her feel more vulnerable, honest, and in tune with her daughter; how psychedelics can help parents realize where problematic core beliefs came from; how teaching children the ways of the world forces parents to confront and reaffirm what they truly believe; and the challenges mothers face in even talking about wanting to try psychedelics.

    If you’re a mother and this episode resonates with you, check out Tee’s Microdosing 101 (for moms) course or join the Moms on Mushrooms community for $4.44 a month.

    Notable Quotes

    “Had I not had this divine intervention, I think I would have been pretty stubborn, which I can tend to be. I would have not wanted to be vulnerable with my daughter because I think I was raised to say that that wasn’t something that is good or that I should show – I’m a parent: ‘My way is the highway.’ Instead, I’m much softer. I ask for forgiveness, I tell her when I screw up, I admit my mistakes, [and] I ask her what she thinks. I always talk about Old Tracey and New Tracey (Old Tracey and ‘Shroom Tracey’): Old Tracey would have never been like that, and I think that’s a real gift, because in asking forgiveness [and] in admitting my mistakes, I’m changing.”

    “What is the most upsetting to me is the fear, like this push/pull of hearing either my story or your story or reading How to Change Your Mind or watching a Netflix thing and saying: ‘My soul is telling me this makes sense, my soul is telling me to give this a shot. I might have a way out of this,’ and then my head is like: ‘You cannot do this. You’re a bad person, this is shameful, you might die (which is ridiculous) and at the very least, your children will be taken away from you.’ And that is why I’m talking to you, because that has to stop. It has to stop.”

    “I don’t love rehashing the past. I don’t love carrying victimhood, but I am sad for what I lost. And when I work with the medicine (again, intentionally, safely; all the things that we’ve been talking about), I am shown, piece by piece, [that] I’m calling all those parts back. And it’s not easy, but it’s like I’m rebuilding. I’m like a Lego project right now, and I would never be able to do that without the shrooms.”

    Links

    Momsonmushrooms.com

    Bandofmothers.com

    Band of Mothers podcast

    Thepumpanddumpshow.com

    Psychedelics Today: Webinar – A Somatic Perspective on Sex & Psychedelics: Focusing on Consent and Repressed Sexual Trauma Memories

    Psychedelics Today: Reclaiming Ownership of Your Body With Psychedelics, by Jessika Lagarde

    Psychedelics Today: PT236 – Drugs: Honesty, Responsibility, and Logic, featuring: Dr. Carl Hart

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 24, 2023April 17, 2023

    PT393 – Religious Freedom and the Church of Psilomethoxin

    In this episode, Joe interviews Greg Lake, Esq.: Co-Founder of the Church of Psilomethoxin, author, and trial and appellate attorney specializing in working with entheogen-based religious practitioners in establishing their right to consume their sacraments under existing religious freedom laws.

    Psilomethoxin (4-Hydroxy-5-methoxydimethyltryptamine or 4-Hydroxy-5-MeO-DMT) was first synthesized in 2021 by mixing 5-MeO-DMT with psilocybin substrate, and after initial tests and months of user reports, it was deemed safe to use.* Lake co-founded the Church of Psilomethoxin in 2022 with the goal of shifting the paradigm of religion to primary direct experiences and individual beliefs rather than a dogma everyone must follow, with a big focus on community and discussing the ultimate questions of life together – with Psilomethoxin as the sacrament of choice. While he prefers member-to-member referrals, there is an application on the site, and he hopes to grow the church through linking people up regionally, (eventually) training people to facilitate, and partnering with a data collection company to gather real-world data on both Psilomethoxin and on why people are seeking out psychedelic churches in the first place. 

    He discusses several cases that brought us here and inspired his work; why he believes Psilomethoxin won’t be a target of the Federal Analogue Act; the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the need for states to establish similar state legislation; the importance of new churches establishing evidence in the public record; how much courts take sincerity into consideration; and the concept that, while we’re quick to think of the law as the enemy, courts often don’t want to go after churches – religion is a sacred and intimate thing, so who is the victim if a court brings a church to court that hasn’t harmed anyone?

    *Update, April 17, 2023: Results from analytical testing released on April 12, 2023, reveal that there is no evidence to suggest the compound psilomethoxin is present in the samples of sacrament material the Church of Psilomethoxin is offering to their members online. The report, prepared by Samuel Williamson and Alexander Sherwood of the Usona Institute, states, “Psilocybin, baeocystin, and psilocin, were, however, unambiguously identified in the sample, suggesting that the claims regarding the biosynthesis of psilomethoxin may be misguided. The implications of these findings should be critically considered within the context of public health and safety.”

    We are following this story at Psychedelics Today and are working to update our community with commentary from the researchers. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more on this topic.

    Notable Quotes

    “I think eventually the courts will come around to realize that where medical and scientific and religious and spiritual begin or end within this space is not crystal clear, because as we’re all aware, in the research, people, even in clinical settings, are having mystical, religious experiences. And then they see that that really, at many times, translates to positive outcomes. If people, even in a medical setting, can have a religious experience, well then where does ‘This is a religious exercise, this is not’ come into play?”

    “One of our core beliefs is that in the peak entheogenic experience like 5-MeO, where you experience unitive cosmic consciousness, that’s basically our moral code – that once you experience unity with all, that tells you pretty much everything that you’ll ever need to know about how you should be treating other people, how you should be treating other beings, and how you should be treating the environment.”

    “One thing I’ve learned (and I learned real quick working with these churches) is that, especially post-Covid, the community, for a lot of people, is just as, if not more healing and spiritual than the actual ceremonies.”

    Links

    Psilomethoxin.com

    *Psychedelicalpha.com: Opinions | The Church of Psilomethoxin: Fantasy Chemistry Gets Fact Checked

    *Chemrxiv.org: Fungi Fiction: Analytical Investigation into the Church Of Psilomethoxin’s Alleged Novel Compound Using UPLC-HRMS

    Entheoconnect.com

    Psychedeliceducationcenter.com: Psychedelics and Religious Liberty in the United States

    Wikipedia.org: 4-Hydroxy-5-methoxydimethyltryptamine

    Cognitiveliberty.org: Ask Dr. Shulgin Online (Shulgin’s response to a question about Psilomethoxin)

    Tripsitter.com: What Is the Federal Analogue Act?

    Quantifiedcitizen.com

    Psychedelics in Mental Health Series: Psilocybin, by George G. Lake Esq.

    Law.justia.com: United States v. Meyers

    Wikipedia.org: Religious Freedom Restoration Act

    Wikipedia.org: Employment Division v. Smith

    Wikipedia.org: City of Boerne v. Flores

    Wikipedia.org: State Religious Freedom Restoration Acts

    Law.justia.com: New Hampshire v. Mack

    Leary.ru: Timothy Leary: Start Your Own Religion

    Justia.com: Church of the Eagle and the Condor et al v. Garland et al

    Psychedelics Today: Psychedelics, Religion, and the DEA’s Quest for Soul

    Casetext.com: Ariz. Yage Assembly v. Garland

    Cannadelic.miami

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 21, 2023February 21, 2023

    PT391 – MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For Fibromyalgia and Other Central Sensitization Syndromes

    In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Devon Christie: Senior Lead of Psychedelic Programs at Numinus, educator at CIIS and Vital, and MAPS-certified MDMA therapist; and Dr. Pamela Kryskow, MD: founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and Medical Lead of the nonprofit, Roots To Thrive.

    Christie and Kryskow recently co-authored one of the first papers looking at MDMA for chronic pain, “MDMA-assisted therapy is associated with a reduction in chronic pain among people with post-traumatic stress disorder,” which came about after they received access to MAPS’ Phase 2 data from a lead-in PTSD study and noticed significant improvements in pain measurements – something the study was not looking for at all. They’re looking into where chronic pain fits within the frameworks of Western medicine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and discuss the many reasons why MDMA should be tremendously helpful for chronic pain and other conditions that fall under the large umbrella of central sensitivity syndromes and nociplastic pain. They are currently working on a new study following the MAPS protocol that will research MDMA-assisted psychotherapy specifically for people with fibromyalgia, which some believe might be physicalized PTSD. If you’d like to contribute a tax-deductible donation, visit giving.viu.ca, select “other” from the dropdown, and type in “MDMA for Fibromyalgia.”

    They talk about how research trials focus too much on the molecule while ignoring what the patient is saying; how a large percentage of physicians and patients don’t at all like the psychometrics used in measuring data; how physicians regularly use expectancy bias but research trials don’t (and how that affects results); why everyone needs to place higher importance on the biopsychosocial model; the idea of being more humble with science and using “theoretical” more often; the problems with microdosing trials; and the issues with evidence: If there isn’t sufficient evidence, why isn’t there? And what exactly would be sufficient?

    Notable Quotes

    “It’s kind of an irony because it’s really a single molecule pharmaceutical model to go: ‘Is it working?’ whereas every day, every clinician out there is using expectancy and placebo effect to their patients’ benefit. So, I would like us to have that conversation in a much more intelligent way, saying it’s going to be there, it’s not a bad thing, and in fact, if you don’t have that, you’re probably a bad clinician. So, let’s harness it, and then say, ‘and is the treatment [going] above and beyond that?’” -Pam

    “Where’s the scientific curiosity? That’s what we need to be. When our patient says: ‘This is helping me,’ we should never be saying, ‘No, that’s not possible because there’s no evidence.’ We should be leaning in and being curious: ‘Tell me more.’” -Pam

    “Homogenizing through trying to do the randomized control trials, you end up sort of sterilizing to isolate one specific variable in trying to make your study population as similar as possible. And in the real world, that’s just not the case. In the real world, people are on 10 different medications. So what’s really even the applicability when we sterilize and homogenize so much [for] what we believe is giving us the best evidence?” -Devon

    “If we really look and open our eyes, in many, many circumstances, the pathology is not individual whatsoever. The pathology is in our culture and in our society and how disconnected we are and the intergenerational trauma that’s passed along, and then parents without support and no hope of not passing that along because our society isn’t providing the optimal environment on a societal level for us to be thriving. So I think a cure on an individual level needs to be couched within thinking about a cure on a collective level.” -Devon

    “The reason I got involved even in the research is because so many of my patients were coming to me and saying, ‘I am microdosing. It is helping.’ So it goes back to: Do you believe people? And I personally believe my patients when they say that. …When I have people coming in and saying ‘I’m out of bed now. I used to lay in bed for 18 hours a day and now I’m out, I bought a dog, I’m exercising’; if it’s a placebo or expectancy, awesome. I’m going to celebrate that.” -Pam

    Links

    Donate to the MDMA for Fibromyalgia study (select “other” from the dropdown, and type in “MDMA for Fibromyalgia.” (tax deductible and no fees)

    Drdevonchristie.com

    Psychedelics Today: PT259 – Dr. Devon Christie and Will Siu, MD, DPhil – The Mind-Body Connection, MDMA, and Chronic Pain

    Psychedelics Today: PT306 – Dr. Devon Christie – Vital Psychedelic Conversations

    Numinus.com

    Rootstothrive.com

    Earthguardians.net

    Psychedelics Today: PT331 – Julie Zukof & Dr. Michelle Weiner – Psychedelic Women, Coaching, and Ketamine For Fibromyalgia

    Frontiersin.org: MDMA-assisted therapy is associated with a reduction in chronic pain among people with post-traumatic stress disorder

    Dolenlab.org

    NYU Langone’s Department of Psychiatry: Center for Psychedelic Medicine

    Peoplescience.health

    Imperial College London: Centre for Psychedelic Research

    Researchgate.net: Psychometrics is not measurement: Unraveling a fundamental misconception in quantitative psychology and the complex network of its underlying fallacies

    BPI: Brief Pain Inventory (short form example)

    Psychedelics Today: PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer? Featuring: Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD

    Microdose.me

    Vancouver Island University Center for Psychedelic Research

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 17, 2023February 17, 2023

    Psychedelics Weekly – The Legalization of Medical MDMA & Psilocybin in Australia, and The World’s First Ayahuasca Pill

    In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Kyle is joined by another new voice from the PT team: one of the main instructors and facilitators from our Vital program, Diego Pinzon. 

