For many people, curiosity about exploring psychedelic medicines is still greatly tempered by the hangover of decades of stigma and fear that was intentionally manufactured by government and media.
Attitudes are changing, thanks in no small part to the massive amount of work and policy hoop-jumping being done by many excellent scholars, researchers, medical clinicians, and therapists who are hard at work demonstrating the value of these medicines – both ancient plant medicines and modern synthetics - in therapeutic environments. Several of whom, I am fortunate enough to call my friends.
In my practice at Monarch, I am doing an increasing amount of psychedelic consulting and integration support with people from incredibly diverse demographics – some that just a few years ago I would never have guessed would be exploring these medicines.
More and more “legitimate” programs are being created to offer people well-structured and supported medicine experiences in safe and provisionally legal environments. The benefit of this is that many people who have been completely averse to even the idea of psychedelics, are beginning to overcome the ridiculous media hype and fear mongering of the past 60 years, and are stepping into this ancient and powerful modality of healing; and they are experiencing profound and positive results.
I am writing today about my concern around what is happening for these clients after their initial psychedelic experiences within the mainstream system.
The foundation of my concern is the simple paradox that virtually all of these medicines are still illegal to possess or use outside of these few sanctioned spaces; yet they are so widely and easily available (some even literally grow out of the ground).
This simple fact is creating a significant potential for harm. Please allow me to explain…
What I am witnessing is that human beings who are experiencing profound and long-term suffering (anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and on and on) are quite literally lining up to participate in these programs; they are paying thousands of dollars for sometimes as few as just one active medicine session, and after the program they are, in large majority, delighted with their results. Many participants are experientially convinced of the power and efficacy of psychedelic medicines.
Yet, even these powerful medicines are not silver bullets. They don’t magically “fix” lifelong problems; they do potentiate and mobilize the client’s own inner resources to begin to make the needed changes in mind, heart, spirit, and work.
So, after the glow of their first experiences begins to fade, these clients are eager to continue their journey – to go deeper.
For many, the original apprehension or outright fear of psychedelics they may have had, has been displaced by excitement and hope.
For many, managing to raise the money to participate in a sanctioned psychedelic therapy program is a huge challenge. I have heard of participants taking personal loans, or seeking help from their family or other external financial aid.
For many, their suffering has been so extreme, and they have tried so many other options, that psychedelics are a last and desperate hope. It is quite literally a matter of life and death; and debt seems better than death.
For many participants, it simply isn’t possible to raise that money again.
So, what is an intelligent person to do?
Being that the medicines are so easily and affordably available, many choose to continue their journey independently in the so-called “underground.”
A kind of accidental problem with this is that many of the sanctioned programs do such a fantastic job of creating safe spaces, strong containers, and integration support, that it feels totally natural and effortless. Set, setting, dose, and integration are all “managed” – and where it is being done well, these critical elements are essentially invisible.
No program that I know of addresses in a fulsome way what comes after, and how a participant might engage in a good way with psychedelics independently in an ongoing way. In fact, it would be difficult to do so, because that would be illegal, and might jeopardize program funding and the sanctioned status of the whole endeavour. In fact, the truth is that currently in BC, the so-called “underground” really only exists inside of the healthcare and educational systems/institutions where the professionals are being monitored by lawyers concerned about the “staff” doing anything illegal.
Virtually all psychedelics are still illegal in Canada. It’s true. In reality, however, due to changes in the law, as of January 31, 2023 a person can be in possession of as much as 2.5 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, or MDMA without facing prosecution - they are considered “for personal consumption”. This is an evidence-based harm-reduction strategy that I completely support.
What it means to a person who does not use these kinds of substances - and particularly for law enforcement - is that medicines that aren’t associated with crime of any kind - like psilocybin (magic mushrooms) LSD or Ayahuasca have fallen off of the map - particularly if we are talking about the quantities used for personal consumption in a therapeutic or ceremonial session.
… and everybody knows it. In many cities in Canada, there are public facing stores selling psilocybin products. You can buy it easily online, and I’m seeing more and more advertising on Facebook. The corporate world has also joined in, and I’ve received investment advice emails from TD Canada Trust suggesting that investing in Psychedelics may be the new way to make money.
The potential for harm that exists because of the legal status of and political desire to control the power of these medicines is not the focus of my life and my work, so I will allow those better informed than I to write about that.
What I would like to do is offer practical guidelines and considerations for those who are contemplating exploring the use of psychedelics independent of the sanctioned system.
To be clear I don’t condone, recommend, or suggest that you should experiment with these medicines… because that would be illegal.
However, harm-reduction is important to me, so if you are determined to go ahead with your journey regardless, please read my next post…
(to be continued)