    Originally from Colombia, Diego has been living in Australia since 2008 and has been involved in the Australian psychedelic scene, playing roles in the charity sector, research with Psychae Institute, and is one of the researchers in the St. Vincent’s Melbourne trial, Australia’s first trial using psilocybin for end-of-life depression and anxiety. Diego gives his insight into the recent TGA re-scheduling of psilocybin and MDMA for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, respectively.

    They cover the details, unknowns, and concerns: Is there enough time to train enough people? Do they have the infrastructure for this? What are the substances actually going to be? What percentage of people who apply will be granted access? What will it cost? And while psychiatrists will be able to prescribe, how much will the program really focus on therapy? 

    And they discuss Vancouver’s Filament Health creating the world’s first ayahuasca pill, which is close to FDA authorization to begin a Phase 1 trial. Of course this news begs some questions as well, mainly: with psychedelic use being such an active experience, how much does something like this change our relationship to ayahuasca? And with a consistent, more predictable experience, does that kill the magic?

    Links

    Svhm.org.au: Australia’s first psychedelic clinical trial commences recruitment

    TGAov.au: Change to classification of psilocybin and MDMA to enable prescribing by authorised psychiatrists

    Time.com: Psychedelics May Be Part of U.S. Medicine Sooner Than You Think

    Psychedelicsociety.org.au

    AHPRA.gov.au

    Psychedelicspotlight.com: Vancouver Company Creates World’s First Ever Ayahuasca Pill

    Goodreads.com: Terence McKenna’s “feather bed” quote

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 14, 2023February 14, 2023

    PT389 – The Art of Ecstasy: The 90’s British Club Scene and MDMA

    In this episode, Joe interviews artist and photographer, Rupert Alexander Scriven.

    Under his brand, Vintage Disco Biscuit, Scriven recently released The Art of Ecstasy: a coffee table book that pairs high definition images of ecstasy tablets he collected over the course of 25 years with interviews and compositions written by himself and a host of other notable names from the 90’s British club scene, documenting the culture and rise of MDMA, while also promoting harm reduction and the work of UK drug charity, The Loop. The book has received some notable high praise, with Dr. Ben Sessa calling it “absolutely fucking awesome.” 

    Scriven discusses why he started collecting ecstasy tablets and how the book came to be, as well as details behind the photography and writings, which he likes to think of as conversations at an afterparty. And he talks about his days in the club scene and how it was like his church; how MDMA changed culture; UK drug policy; talks with his parents about drugs; differences in the club experience when people are on different substances; and whether or not dancing on MDMA can be the therapy people need. And he asks a question many of us wonder regularly: Why are we, as a culture, so far behind with drug testing?

    Notable Quotes

    “It really did change the culture and society as a whole, because at the time, there was ‘Thatcherism’ ([from] Margaret Thatcher, our Prime Minister), and there was a lot of disdain, there was a lot of discomfort. And this was just an outlet for everybody to enjoy themselves, whoever they were. So you could be a street cleaner, you could be an MP, you could be anybody. Everybody came together on a Saturday or Friday night and you just partied.”

    “Each of these pills, even though they’re only eight millimeters across, that stamp; it didn’t signify just quality, it signified somebody’s memory of meeting a friend, a loved one, an experience, a time. You can go on any forum and people will go, ‘Oh, can you remember the dove?’ …You can ask them, and they’ll be able to recap a full story or an experience they had just from that one on element.”

    “A few years ago before the lockdown, [there were] only three festivals that didn’t have The Loop or some form of drug awareness testing charity at them in the UK, and those were the three festivals that there were fatalities. Now that just speaks volumes. It really does.”

    Links

    Vintagediscobiscuit.com

    Wearetheloop.org

    Dmagazine.com: How the Starck Club Changed Dallas

    Wikipedia.org: Vague Club

    David Nutt’s Drug Harm Chart

    Sen1.squarespace.com

    Imdb: “Once Upon a Time in America”

    Britishculturearchive.co.uk: Blitz Club, London, 1980 | Photographs by Andrew Holligan

    Thedea.org: What is Molly? (Leo Zeff is who had the penicillin quote)

    Wikipedia.org: Marshall Jefferson

    Sciencedirect.com: Drug safety testing, disposals and dealing in an English field: Exploring the operational and behavioural outcomes of the UK’s first onsite ‘drug checking’ service

    Awaknlifesciences.com

    Lawenforcementactionpartnership.org (LEAP)

    Carlcox.com

    Kollectiveshop.com

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 10, 2023February 10, 2023

    Psychedelics Weekly – AIMS vs. the DEA: An Update on the Fight to Reschedule Psilocybin

    In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, David is joined by Kathryn L. Tucker, JD: Director of Advocacy at the National Psychedelics Association and a founding member of the Psychedelic Bar Association with over 35 years in advocacy in protecting the rights of dying patients. 

    Tucker is currently working with Dr. Sunil Agarwal of the Advanced Integrative Medical Science (AIMS) Institute in a battle against the DEA: Agarwal works with end-of-life cancer patients and approached the DEA to see how they’d accommodate state and federal Right to Try laws to grant his patients access to psilocybin, which the DEA denied. This led to the federal case, AIMS vs. the DEA (AIMS I), then AIMS II (which petitions their denial of Right to Try access), and now, AIMS III, which appeals their denial of the petition to reschedule psilocybin. 

    As with all things government-related, the story shows how little these people actually care about any of us, but Tucker gracefully walks us through the whole convoluted mess; explaining each step, what should happen next, where the DEA blatantly disregarded rules, what you can do to help, and ultimately, the importance of this case in how situations like these could be handled in the future (from both sides). She discusses the problems with state legalization under federal jurisdiction; what we can learn from what we saw with safe injection sites being canceled in Philadelphia; Cory Booker and Rand Paul’s Breakthrough Therapy Act; the idea of having state-legal programs actually run by the government to create a federal safe harbor; and more.  

    And in the news, they cover recently submitted legalization bills, Australia legalizing the medical use of psilocybin and MDMA (for specific conditions by approved practitioners), and the concern over what will happen with ketamine telehealth when the Covid-19 Emergency is finally put to an end in May.

    Notable Quotes

    “As you may have seen just last week in Australia, MDMA and psilocybin were rescheduled. And you might have noticed in the press release a reference to the fact that the Australian agency took in a considerable amount of medical and scientific data when it was considering that rescheduling. That’s proper. That’s necessary. That did not happen here. So what happened in Australia exemplifies and throws into sharp light that the DEA failed as a matter of process here.”

    “The problem with state legalization as mentioned earlier is that it can do no more than offer state safe harbor. It cannot alter federal law. …Under the Oregon statute, all psilocybin must be consumed at a psilocybin service center, which must be licensed by the state, and it must be purchased and consumed at that center in the presence of a licensed facilitator. That is what is legal under Oregon state law. However, the operation of those psilocybin service centers is still a federal crime. And I think there has been a hope and possibly even an expectation that the federal government is going to look the other way. We have no indication that that is going to happen.”

    “Within the Controlled Substances Act, there’s a provision that if the action is taken by a government official, then there is a federal safe harbor. So one of the ways that one might be looking at creatively revising these state legalizations is to have the program be run by the government. Now could you make an argument that when, for example, the Oregon Health Authority issues licenses to Oregon service centers, that that means it’s a government-run facility? Maybe. I mean, I think that’s an argument worth fully vetting, because it could bring you within federal safe harbor.”

    Links

    National Psychedelics Association

    Psychedelic Bar Association

    Psychedelics Today: PT307 – Kathryn L. Tucker, JD – The Right to Try Act and the Battle for Psilocybin Access

    FDA.gov: Right to Try

    Pubmed: Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial

    Congress.gov: S.4575 – Right to Try Clarification Act

    Marijuanamoment.net: Cory Booker And Rand Paul File Bill To Reschedule Psychedelic Breakthrough Therapies And Remove Research Barriers

    Shroomer.com: The 101 of the Bipartisan Breakthrough Therapy Act

    DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research Into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences, by Rick Strassman

    Sunstonetherapies.com

    Marijuana Moment: Psychedelics Bills Filed In Four More States As 2023 Reform Efforts Heat Up

    Psychedelicalpha.com: Psychedelic Legalization & Decriminalization Tracker

    Wikipedia.org: Cole Memorandum

    Justice.gov: Appellate Court Agrees with Government that Supervised Injection Sites are Illegal under Federal Law; Reverses District Court Ruling

    Rstreet.org: Overdose Prevention Centers and the Federal “Crack House Statute”

    Microdose.buzz: Activists Protest the DEA for Psilocybin Access

    The Nowak Society: Right to Try Psilocybin Advocacy Fund

    Psychedelicinvest.com: The Future of Ketamine Telehealth When Biden Ends the Covid-19 Emergencies in May 2023

    Yahoo.com: Field Trip and Nue Life Are Collaborating To Bring Psychedelic Therapy Into the Home

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on February 3, 2023

    Psychedelics Weekly – Research Explained: Ketamine and the Corticothalamic Network, Psilocybin and the Immune System, & Canalization and Plasticity

    In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, the rest of the team is out or at Cannadelic, so a new voice steps up to the plate: Julian Bost, who works with the Vital team and handles the majority of our email, records his first podcast with Ph.D. candidate in Neuroscience, friend of the show, and speaker at Convergence: Manesh Girn.

    You may remember the team covering some articles at the end of December and early January that were quite confusing and immediately met with a response of: “yea, we should have someone on to explain this to us.” This is that episode, with Manesh breaking down three very scientific articles into much simpler terms (at least we hope). 

    He covers:

     “The psychotomimetic ketamine disrupts the transfer of late sensory information in the corticothalamic network,” which found that ketamine created hyperconnectivity in rodents’ brains, impairing their ability to process sensory input, which could lead to a better understanding of schizophrenia;  

    “Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers,”: which showed an interaction between psilocybin and the stress system, immune system, and central nervous system – showing a greater recognition for how the immune system and inflammation are involved in disorders;

    And a paper he co-wrote with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and many others, “Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology,” which aims to reframe neuroplasticity, disorders, and psychedelic interventions, and leads to a discussion on how adaptive thought patterns develop, the ability to relearn as “Temperature or Entropy Mediated Plasticity (TEMP),” Daniel Kahneman’s idea of fast and slow thinking, early trauma intervention, and the concept of viewing mental illness as a process rather than an identity. 

    As confusing (at least to the layperson) research seems to pop up daily, we may have Manesh on from time to time to help us understand some of these studies. How did he do? Did he clear up any of these articles for you? And should Julian be on the podcast more?

    Links

    YouTube: The Psychedelic Scientist

    Psychedelics Today: PT258 – Manesh Girn – Psychedelics and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and Creativity

    Psychedelics Weekly on YouTube

    Wiley.com: The psychotomimetic ketamine disrupts the transfer of late sensory information in the corticothalamic network

    Medrxiv.org: Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers

    Sciencedirect.com: Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology

    Wikipedia.org: Thinking, Fast and Slow

    Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman

    The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, by Gabor Maté, MD with Daniel Maté

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on January 10, 2023January 10, 2023

    PT381 – DMT, Hierarchies of Complexity, and Reality Switch Technologies

    In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Andrew R. Gallimore: computational neurobiologist, chemical pharmacologist, researcher, and writer of Alien Information Theory: Psychedelic Drug Technologies and the Cosmic Game.

    Gallimore feels that DMT is the most efficient and effective reality switching molecule we’ve seen, and that there is no other psychedelic experience that is so in your face: If we really could communicate with entities not of our known universe (who may have created our universe), how can so many dismiss that as a hallucination? Why would we not want to pursue something so mind-bending and revolutionary? His hope for his newest book, Reality Switch Technologies: Psychedelics as Tools for the Discovery and Exploration of New Worlds, is that it will be the quintessential guide for how psychedelics work in the brain from all levels of organization, what happens when you perturb the brain, and the future: how we might be able to fine-tune our brains to access different realities at will. 

    He discusses the element of design used in his books; why understanding something as complex as DMT is a multidisciplinary practice; the genius of Terence McKenna; what Alien Information Theory was about; his work with Rick Strassman in researching intravenous infusion DMT pumps to keep someone in the DMT verse; Conway’s Game of Life and the unpredictable levels of complexity that can arise from simple rules; lucid dreaming; John Mack, alien abductees, and trusting a patient’s experiences as real; psilocybin yeast; and much more. 

    This one will definitely make you think!

    Notable Quotes

    “It’s always felt a little bit sci-fi in a way, in that you’re planning basically a program of inter-dimensional citizenship. It feels like that. I mean, Terence McKenna used to [say] ‘galactic citizenship,’ and it’s almost like we’ve leapfrogged over galactic citizenship and we’re now going straight to inter-dimensional, trans-dimensional citizenship (whatever you want to call it) where we’re interfacing and communicating with an intelligence not of this universe. I mean, that’s a wild idea. And we have the technology now. To me, this infusion technology; this is the way to do it.”

    “We’re just at the beginning now. You take virtual reality technology and the way that that is progressing, then you add artificial intelligence into the mix, and then you add pharmacology and neuropharmacology, chemical pharmacology and other neural manipulation systems, and you begin to realize that our brain is this tool – this world-building machine that we can learn to tune to access other worlds.”

    “There’s also deja vu of course, the sense of having been there before – this very profound, deep sense of deja vu; not like we’ve all had, that occasionally you get that sense of deja vu that something has happened before. This is like, ‘I really, really have been here before. This is the most bizarre place I couldn’t possibly have imagined or conceived of; an impossible place of impossible geometry, and yet at the same time, it seems bizarrely familiar. ‘Why? Why would some place that should be the most unfamiliar place possible– There isn’t a more unfamiliar realm that you could imagine than the DMT world, and yet people think, ‘Oh my God, I’ve come home.’ And the entities, the elves will sing and cheer and bells will ring and lights will flash and [they’ll] say, ‘He has returned! The one has returned home! Welcome back! We’re so pleased to see you!’ This great uproar, this great celebration as you burst into this space. Why would that happen?”

    Links

    Alieninsect.net

    Alieninsect.substack.com

    Reality Switch Technologies: Psychedelics as Tools for the Discovery and Exploration of New Worlds, by Andrew R. Gallimore

    Psychedelics Today: Dr. Andrew Gallimore – Accessing High-dimensional Intelligence through DMT

    Pubmed: A Model for the Application of Target-Controlled Intravenous Infusion for a Prolonged Immersive DMT Psychedelic Experience

    Medicinalmindfulness.org

    DMT-nexus.me

    Psychedelicreview.com: Early Clinical Research History of DMT

    Wikipedia.org: Conway’s Game of Life

    Stephenwolfram.com

    Wikipedia.org: Edward Fredkin

    How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, by Michael Pollan

    Wikipedia.org: Chaos magic

    Psychedelics Today: What do Alien Abduction and Psychedelic Experiences have in Common? Let Dr. John E. Mack’s Work Explain

    Ralph-abraham.org

    Drzee.org

    Newatlas.com: Scientists turn yeast into psychedelic psilocybin factories

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on December 13, 2022December 13, 2022

    PT377 – Integrative Medicine: Health, Wellness, and Psychedelics

    In this episode, Joe interviews New York Times best-selling author, pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, and overall legend in the health and wellness space: Andrew Weil, M.D.

    As the author of 15 books on health and wellbeing and a regular in the media, you’re probably familiar with Weil and some of his work, but you may not know of his more psychedelic connections: a long history of experimentation, leading Paul Stamets in the direction of functional mushrooms, co-writing one of the first papers about the Sonoran Desert toad and 5-MeO-DMT with Wade Davis, and being a strong advocate for psychedelics being the spark that could spur a global change in consciousness.

    He talks about the connection between true osteopathy and integrative medicine; why the traditional Chinese medicine approach to mushrooms made so much sense to him; academia’s lost interest in pharmacognosy; how psychedelics may help people with autoimmune diseases; turmeric (he largely popularized it as an anti-inflammatory supplement); matcha; why we should be studying the placebo effect much more than we are; humanity’s innate drive to experience altered states of consciousness; and why a big part of the psychedelic revolution is so many people starting to believe in panpsychism. 

    We’re pumped to finally have him on the podcast, and we’re even more excited that he’s spreading the gospel of psychedelics to a health and wellness crowd who may still be a bit apprehensive about something they were taught to fear.

    Notable Quotes

    “I’m tremendously interested in [psychedelics’] potential at the moment for therapeutic use and ceremonial use, and actually, if I think about it, I would say I’m really interested in the possibility that they can save the world. I don’t see many other things out there that can do that.”

    “I don’t know anything else that is so readily available and that, with at least some attention to how you do them, has such a potential to change how people interpret their perceptions and interpret their experience of the world around them. I’ve seen just such dramatic changes in people and in myself as a result of psychedelic experience. …My first book, The Natural Mind, that was published in 1972, said that only a global change in consciousness could really transform our world, and I think that the psychedelic revolution has the potential to do that.”

    “I think the placebo response is the meat of medicine. That’s what you want to try to make happen. It’s pure healing response from within, mediated by the mind and unmixed up with the direct effects of treatment. …The commonest way I hear that word used is things like, ‘How do you know that’s not just the placebo response?’ or ‘We have to rule out the placebo response.’ I mean, we should be ruling it in. You want to make it happen more of the time.”

    “Human beings have an innate drive to experience altered states of consciousness, not necessarily through the use of drugs (although drugs are a very convenient way to do it). One of the examples I gave was of kids learning to spin until they get dizzy and fall over and the world changed, and that’s universal as far as I can tell, in all cultures. So I got a lot of crap from people for saying that there was an innate drive toward altered states of consciousness, but I absolutely believe that, and I think that a part of the drug problem in our culture has been our failure to acknowledge that and teach people safe and better ways of satisfying it.”

    Links

    Drweil.com

    The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine

    Dr. Weil’s Matcha (use code: PsyToday for a generous discount!)

    Wikipedia.org: Robert C. Fulford

    Psychedelics Today: Wade Davis – Ayahuasca and a New Hope for Colombia

    Psychedelics Today: Could the Sonoran Desert Toad Cure Narcissism?

    Pubmed: Bufo alvarius: a potent hallucinogen of animal origin

    Psychedelics Today: Dr. Malin Vedøy Uthaug – Ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT Research

    Riverstyxfoundation.org

    Wikipedia.org: Pharmacognosy

    Psychedelicpharmacist.org

    Psychedelicreview.com: Psychedelics as Anti-Inflammatory Agents

    Usnews.com: Is the Green Mediterranean Diet Healthier Than Regular Mediterranean?

    Psychedelicmedicinecoalition.org

    Vogue.com: Can Psilocybin Challenge Our Pharmaceutical Dependence?

    ​​From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know about Mind-Altering Drugs, by Andrew Weil

    Psychedelics Today: PT236 – Drugs: Honesty, Responsibility, and Logic, featuring: Dr. Carl Hart

    Psychedelics Today: Psychedelics, Philosophy, Transhumanism, and Peter Sjöstedt-H

    Exploringyourmind.com: Panpsychism: A Fantastic Theory About Consciousness

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on December 6, 2022

    PT376 – Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy as Employee Benefits

    In this episode, David interviews Sherry Rais: Executive Director of the Boston Psychedelic Research Group, Grants Manager for CIIS, and CEO/Co-Founder of Enthea.

    Enthea is a benefit plan administrator that provides health plan benefit riders and single case agreement services for psychedelic healthcare with a provider network including certified and credentialed Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT) and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) practitioners. In other words, if a company wants to offer psychedelic-assisted therapy as a benefit for their employees, Enthea makes this possible (and affordable). Their first client was the very psychedelically-minded Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, and they’ve just announced the signings of three new clients that you may not expect to provide KAP to their employees: Daybreaker, Tushy, and Guinn Partners. Their goal is to have 100,000 covered lives in 40 cities by the end of 2023, and, alongside the guidance of MAPS, hopefully roll out MDMA-assisted therapy in Q2 of 2024. 

    Rais talks about Enthea’s process, costs, and goals; her Ismaili religion; her nomadic, marathon-running life; her experience sleeping on the streets of Toronto at 16 and her need to help the less-fortunate; how her most powerful psychedelic experience was watching someone else transform; and why companies are suddenly interested in these emerging therapies.

    Notable Quotes

    “For me, the most powerful psychedelic experience I had was actually in a situation where I was sitting with someone else and saw this person transform in front of me. That was two years ago and that person; I still see the effects of that experience on that person’s life and how much he’s changed from this one experience, and I’ve never seen anything like it. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

    “I think you and I know that these medicines work, and we also know that they cost way more than $500, and immediately, that tells me there’s an equity crisis in the ecosystem; that we’ve finally found medicines that may be able to help millions of people that are suffering from a variety of issues, and there’s this huge barrier and its cost. So the goal of Enthea is to solve that problem by making these medicines affordable.”

    “The fact that you have a plan that doesn’t cover mental health is very telling of the landscape and the culture in America today and why you’ve made the case for me on why Enthea is needed. Because if this doesn’t happen, when will people get access? They’ll continue waiting and waiting and waiting that their primary insurance provider covers this.”

    Links

    Enthea.com

    Minority Trip Report Podcast: 1-7 – Sherry Rais: Social Impact, Psychedelic Therapy as Employee Benefit, and Finding Strength as a Female CEO

    Bostonpsychedelicresearchgroup.com

    Psychedelics Today: PT364 – Burning Man, Psychedelic Maturity, and Radical Hope, featuring: Jamie Wheal

    Drbronner.com: Dr. Bronner’s to Provide Psychedelic-Therapy as Employee Healthcare Benefit

    Drbronner.com: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, A Light In The Dark

    Finance.yahoo.com: Laid-off workers can now get a free month of ketamine-assisted therapy services to help with their mental health

    Flowintegrativeketamine.com

    Nue Life Health

    Tabularasahealthcare.com

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on December 2, 2022December 2, 2022

    Psychedelics Weekly – Cannabis as an Adjunct Cancer Treatment & 5-MeO-DMT Reactivations

    In this week’s episode, Joe and Alexa talk about the excitement brewing around our first conference-meets-festival, Convergence (March 30 – April 2 at the Wisdome in LA), and some of the sponsorships starting to come in (interested? email Alexa@psychedelicstoday.com).

    Then, they dive into what intrigued them the most this week: a study looking into potentiality and possible causes of 5-MeO-DMT reactivation (and what reactivation actually is); New York cannabis farms sitting on $750 million worth of cannabis as the government drags its feet on licenses; and the story of a woman who used cannabis and psilocybin as an adjunct to standard therapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer.

    Links

    Convergence (Use code PTINSIDER10 for 10% off!)

    Thebrothersapothecary.com (Use code SHROOM for 30% off)

    Hearthstonecollective.com

    Psychedelics Today 236 – Drugs: Honesty, Responsibility, and Logic, featuring: Dr. Carl Hart

    Psychedelics Today 268 – PCP, 5-MeO-DMT, and The Synthesis of New Psychedelics, featuring: Hamilton Morris

    Frontiersin.org: Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon’s predictors and its emotional valence

    YouTube: Norm Macdonald talks LSD

    Psychedelics Today: HPPD and Flashbacks: Everything You Need To Know – And What We Don’t Know, Too

    Bloomberg.com: New York Cannabis Farms Have $750 Million of Weed — and Nowhere to Sell It

    Grace Health & Wellness

    Journals.sagepub.com: Raising awareness: The implementation of medical cannabis and psychedelics used as an adjunct to standard therapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer

    Ricksimpsonoil.com

    Lucid.news: Researcher Charles Nichols Studies the Impact of Psychedelic Substances on Inflammation

    Righttotry.org: What Is Right To Try?

    Leaf411.org: The cannabis nurse hotline

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 18, 2022March 1, 2023

    Why Did Psychedelics Relieve My Chronic Pain?

    In part 2 of the article, “Surprising Results: Psilocybin Trial for Depression Alleviates Chronic Pain,” the disappearance of Court’s chronic pain leads to a new understanding of cortical remapping, mirror box therapy, and how science can treat phantom limb pain.

    Immediate Changes Post-Dosing

    I had years of experience in cold water training from my Aikido career, but as my depression had increasingly grown worse, I developed a severe cold intolerance. It had become painful to stand under the shower, with my scalp almost spasming in contraction, when I used to be able to stand in late winter melt-water waterfalls and rivers with ease. But post-dosing, my cold tolerance came roaring back; allowing me to stand under a cold shower for minutes at a time with no numbness and no pain – it was almost like it was happening to someone else or there was a micro-force field on the surface of my skin. I found myself having to leave the shower because I just had other things to do. Cold water tolerance is a gold-standard for measuring pain response in clinical trials, and in fact, later that year, the Department of Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University, sponsored by the Beckley Foundation, conducted the first LSD and pain study in nearly 50 years, showing that low-dose LSD significantly increased cold water tolerance without interfering with day-to-day activities.

    I had been known for my mobility and flexibility throughout my career and my ability to train others to achieve the same results, but mine had been compromised for a good while at this point. But the day after my session, I was able to resume positions that I hadn’t been able to comfortably acquire in months, if not years. Movement now felt smooth and effortless once again, and I swear there was even improvement in the tissue quality in areas that had become “crunchy.”

    There was also a significant change in my inflammatory baseline. Depression is seen as a disorder that also includes fairly significant neurological inflammation and is often bi-directional with chronic pain, but many of the same receptors that psilocybin operates on are also contained within the gastrointestinal tract, and mine had altered sensation for a month afterward. I believe my systemic inflammation significantly improved during that period because within three months of my dosing, I reacquired personal training records that had become elusive, and by summer, I passed those PRs and set new ones. I also felt incredibly less “puffy.” Accidentally banging into something didn’t hurt anymore and persistent joint aches and lack of motor activation disappeared. There were additional improvements in neurological issues that will be described in a future case study, but that was just as immediate and impactful.

    Applications are open for the second edition of Vital, our 12-month training certificate program in psychedelic therapy and integration, beginning in April 2023. Head to Vitalpsychedelictraining.com for more info, or attend a Q+A to have your questions answered.

    Lockdown Leads to the Lowdown on the First Psychedelic Pain Studies

    Within the training and recovery world, patients and trainees can loosely be categorized as super, normal, non, and negative responders. I had stopped being responsive to both training and rehabilitation efforts at the peak of my depression, and was entering negative-responder territory, which was severely distressing. Fascinatingly, I now seem to be trending somewhere between a normal and high responder. I began proclaiming to the researchers at NYU that psychedelics were going to completely change chronic pain treatment within five years. And I also had a secret; the day after my dosing session, I had what’s referred to as a huge download: I realized that if you could consider things like depression, PTSD, and severe anxiety to be nociplastic outputs of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that causes iterative rumination (a.k.a. looping maladaptive outputs), that was no different from the looping maladaptive outputs that characterize chronic pain – the neurology of which I had been studying for years at that point. Due to the extreme visual qualities of the psychedelic experience and the rapidity of my own remission, I saw, in a flash, that since psilocybin was an impact booster for neuroplasticity, it would enhance the impact of mirror box therapy for phantom limb pain or likely any other neuromodulation.

    “Remapping” is the term describing the tactic of using visual or other sensory receptor inputs to modify and change nociplastic or noxious/painful outputs of the brain. As this is part of the Z-Health process, I had been introduced to the concept of mirror box therapy years earlier as part of my certifications, but I thought I had come up with a whole new approach and kept it to myself, barely hinting at what I believed I had uncovered. But, since NYC was locked down and I was unable to work, I had nothing to do but go online and research what had happened to me.

    Within two weeks or so, I found an old photocopied English abstract from a 1962 study in Japan, by Kuromaru, et al., using low-dose LSD to treat phantom-limb pain with 50% of its participants going into instant remission by the end of their session, and the authors pointedly declaring that stacking the LSD with movement had a far stronger impact on resolving both phantom limb pain and phantom limb syndrome. Stacking inputs is a common practice within the neuromodulation world for pain treatment, often coupling a weaker input with a stronger one, and I realized that this was what had clearly happened to me while I was in my post-dosing neuroplastic window. It finally felt like I was getting traction again; that drills and exercises were once again effective, and crucially, maintaining their own momentum. I didn’t have to be hypervigilant anymore in my daily routine for these drills to become “sticky.” I also realized that the Kuromaru study had, in fact, been released earlier than the Kast study from 1964 investigating the analgesic properties of LSD for terminal cancer and other painful conditions, which is frequently and incorrectly cited as the first psychedelic pain study. I became aware of other previous psychedelic pain studies, as well as recent ones like Dr. Charles Nichols’ work on the anti-inflammatory properties of psychedelics, and studies involving Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris’ REBUS model and cortical reorganization, which is what happens when a stimulus results in the creation of a new cortical map (essentially a vertical column in the brain cortex consisting of neurons performing specific processes). 

    Did you know that our most popular live course, Navigating Psychedelics for Clinicians and Therapists, is available as a self-paced, take-at-your-own-time course as well? Check it out in the Psychedelic Education Center!

    Both of these discoveries are crucial because cortical reorganization (or remapping) and inflammation are key drivers of chronic pain. Conditions like depression and anxiety are characterized by rigid, fixed beliefs or frameworks where the same negative thought loop keeps reoccurring repeatedly, with no amount of incoming contrary information able to alter that belief. It becomes what’s known as a “strong prior” in neurology, becoming a top-down driven process in the CNS, actively suppressing any bottom-up sensory input error correction. The same mechanisms of action occur with chronic pain, where, despite the healing or resolution of an injury; a rigid, fixed pain signal is continually being sent out by the brain as a maladaptive response of the CNS’ protective suite. These are referred to as nociplastic or noxious neurological conditions. The same is true for multiple chronic pain conditions where inflammation causes maladaptive signaling and perceptions, leading to negative structural or nociplastic changes in the peripheral and central nervous system. In psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, a non-rigid, chaotic state is induced, which allows the cortical landscape to reorganize into a more efficient and positive state.

    Landmark Study in Pain and Psychedelics Confirms Insights

    As everything was becoming more and more clear – in what had to have been one of my most transpersonal moments after my dosing session – a landmark review paper was published. “Chronic pain and psychedelics: a review and proposed mechanism of action” by Dr. Joel Castellanos, et al. was released from the Psychedelics Health and Research Initiative (PHRI) at UC San Diego in May of 2020, barely two months after my dosing session and pain revelation. It was an amazing overview of all the possible mechanisms of action that could be at play in psychedelics being an effective analgesic and resolver of chronic pain, but the most revelatory moment was when I found, buried within the heart of the paper, a link to the case study that had set PHRI in motion. It was written by the world-renown neuroscientist VS Ramachandran, the clinical faculty at PHRI, and by its case subject, Albert Lin, who had used high-dose psilocybin coupled with mirror box therapy to put his intractable phantom limb pain into full remission.

    I sat speechless for at least five minutes, shaking my head in a feeling of wonder and disbelief, as if the universe itself had just delivered this paper to me. Other than my remission and the pandemic, I had thought of nothing else but the application of how these two approaches could be combined. Of course someone else had invented it well before me; of course they had. I knew that resourceful, capable people had been working on this for a while, and chronic pain is a singular motivator, but it was still astonishing to see my vision so vividly applied and executed.

    Check out this podcast with Court and Joe interviewing Dr. Castellanos and Dr. Timothy Furnish of PHRI!

    I had learned in 2015 that cluster headaches had been effectively treated with psilocybin for 25 years, and of mirror box therapy a few years before that. I had even blogged about it because people in the rehab and training communities thought that my using visual inputs to treat pain was so weird they called it “voodoo.” But there is a neural hierarchy, and many pain and performance conditions in the body actually have higher-order components within the visual and vestibular systems. That’s often why, no matter how much manual/physio therapy one does, it is often a downstream compensation within the body in order to reconcile perceptual discrepancies between the visual and vestibular system. The visual system lets you assess the surrounding environment and predict any threats that exist within it, and the vestibular system helps you orient within that space, keeping your body in balance so that you might be able to execute any motor actions in response to any perceived threats. If your eyes are telling you the horizon is 5° tilted to the left, but your vestibular system, a.k.a. your inner ear, is telling you that it’s 5° to the right, your body will compensate so that those discrepancies are reconciled and you maintain a stable, level “sight picture” – your viewscreen of the world. Having an unstable sight picture makes for poor predictions; in other words, in an evolutionary survival context, having a “shaky cam” is not so great for avoiding saber-tooth tigers.

    So, those downstream bodily compensations that keep your viewscreen steady are creating distortions and possible maladaptations in the structure of your body, and are now being cemented due to repeated compensatory use. The nervous system will protectively reduce motor output and increase pain perception as a response, to slow you down in order to avoid potential injury and survive another day. Ultimately, the body has evolved towards survival, not performance. And pain is an alarm/action signal designed to keep you alive.

    This self-guided class investigates the history, science, and best practices for safe and effective microdosing; hosted by Adam Bramlage, founder of Flow State Micro, Dr. James Fadiman, the “father of modern microdosing,” and a dozen expert guest faculty. Enroll today!

    Mirror Box Therapy and Pain as An Output of Perception From the Brain

    When we look at phantom limb pain, what we’re seeing is the phenomenon known as deafferentation: the loss of afferent or ascending inputs from the peripheral nervous system up to the brain. No limb equals no signal, and the loss of signal is very dangerous within an evolutionary context because limb loss due to injury or infection will mean, at the least, loss of sensation and loss of coordination for motor outputs/muscle contraction/movement, meaning a lost ability to gather food or to avoid threats. Or worse, it could mean signaling that you’re going to bleed to death in a matter of minutes.

    Multiple pain conditions could be considered sub-clinical deafferentation: peripheral neuropathy from conditions like diabetes or shingles, or different types of phantom limb pain where the limb is still present but the nerves are so injured that they no longer transmit afferent signals – such as we see in cancer, stroke, or crush injuries. That loss of signal gets hardwired into the cortical representations of that limb, and never gets a counterbalancing signal, so the CNS registers it as an ongoing sense of threat. That creates a huge alarm signal in the form of pain perception.

    What mirror box therapy does is replace that loss of signal with the image of an intact limb, generating input that dampens down that pain signal. And when you touch the remaining limb (which is generating normal signals) while seeing it reflected in the mirror in place of the missing or injured limb, it can immediately cause the pain signals to cease; so powerful are visual representations within the somatosensory cortex of the brain. Essentially, through seeing a limb appear where it wasn’t before, one tricks their own brain into thinking it’s still there, and the pain signals from the CNS for that lost limb stop being sent.

    Check out Court’s first appearance on the podcast, “Pain and Its Relationship to the Mind.”

    Mirror box therapy is often not enduring though; only being effective for as long as you do it, and that was the case with Albert Lin. It often takes a lot of repetition for it to become “sticky.” Neuroplasticity requires novelty and intensity, usually in the volume of work. But that can be hard to achieve, thus the issue in pain treatment that I had experienced directly as a practitioner and as a patient; everything works, nothing lasts. When it was suggested to Lin that psilocybin had strong neuroplastic properties that could impact cortical reorganization for chronic pain, he tried it a few times, taking a high dose of psilocybin mushrooms, which gave him approximately 3-12 pain-free hours, depending on the dose. But then the pain came back with a vengeance. Within the cluster headache communities, this is known as a “slapback effect” and can actually be a sign that the nervous system is adjusting and more permanent relief could be imminent.

    Then, Lin’s wife suggested combining (stacking) mirror box therapy with psilocybin. He went out to the desert with a closet door mirror, and while under high-dose psilocybin, he would stare at the reflected image of his remaining leg and then at the space where his amputated limb had been, while repeating the phrase “You are safe. You are totally safe,” for approximately 45 minutes. This met all the conditions for driving neuroplasticity: novelty, intensity, and volume of work with deep assurance of emotional and physical security. Amazingly, it worked, immediately putting him into remission for the next 20+ hours, with 50% reduced pain for nearly two weeks. He shared his success with the lab, and experiments with different types of visual neuromodulation while under high-dose psilocybin quickly began.

    Lin was dealing with a persistent pain in his phantom foot that felt as if a railroad spike was being driven through, suspected to be a sensory remnant from when the bones in his foot were surgically pinned together as they attempted to save it before ultimately deciding to amputate. An artificial foot and a pen with a telescoping pointer was introduced, and they covered the space between his stump and the plastic foot with a blanket, then “pulled” the telescoping pen out of his foot at the site of pain, mimicking the action of removing pins (or really, removing the pain). He felt instant relief.

    Another experiment involved a novelty Halloween-store “flame” (bright light with orange and yellow fabric and a fan underneath that makes it flutter). Lin chuckled when he saw it, but when they brought it near his representational foot, he actually felt heat from the “flame,” which was intensely relieving.

    Through these experiments and continued work, Lin went into full remission after five weeks, and has been free of chronic pain ever since. It’s worth noting that he had a top research team working with him that was extremely creative in creating novel inputs, and he is known for being an almost Michelangelo-type character, with a high degree of inventiveness and novelty-seeking, allowing him to discover unique, lateral approaches to solve problems. And, it bears repeating: chronic pain is a singular motivational force.

    Additionally, post-dosing, cortical reorganization was happening during a psychedelically-induced “critical period reopening”; when the brain has a metaplastic quality that allows it to reset to an almost-new condition. As described in the work by Dr. Gül Dölen, critical period reopening happens during crucial phases of nervous system development in childhood, such as when toddlers can learn multiple languages without an accent or when adolescents are uniquely sensitive to social cues from peer pressure (and/or support), allowing them to quickly adopt different social customs and frameworks. This reopening is also seen post-stroke, when there is a limited window for rehabilitating from brain injury, so this likely applies very well here with chronic pain. We know that veteran groups like the Heroic Hearts Project, VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions), and The Mission Within, who are employing psychedelics for treatment, are having striking results both in recovery from combat-induced PTSD as well as traumatic brain injury – typically seen as treatment-resistant conditions.

    Did you know that we run several webinars a month covering a vast array of topics within the psychedelic space? Check out our events page for future webinars, and head to our YouTube page for replays, like this one above (which was excellent)!

    Conclusion

    If there’s anything I would like you to understand after reading this article, it’s that:

    We don’t have to prove that psychedelics are effective for treating chronic pain; we have to establish that this has already been proven.

    Psychedelics are not an instant cure for chronic pain, but they are strong impact boosters for neuroplasticity and can make physiotherapy/neuromodulation become “sticky,” creating enduring relief.

    We know that many mechanisms that create psychiatric conditions that are responsive to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy are extremely similar in nature to the same mechanisms that generate chronic pain; it’s just that psychiatric conditions have gotten far more focus in psychedelics, perhaps because the non-ordinary states of consciousness they are known for producing seem more applicable to conditions more traditionally thought to be related to the mind.

    But both arise out of the central nervous system and are rigid, fixed states of cognition and perception. With depression, you have negative outlooks and self-perceptions: “Nothing I do makes a difference,” “People are just saying that to make me feel better,” etc. At one point, these thoughts may have helped you to cope with a traumatic incident, environment, or upbringing, but now they’re maladaptive, weigh you down, are out of step with reality, and have actually caused (or are the result of) structural deficits in the neurology of your brain. It’s the same with chronic pain: when there is an acute injury or even the possibility of one, pain is part of the protective suite of responses from our nervous systems to prevent further injury and allow healing to occur – an alarm bell/action signal to change a behavior. But it can be so overprotective that it gets embedded and cemented with movement, emotions, and surrounding environments long after all tissue healing is done – getting triggered by seemingly innocuous events, maladaptively hardwired into your neurology in a negative loop of conditioned responses.

    This is exactly what happened to me when I went through NYU’s psilocybin trial; an adverse financial and work environment, repeated (and under-recovered) musculoskeletal stress/injuries, and (likely) sub-clinical post-concussion syndrome and PTSD, all topped off by the sudden death of a close friend releasing long-suppressed grief and leading to a significant nociplastic output in the form of increasingly treatment-resistant depression and moderate chronic pain. Many recovery efforts were attempted using every modality I knew, but there was too much of a deficit to overcome – until psilocybin was introduced to the mix. That life-changing experience allowed for metaplasticity, cortical reorganization, descending inhibition, and anti-inflammatory properties to take root, giving all post-dosing interventions the opportunity to gain traction and for me to flourish once again.


    Future articles in this “Pain and Psychedelics” series will focus on old assumptions vs. new science, additional case studies, the suspected mechanisms of action behind the interaction between psychedelics and pain, and best practices and safety concerns for working with psychedelics to alleviate chronic pain.

    If you missed part 1 of this article, click here, and be sure to check out our library of articles covering every corner of the psychedelic space

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 18, 2022December 2, 2022

    Psychedelics Weekly – Oregon Measure 109: Approaching the Proposed Final Rules

    This week’s episode features David Drapkin and Jon Dennis, who you know from Eyes on Oregon and all of the work he’s done in an effort to protect religious freedom under Oregon’s Measure 109.

    They discuss opposition and concerns around Colorado Proposition 122 (which officially passed last week with 53% of the vote!) and recent cannabis legalization in three states, then move on to Oregon: what it’s been like being so involved in Measure 109’s rulemaking progress, what people were saying during this week’s final public comment period, whether María Sabina would be able to work under the proposed guidelines, and even the idea of microdosing under this new framework. 

    Links

    Eyes on Oregon

    Psychedelics Today: Religious Practice Under Oregon Measure 109

    Navigating Psychedelics For Clinicians and Therapists

    Microdose.buzz: Colorado Votes to Legalize Psilocybin Therapy; Allow Personal Use of Psychedelics (Microdose)

    Native coalition against Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (Indian Country Today)

    Oregon Psilocybin Business Bans Approved By Voters In Cities And Counties Across The State (Marijuana Moment)

    Nearly 70% of Oregon bans psilocybin, but clinics will still open next year (Leafly)

    Oregon Psilocybin Services Act (Measure 109) Local Jurisdiction Tracker (Psychedelic Alpha)

    Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board Overview

    Eyes on Oregon: Last Call – Proposed Final Rules for Measure 109 (Psychedelics Today webinar replay)

    With speeches, stars and a blow-up joint, protesters press Biden on pot (Washington Post)

    Most Voters In Two States That Defeated Marijuana Ballot Measures Actually Support Legalization In General, Election Poll Finds (Marijuana Moment)

    Psychedelicalex.com

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 15, 2022March 14, 2023

    Surprising Results: Psilocybin Trial for Depression Alleviates Chronic Pain

    An NYU psilocybin depression study participant discovers an unforeseen application for psychedelics: the treatment of chronic pain. Part 1 of the series: Psychedelics and Chronic Pain.

    Everything Worked, but Nothing Lasted

    In the fall of 2020, I was living a pretty successful and happy life – on paper. I had co-founded a very popular, leading-edge CrossFit gym in NYC; one of the first in the world. I held multiple advanced certifications in applied neurophysiology through Z-Health, helping clients with challenging pain and performance issues. As an early adopter of kettlebell training, I became a nationally top-reviewed instructor and trained Team 6 Navy SEALs, astronauts, pro athletes, wounded veterans, and members of the FBI, NYPD, NYFD, and ROTC. I was featured in Men’s Fitness, the NY Times Sunday Routine, and USA Today. I had 30 years in the pain & performance field, training and teaching at a high level, and was becoming widely known for helping people with difficult mobility problems or chronic pain, using unique methods from the leading edge of neurological rehabilitation. On top of all of that, I was 17 years sober.

    However, not all that glitters is gold. A now ex-business partner was committing a Ponzi scheme to the tune of millions, and his case followed him like a shadow, turning my life’s passion into an emotionally and financially toxic nightmare that economically devastated my family. My best friend, Kirk MacLeod, who I had completely rehabbed from chemo & cancer surgery, died six months after being declared in remission. My first son had developed undiagnosed GERD and couldn’t sleep more than an hour and half at a time, which meant my wife and I slept even less.

    Unsurprisingly, my episodic depression returned after more than a decade and a half, and I was now increasingly treatment-resistant; unresponsive to psychiatric drugs that had previously worked. All my pain neuromodulation interventions that worked on my clients no longer worked for me, and I had developed chronic pain myself.

    I share all my background here to demonstrate that I was not under-resourced in either knowledge, networks, or diversity of approaches, practice, or experiences. I poured over all my certification materials looking for anything I had missed, but had fallen into an increasingly deeper recovery hole; everything worked, but nothing lasted. I was hitting a new bottom in my life, deeply sinking into the midst of an increasingly treatment-resistant depression episode that had likely been ongoing for five years.

    Applications are open for the second edition of Vital, our 12-month training certificate program in psychedelic therapy and integration, beginning in April 2023. Head to Vitalpsychedelictraining.com for more info, or attend a Q+A to have your questions answered.

    But then I became aware of ongoing studies on psilocybin for depression happening locally in NYC. I had experienced a few high-dose psychedelic sessions nearly a quarter century ago and had been an avid Terence McKenna fan (even speaking with him directly after a lecture in Seattle), but I had never taken psychedelics therapeutically, and my recreational interest had effectively vanished once I became sober from alcohol. Intrigued, I connected with the local clinical research coordinator, Leila Ghazhal, at the NYU for the clinical trial of Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder study (sponsored by the Usona Institute), and took all the online and over-the-phone assessments, passing them easily. The primary investigator (PI) on my study was Dr. Stephen Ross, who had been leading psychedelic research at NYU for more than a decade. Amazingly, I made it into the trial within a month and a half, learning that I’d actually beat out 8500 other applicants for just 100 spots nationwide.

    Trying Not to Hope

    When I first entered the trial, I was in a state of denial about how severe my depression was, but once I took the MADRS assessment, there was no avoiding that I had moderate to severe depression with suicidal ideation.

    I remember a specific moment very well during this process, when I was finally cleared to enter the study and the study coordinator was speaking with me about the results of my assessment and my upcoming participation. I asked what would happen if I didn’t receive psilocybin during my session, and he reassured me that they would not just drop me off in the middle of the ocean to dog paddle – that there were other interventions and studies available and they would be sure to find me something, but there was a good chance I would receive psilocybin and hopefully get some good results. At this point, my mask cracked a little bit and some protective cynicism came out, and I quipped with a bit of a shrug: “Well, we’ll see.” I hadn’t meant it to be dismissive or sarcastic but it came out that way, and the conversational atmosphere rapidly shifted. He looked right at me and suddenly he wasn’t the primary investigator anymore, lost in the myriad details and logistics of a very involved study. Now he was the deeply experienced clinician and therapist, and, having heard something within the tone of my voice, dropped all the way in and asked softly: “What’s going on behind that, Court?” Suddenly, all the masking dropped and there was no more place to hide because I was so, so tired at this point, and had been waiting for this moment. In and out of therapy for years, dozens if not 100 self-help books, so many modalities, so many somatic systems, and here I was with a chance for something new to help me. When I realized why there was cynicism behind my statement, my voice cracked, I started crying, and I answered him: “Trying not to hope.”

    The one glimmer of hope I did have was reading a 2018 paper by lead author Calvin Ly describing psychedelics’ neuroplastic activity in the prefrontal cortex. As someone who had studied the neurology of pain for years, this was revelatory. Many pain conditions are, in fact, nociplastic or noxious conditions arising out of the central nervous system (CNS); there’s no more injury or damage if there ever was, but your CNS is still continuing to put out a maladaptive alarm signal that is perceived as pain. So learning that psilocybin was creating actual structural change within my cortex – not “just” psychological change – was completely astonishing.

    Applications close on March 26 for this year’s edition of Vital.

    My dosing date was on March 5, 2020, and I remember looking down at the capsule sitting in the cup, saying to it: “I really hope that’s you.” I was terrified inwardly that I would receive the placebo, that I wouldn’t respond to the psilocybin, or that it would only work just a little bit, only for its effects to slowly fade. But within half an hour, there was no denying that I had received psilocybin, and I earnestly pursued all the procedures everyone on my care team at NYU had worked with me on for weeks in preparation for this day.

    I was genuinely shocked at the sheer volume of psychological material from my childhood and early adulthood that came up. I had profound transpersonal experiences and healing, revisiting instances that were pivotal in my childhood. I had an encounter with the first woman I had ever loved, who had committed suicide three years after we had broken up. Her death had caused a profound grief in me that drove my drinking for a decade after. I thought I had released the majority of my grief around her once I got sober, but clearly, there was so much more to heal that had been deeply suppressed as I tried to move forward with my life.

    Reset, Renewed, and Reborn

    The biggest shock of all, though, was waiting for me at the end of the day when one of my facilitators casually pitched a seemingly routine question while closely watching me out of the corner of his eye: “So, how do you feel?” Without thinking, I reflexively replied, “Good,” but then, just as reflexively, scanned more deeply inward, and in a sudden rush, realized my depression was completely gone – not just better, but vanquished, exclaiming: “Good! That fast? Are you fucking kidding me, that fast? Is it gone already?”

    It felt as if a huge mass had been surgically removed from me or as if an entire continent within my interior was now suddenly revealed. No matter how many times you read the word “remission” and the percentages behind it in scientific studies, very little will prepare you for the shocking reality of it. The contrast between before and after was profound. All of the iterative rumination was gone, and it took no effort for that to happen. And it only seemed to strengthen as the days passed. Miraculously, all suicidal thoughts ceased on that day and never returned.

    Shockingly, only ten days after my dosing session, NYC went into a complete pandemic lockdown, my entire industry closed, and my two young boys were now at home with me 24/7, tele-learning. I cannot imagine what 2020 would have been like for me if I had received the placebo. It’s almost unimaginable.

    For more on this topic, make sure to check out episode 369, where Court and Joe interview Timothy Furnish, MD & Joel Castellanos, MD of UC San Diego’s Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative (PHRI).

    But here is where the story takes an even more profound and impactful turn. During the session, my leg started intensely tremoring/spasming. I had been evaluated for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction that I had acquired through a host of injuries over the years of my performance career, and in fact, had just been in the doctor’s office a few months earlier trying to determine if I had arthritis or something worse. But right there in the session room, I started having a neurological revision, with my muscles and nerves in my right inner thigh firing in an effort to recalibrate the sensory and motor inputs and outputs in that part of my kinetic chain. It was almost like a self-generated TENS unit (Transdermal Electromagnetic Nerve Stimulation, used to generate muscle contractions and neuromodulate pain signals with micro-electric pulses) getting my leg back online by creating intense motor activity in the muscles of my thigh.

    I’ve since spoken with spinal injury survivor Jim Harris and read a case series from UC San Diego’s Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative (PHRI) published in PAIN Journal where the exact same thing occurred to them under the effect of psilocybin with the same positive results, but at the time, the facilitators were concerned enough to ask the primary investigator to come and evaluate me during the session. I had to explain to him, somewhat hilariously as I was going into my peak, that, in fact, the tremors felt intensely good. I’m grateful that he let them continue because it has made all the difference.

    While I partially understood what had happened, I was understandably beyond eager to learn more, and to see where else this realization could take me: Why did this work so well? Has our understanding of chronic pain been wrong? And if psychedelics are the answer, what does treating chronic pain with psychedelics actually look like?


    This is part 1 of a 2-part piece and part of a larger series on chronic pain and psychedelics. In part 2, I will dive into the research around remapping and mirror box therapy, and why my psychedelic experience seemed to be so effective.

    Future articles will focus on: What is pain and what causes chronic pain, old assumptions vs. new science, the suspected mechanisms of action behind the interaction between psychedelics and pain, and best practices and safety concerns for working with psychedelics to alleviate chronic pain.

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 15, 2022November 15, 2022

    PT373 – Integrative Psychiatry & The Safety of At-Home Ketamine

    In this episode, David interviews Dr. Ben Medrano: Co-Medical Director with Nue Life, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in integrative psychiatry, and former Senior Vice President and US Medical Director of Field Trip Health.

    He discusses his path to Nue Life; from growing up around mental illness, to the rave scene, to Buddhism, to his years working for the underserved in an East Harlem Assertive Community Treatment, and his biggest takeaway from that time: that the healthcare system he knew was not truly helping people. He talks about stigmatization (of some modalities like electro-shock treatment, of psychedelics, and of ketamine – which seems to be stigmatized even within the psychedelic space); his concerns that the at-home ketamine model is at risk as we make our way out of the pandemic; and how at-home ketamine can drastically reduce the cost of treatment. 

    Medrano tells a great story of a patient who saw incredible improvements through ketamine, and discusses some Nue Life highlights: their just-released 664 participant-study in Frontiers Psychiatry showing the safety of at-home ketamine (and that at-home is just as effective as other routes of administration); Nue Care, their model for aftercare using digital phenotyping, goals, and a scoring system (which he believes could be the new model for integrative psychiatry); and their Nue Network, which could be a solution for better education on ketamine and for granting access for patients through prescribers who typically don’t understand much about its efficacy.

    Notable Quotes

    “All the different interests, personalities, visions, [and] goals that are in this sort of circus of psychedelic commercialism is very necessary to understand. And for me, I think the biggest takeaway is that there is one thing that binds everybody who’s involved, and that is hope, really. I think there’s a lot of hope in this sphere.”

    “The hazards of a benzodiazepine are well known, and to some extent, one might even argue that with some of these DEA-regulated substances that we do ship at home; that if we’re going to say that we need to subject ketamine to a higher standard, then we need to do it for the rest of these DEA-regulated substances, because they have very hazardous risk profiles. …I can’t help but think that there’s a little bit of …stigma [around] what it is that we’re doing.”

    [On an at-home ketamine patient’s success]: “He is able to get out of the house every day and enjoy the sunshine, and the way he views his trauma is at a level that I think all of us would aspire to: really, as something that has sort of made him into the man that he is today, with something really unique and powerful to offer as a human to others – rather than as a wound.”

    Links

    Benmedranomd.com

    Nue.life

    Psychedelics Today: Free Webinar – NueLife: Empowering Patients with At-Home Ketamine Therapy

    Wikipedia.org: Assertive community treatment

    Fieldtriphealth.com

    Legitscript.com: A Post-Pandemic Ryan Haight Act May Create Uncertainty for Telemedicine

    Nue.life: Nue Life Publishes First Peer-Reviewed Study in Frontiers in Psychiatry

    Frontiersin.org: Safety, effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual ketamine in depression and anxiety: A retrospective study of off-label, at-home use

    Sciencedirect.com: At-home, sublingual ketamine telehealth is a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe anxiety and depression: Findings from a large, prospective, open-label effectiveness trial

    Psychiatryinstitute.com

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 4, 2022November 15, 2022

    PT370 – Prohibition, Civil Disobedience, and The Coca Leaf Cafe

    In this episode, Joe interviews Dana Larsen: one of Canada’s most well-known advocates for cannabis reform and long-time anti-drug-war activist.

    Larsen discusses his path from a high school kid sending letters to Canadian Parliament about cannabis drug policy, to his recent Overgrow Canada stunt (where he gave away 10 million cannabis seeds in order to encourage people to grow plants everywhere), to opening his mushroom dispensary where he sells psilocybin and LSD, to last year; opening The Coca Leaf Cafe: a Vancouver, BC-based store that sells peyote and coca leaf tea (and they’re apparently the only store in the world doing this). As a long-time fighter of the drug war who has clearly made great strides, he talks a lot about prohibition and its many problems; and how, in all of his work, it’s been civil disobedience that has been the most successful. 

    He discusses what it’s going to take to establish a recreational mushroom market; differences between US and Canadian reform; his feelings on peyote; his thoughts on new designer drugs; his concerns with current rehab and safe supply systems; and he gives and an oddly fitting analogy between the stereotypical picture of an opiate user and the masturbation panic that spread through Europe for hundreds of years.

    Notable Quotes

    “I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and looking back at this time, the one tactic that was the most effective was the civil disobedience. I’ve done a lot of political work, I’ve done lobbying and other things, and there’s a role and a place for that. But for me, I think the most success has come from myself and others openly breaking the law.”

    “Large doses of mushrooms can be great, but for a lot of people, they don’t want to be super high. They just want a little bit. And I think that there’s a tendency, if it’s legal, for most people to move towards milder forms of use. When there’s prohibition, a lot of folks stop using, but those that continue to use are pushed towards the most extreme forms of use, which is most harmful for them and for society in general.”

    “We talk about harm reduction, and I think that’s important, but the other side of harm reduction is benefit maximization. These substances aren’t just harmful; like with anything, you want to reduce the harms, but there’s positive things about cannabis use and mushroom use and cocaine use and heroin use. …There are a lot of positives about these substances as well as the negatives. Prohibition just makes the positives very hard to manifest and it accentuates the negatives to an absurd degree.”

    Links

    Danalarsen.com

    Mushroomdispensary.com

    Cocaleafcafe.com

    Potheadbooks.com

    Vancouver.ca: Decriminalizing simple possession of illicit drugs in Vancouver

    Overgrowcanada.com

    NYpost.com: Pot protest slams Biden for ‘self-serving’ and ‘disgusting’ pardon stunt

    Mashed.com: Did The Government Really Poison Alcohol During Prohibition?

    Psychonautwiki.org: Proscaline

    Vicetv.com: Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia: Positive PCP Story

    Dana’s Twitter thread about police corruption in Mexico

    Getyourdrugstested.com

    Psychedelics Today: PT311 – William Leonard Pickard – LSD, Fentanyl, Prison, and the Greatest Gift of All: The Natural Mind

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on November 1, 2022December 26, 2022

    PT369 – Chronic Pain and Phantom Limb Pain: Could Psilocybin Be the Answer?

    In this episode, Joe invites Court Wing to co-host, interviewing two members of UC San Diego’s Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative (PHRI): Joel Castellanos, MD (Associate Medical Director of PHRI and board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain medicine physician), and Timothy Furnish, MD (Medical Director of PHRI and Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine). 

    As one of the early participants of a psilocybin-for-depression trial in NYC, Court Wing (of REMAP Therapeutics) discovered that immediately after the session, his chronic pain had miraculously gone away. He began researching how psychedelics could be used (with or without other therapies) to continue the alleviation of pain psychedelics had brought him. Through the Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative, Drs. Castellanos and Furnish are following that that same road, and are currently recruiting for a randomized controlled trial on psilocybin for phantom limb pain. 

    They talk about the relationship between the mind and chronic pain: how people confuse pain with the simple act of nerves firing, but how it’s so much more. And they discuss how pain can become part of one’s identity (and how the Default Mode Network could be contributing); how physical therapy is related to neuroplasticity; mirror box therapy; microdosing for chronic pain; the unusual nature of phantom limb pain; and where the mystical psychedelic experience may come into play. If this topic is as fascinating to you as it is to us, stay tuned – we will be featuring much more on chronic pain and psychedelics, including a blog series from Court Wing coming soon.

    Notable Quotes

    “One of the things that may be unique about or interesting about chronic pain is that the longer it goes on, the more people start seeing pain as a part of their identity and that Default Mode Network is probably playing a role in that. And it’s possible that something like psychedelics could open up the possibility of changing that internal story so that pain is no longer so much a part of one’s identity.” -Tim

    “I think that people oftentimes confuse pain with simply nerves firing. …[But] there is this rich interplay between the way we think about pain, the way we perceive pain, and how we feel about it.” -Tim

    “When you’re not really dealing with chronic or severe pain on a daily basis, it’s really hard to think about how life-changing that is or can be.” -Joel

    “When we hear things like ‘It’s only just in your head,’ I don’t think people quite get [that] the head can be a scary place to be trapped sometimes.” -Court

    Links

    PHRI.ucsd.edu: Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative at UC San Diego

    REMAPtherapeutics.com

    Psychedelics Today: Court Wing – Pain and Its Relationship to the Mind

    Pubmed: Chronic pain and psychedelics: a review and proposed mechanism of action

    Sciencedirect.com: Mirror Visual Feedback Therapy. A Practical Approach

    Psychologytoday.com: Catastrophizing

    Physio-pedia.com: Kinesiophobia

    Sinobiological.com: What is tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

    Neuropathycure.org: Cryoneurolysis: A Freezing Cold Way To Treat Chronic Nerve Pain

    Journals.lww.com: Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series

    Clusterbusters.org

    Clinicaltrials.gov

    Healthgrades.com: Diagnosing and Treating Anhedonia: Loss of Pleasure Explained

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on October 28, 2022November 22, 2022

    PT368 – Ketamine, Group Work, and the Power of Just Being There

    In this episode, Kyle interviews Dr. Steven Radowitz: Medical Director at Nushama, a wellness center in New York City primarily offering IV ketamine, with a strong focus on letting the experiencer explore their journey undisturbed. 

    Recorded in-person at Nushama’s flagship location just over a year after opening, Radowitz talks about his past and why he became interested in ketamine, the look and feel of Nushama, their process, and why they favor IV ketamine. He highlights his biggest takeaways from the year: the surprise in just how effective ketamine has been; the role of integration and what aftercare truly looks like; and the importance of learning to hold space and be a compassionate listener – that the doctor isn’t the healer and the psychedelic isn’t the magic bullet cure; instead, they are just tools that allow the patients to heal themselves.  

    He discusses how he sees psychedelics as a dimmer switch for the ego; how disorders are tools to deal with trauma; why he is reframing trauma as a learning experience; why he thinks ketamine will survive once psilocybin and MDMA are legal; why group work is so effective and powerful (and likely the new model for psychedelic therapy); and the importance of staying humble through all of this – humble to the power of the medicine and humble to the amazing capacity for people to heal and grow, simply by being allowed to explore their journey and be heard.

    Notable Quotes

    “I’m not a healer, and I often tell people [that] during their preparation, when I do my medical intake. I talk to them about that. I say, ‘I’m not here [to heal you], I’m here just giving you a tool. You’re the healer. All this stuff does is [that it] just takes away what’s blocking you from realizing that. It’s like a dimmer switch on the ego [and] on the mind.”

    “I’m trying to move away from the word ‘trauma.’ It’s a difficult life event that’s there to teach us. It’s there for something. And with every one of those events; there’s a little jewel within it, but you have to go in there and go through it. And it’s just a cloud, just a myst, almost, that’s preventing you. Just push [through it] and hold space. As long as people are in a safe place to go there and journey there, then they’ll realize that it’s just an event. It’s just an experience, and you move on. That wisdom is: a memory without the emotion.”

    “I think any type of journey work, any type of psychedelic work, I almost think you have to be called to it in a way. You shouldn’t be coerced, ever, into this. …I find that the ones that are really ready to do the work are finding us on our own.”

    Links

    Nushama.com

    Wavepaths.com

    Rootstothrive.com

    Kyle and Dr. Radowitz at Nushama
    Nushama’s office, courtesy of Nushama and Costas Picadas
    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on October 21, 2022November 15, 2022

    PT366 – Neurotransmitter Systems and Novel Psychedelic Molecules

    In this episode, Joe interviews the Co-Founders of Tesselate Therapeutics: Dr. Rochelle Hines, Ph.D. (also the CEO and an Associate Professor at UNLV), and Dr. Dustin Hines, Ph.D. (the CSO as well as an Assistant Professor at UNLV).

    While Tesselate’s primary objective is the development of novel psychedelic molecules, the Hines’ work goes much deeper than that, as they are researching the ways the brain communicates with itself and other parts of the body: how neurotransmitter systems interact, why synaptic partners find each other, and how certain substances may be able to modulate the actions of specific receptors. They are exclusively studying phenethylamines and using EEG to isolate signatures that could help predict the outcome of a therapy session. Additionally, they’re attempting to build a “tripnogram,” modeled after the hypnogram that explains the stages of sleep.

    They talk about the reductionist base of neuroscience; the biodiversity in human populations and how heterogeneous depression can be; the reliability of the head twitch model; the structure of the cerebral cortex; neuroplasticity; the price of bringing new drugs to the FDA and the strategy of “failing fast,” and much more. You’ll likely learn a lot from this one, especially if terms like polypharmacy, laminar, ocular dominance columns, synaptic pruning, and “psychedelicitivity” (thanks for that one, Joe!) are new to you. 

    Notable Quotes

    “I’m really fascinated by these connections that cells form with one another in the brain. And I’m really fascinated by how they form these partnerships so reliably, and all the right equipment gets there. And generally under typical conditions, we have this really high fidelity system so that [a] neurotransmitter gets released, and the right receptors are there to receive it, and the signal gets passed on. That always struck me as just this incredibly cosmic process. How do we make it right all the time, hundreds of thousands of times during development?” -Rochelle

    “The average drug that gets into the clinic costs about 3 billion. And most of that cost is racked up from failures that get pushed along, pushed along, make it into clinical, a lot of money goes into them, and then they ultimately fail. So I think a big strategy now is to see how quickly you can get something to fail, because then you’ll save yourself some time and money in the long run.” -Rochelle

    “If you want the answer, you should listen to everyone. You should be [a] skeptic, but you should listen to everyone.”-Dustin

    “I’m not at the stage where I think this is our last hope; I think there’s other hopes. But I see a revolution here. I really do, because it’s impacting the basic science that we’re doing also. People need this. People deserve it.” -Dustin

    Links

    TSL8.ai: Tesselate Therapeutics

    UNLV.edu: Dustin Hines, Ph.D.

    UNLV.edu: Rochelle Hines, Ph.D.

    Hinesgroup.net

    MIT.edu: Why it’s a problem that pulse oximeters don’t work as well on patients of color

    Sciencedirect.com: Head-Twitch Response

    Wikipedia.org: Ocular dominance column

    Dolenlab.org (Gül Dölen)

    The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives, by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler

    Encyclopedia.com: Illness And Sick-Role Behavior

    JAMAnetwork.com: Estimated Research and Development Investment Needed to Bring a New Medicine to Market, 2009-2018

    The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, by Gabor Maté, MD, with Daniel Maté

    Lucid.news: Journey Colab Looks to Mescaline for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal
    Posted on October 19, 2022December 11, 2024

    Inflammation Nation: How Psychedelics Could Combat Widespread Chronic Pain

    Could a nation defined by inflammation find relief in psychedelics?

    It’s a verifiable truth that the United States of America may be considered a global leader, especially when it comes to the prevalence of mental and physical health disorders. In fact, of the nearly 330 million people in the population, millions to hundreds of millions of Americans suffer from chronic conditions like: 

    • Obesity (42%)
    • Arthritis (24%)
    • Anxiety (19%)
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (15%)
    • Allergies (15%)
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (14%)
    • Diabetes (11%)
    • Depression (8%)
    • Asthma (8%)
    • Cancer (6%)
    • Autism (2%)
    • Fibromyalgia (2%)

    These sobering statistics beg the questions: How could a single nation of relatively modest size be home to such a vast selection of chronic diseases? And how could psychedelics be used to combat these conditions affecting so much of the population? 

    Why is Inflammation so Prevalent?

    The answer begins with key lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, tobacco use, or genetic predispositions, each of which contribute to the pathology of a given disease. For example, a 2010 study by the American Cancer Association found that 90% of Americans don’t meet their daily recommended requirement of vegetables, with 75% failing to eat even a single piece of fruit during an average day.

    The American diet overall is egregiously devoid of whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, with the US Department of Agriculture estimating they represent a mere 11% of the populous’ typical daily food intake. Despite this lack of prevalence, these unprocessed natural foods are otherwise rich in medicinal phytochemicals found to support the immune system and strengthen the body’s resistance to infections, as well as fight cancer and diabetes; diseases that are twice as prevalent in the US relative to the global average. Shockingly, the US also leads the world in obesity rates by nearly 400%, and is first in global consumption of sugar, outranking Germany by about 26% yearly.

    Applications are open for the second edition of Vital, our 12-month training certificate program in psychedelic therapy and integration, beginning in April 2023. Head to Vitalpsychedelictraining.com for more info, or attend a Q+A to have your questions answered.

    Although diet quality is proven to significantly impact the likelihood of disease development, what Americans eat is only one contributing factor among many. Poor diet alone doesn’t explain the exceptional amount of chronic health conditions seen in the population. In fact, it’s estimated that over 60% of Americans suffer from at least one chronic health condition, 42% of the population are diagnosed with at least two, and up to 12% of Americans live with five or more chronic diseases. 

    To put those percentages in perspective, the 2020 election saw the highest voter turnout in 120 years, with the most votes for a single presidential candidate ever recorded in American history. Joe Biden reportedly received over 81 million popular votes, representing less than half of the 198 million Americans suffering from at least one chronic health condition, and only marginally more than half of the 139 million with at least two.

    Despite the fact that they’re by no means a minority in the population, chronic diseases are found to disproportionately affect socioeconomic minorities in the United States of America and beyond. A recent study published in the journal, “Archives of Public Health,” used 20 years (1995-2015) of empirical data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to investigate the impact of education on health across the populations of 26 countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other founding nations that became members when OECD was created in 1960. This data, taken from millions of people in numerous countries across the globe over one fifth of a century, clearly demonstrated that higher educational attainment in adults positively correlates with longer lifespans, better health outcomes, increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and reduced infant mortality rates.

    Put simply, the OECD data suggests that highly educated adults with ample finances generally live up to 12% longer (8-10 years), enjoy healthier lives, make more money, and are less likely to die at birth or of cancer, when directly compared to individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Unsurprisingly, adults with higher GDP per capita also spent more money on healthcare and education over their lifetime, with college and university education found to positively influence life expectancy, child vaccination, and enrollment of children in education, as well as negatively impact infant mortality. Taken as a whole, the OECD data demonstrates an essential principle: 

    If appropriate education and adequate income significantly increase life expectancy, then access to quality schooling, sustainable employment, and equitable socioeconomic mobility are inherent to health care services. 

    However, even if we factor in education and employment as essential contributors to health, the fact remains that as of 2021, over 85 million Americans older than 25 had attained a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, and US unemployment was a mere 3.7% in August 2022. Since neither education nor employment are able to fully reconcile the disproportionately large number of Americans currently suffering from chronic health conditions, there must be a deeper underlying cause contributing to the pathology of diseases reportedly observed in the country’s citizens and resident aliens. 

    Did you know that our most popular live course, Navigating Psychedelics for Clinicians and Therapists, is available as a self-paced, take-at-your-own-time course as well? Check it out in the Psychedelic Education Center!

    What is Chronic Inflammation?

    Compellingly, inflammation has been identified as a central contributor to all aforementioned chronic health conditions and beyond, and is implicated in over 60% of all human deaths around the globe. Some may already be familiar with acute inflammation in the form of localized pain, redness and swelling, usually in response to an injury or infection. Acute inflammation is typically a normal immune response during which the immune system is activated through the release of specific proteins, essentially called inflammatory markers. These markers then act as beacons to recruit immune cells, which subsequently migrate to the particular body part(s) in need of defense or repair.

    In contrast, chronic inflammation is less apparent and far less immediate, but has insidiously dire consequences when left unchecked. Instead of causing localized pain or swelling, chronic inflammation causes systemic issues with immune cell signaling through excess “noise” created by high levels of inflammatory markers. Rather than being recruited to areas of the body most in need of healing, immune cells are drowned in an overwhelming number of biochemical beacons and ultimately disoriented. By disrupting this essential communication between immune cells, chronic inflammation prevents the appropriate direction of immune cells to critical issues needing attention, and may instead direct disproportionate amounts of immune activity to arbitrary areas – thus crippling the body’s capacity to effectively heal itself or prevent systemic disease.

    The dysregulation of the immune system may ultimately induce the development of one or a combination of diseases, including autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s Disease, IBS, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and diabetes, as well as various cancers and neurological disorders. Furthermore, children of mothers with chronic inflammatory conditions are demonstratively more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism, especially when chronic prenatal exposure to maternal inflammatory markers is exacerbated by psychological or physiological stress.

    In this self-guided class, we investigate the history, science, and best practices for safe and effective microdosing; with Adam Bramlage, founder of Flow State Micro, Dr. James Fadiman, the “father of modern microdosing,” and a dozen expert guest faculty. Enroll today!

    Over the past  20 years, a growing body of research has further investigated the complex relationship between chronic inflammation, various mental and physical diseases, and socioeconomic status (SES). High levels of inflammation measured by markers in the blood of low SES patients were found to prospectively predict whether they would suffer from depression, heart disease, ischemic stroke, and/or mortality.

    Furthermore, factors such as poverty, lack of social or educational resources, obesity, and diets rich in refined sugar were all closely associated with increased inflammatory markers, chronic diseases, and mortality rates. Stress derived from socio-political, financial, environmental (chemical, biological, electromagnetic), or psychosocial (relationship experiences, trauma, social conditioning) aspects of a patient’s life also reportedly influenced inflammation, with chronic psychological and emotional stress inducing a significant increase in observed blood inflammatory markers; thus promoting immune dysfunction and ultimately increasing the likelihood of chronic diseases in individuals of low SES. 

    Psychedelics as Anti-inflammatory Medicine

    Despite these undeniable correlations and profound implications, the medical model of inflammation as the root of disease is not a new concept. Whether willow bark or aspirin, both traditional Ayurvedic and modern Western medicine employ preparations of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat a number of maladies, from headaches to heart disease. In fact, many over-the-counter (OTC) medications, commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals, and even psychedelic drugs owe some portion of their medicinal benefits to anti-inflammatory effects exerted in particular tissues of the human body.

    For example, recent research has revealed that two of the most commonly prescribed classes of antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), may instead induce their expected medical effect via anti-inflammatory action within the brain itself, thus alleviating underlying neuroinflammation implicated as a central contributor to malaise, fatigue, brain fog, emotional reactivity, and other psychological symptoms. This revelation casts significant doubt on the broadly accepted model for the pathology of depression that classically purports serotonin deficiency as the primary cause. Today, a new breed of antidepressants specifically intended as anti-inflammatory drugs are undergoing feverish development by major drug corporations.

    But before we herald these pharmaceutical innovations as the ultimate solution to tame the treachery of chronic neuroinflammatory disease, we must address the unjust marginalization and criminal victimization of disaffected Americans self-medicating via naturopathic means. Notwithstanding their evolutionary, anthropological, and social significance, the potent anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, and other psychedelic derivatives are now well-supported by an ever-growing body of recent scientific research. Although prohibitionist laws previously precluded a thorough investigation of their potential, the US has slowly and begrudgingly allowed the pursuit of psychedelic pharmacological power. As the barriers of outdated, impermissible, and fallacious legislative paradigms fall, clinicians are finally gaining critical insights that have enabled the development of novel pharmaceutical psychedelic derivatives with extreme precision; such that specific medical characteristics like an anti-inflammatory effect or psychedelic effect may be intentionally targeted and enhanced or diminished. 

    Check out our new self-paced (CE-accredited) foundation course, “Psychedelics: Past, Present, and Future,” with Jerry and Julie Brown!

    However new this scientific perspective may seem, medicinal preparations of psychedelics have reportedly been used for centuries, and even pharmaceuticals investigated and approved for clinical use decades ago were arguably directly modeled after psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. Most notable of these compounds, Methergine (methylergometrine), is an LSD derivative used to induce contractions during childbirth since 1582, and is currently included on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines. A similarly indispensable class of pharmaceutical psychedelic derivatives, the triptans, were first developed and patented in 1991 to treat migraines and cluster headaches, conditions which are both implicated to be caused by neuroinflammation. Interestingly, early triptans display remarkable structural similarities to tryptamine psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin.

    Further progress spearheaded by brave and dutiful psychonauts in professional practice, underground social circles, and beyond has steadily illuminated the psychological and pharmacological nuances of many psychedelic drugs, revealing that they’re in fact highly safe and effective treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicidality, depression, anxiety, addiction, Fibromyalgia, various chronic inflammatory diseases, and more. Tireless efforts across decades of clinical trials using psychedelics such as cannabinoids, MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin have paved the way to their current or imminent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    It finally seems quite possible that psychedelic medicines previously incorrectly admonished as “psychomimetic drugs” that imitated psychosis, damaged DNA, and were toxic to the human body may soon be available as legitimate pharmaceutical compounds aiming to alleviate the suffering of millions. With the current medical and legal trajectories, it’s highly likely that sometime in the not-so-distant future, inflamed Americans in need of psychedelic therapies will be able to access them without the unnecessarily harmful (but now still-looming) threat of social, criminal, and civil persecution. As much as one author celebrates this opportunity for a modicum of much needed progress in the United States, a single question remains:

    Do a handful of state-level decriminalization initiatives for some select drugs, as well as the monetization and regulation of a limited number of pharmaceutical psychedelics at the federal level truly represent a sufficiently compassionate and broad solution to remedy the innumerable and egregious offenses against American life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness committed by the war on drugs? 

    Psychedelics Today Trip Journal

    Posts pagination

    Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Next page

    Keeping Tabs

    A microdose of all things psychedelic news, all in one place. Get bi-weekly updates, education, and events straight to your inbox.

    We won’t share your information. Unsubscribe at any time.

    pt_logo_white (1)

    Psychedelics Today is the planetary leader in psychedelic media, storytelling, and education.

    Menu
    • Podcasts
    • Articles
    • Events
    • About
    • Press
    • Become a Navigator
    • Contact
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Visit Our Other Sites
    • Education Center
    • Vital
    • Shop
    • Navigators
    Subscribe to our Podcast
    © Psychedelics Today. All rights reserved. Privacy | Terms & Conditions