July 4, 2023
As you are probably aware, there's a mental health crisis in our country. To learn about this, and the explosion of interest in the use of psychedelic medicines to address this problem, last month I attended the (to date) world's largest international conference on the topic in Denver.
As an out-of-the-closet aficionado myself, I must say that, on a very personal note, I had to stop and look around at my 13,000 (!) fellow partners-in-crime assembled for Psychedelic Science 2023, and pinch myself. I never thought I'd live to see the day when so many would gather, with no apparent law enforcement in sight, to tout, celebrate, and attest to the manifold blessings of a group of (until only recently) stigmatized and demonized Schedule One drugs.
When viewed from the perspective of only the past 10 years, it's a freaking miracle.
It was only like the day before yesterday when my favorite medicine (MDMA) was "known" and "proven" to cause lasting damage to brain cells, drain spinal fluid, and create Parkinson's Disease in first-time users. Joe Biden himself as a senator sought to quash Ecstasy use and even raves.
Now fast forward to the opening of this conference, directly after Rick Doblin received a standing ovation for his talk and his work, and who should walk onto the stage but the ex-governor of Texas and former Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry. It was he who had recently addressed the Texas legislature to convince them to allocate money to study psychedelics to help veterans suffering from PTSD. He seemed to admit to a moment of doubt about whether he should do so, potentially alienating his Trump-voting Republican allies.
Then he stopped, turned to the audience, and beckoned us to find "the courage to understand your reputation is not more important than saving these lives."
We have certainly come far.
And the rest of this conference felt like a FOMO-drenched binge. Should I go hear Earth and Fire Erowid or learn about psychedelics and AI? Should I watch James Fadiman talk about microdosing ("Start low; go slow; take time off!"), or attend a "Soundgasm" event? Or hear Stan Grof or Tim Ferris, or a talk about Ram Dass, or one by Michael Pollan, or Alex and Allyson Grey? Like where's my clone already?
It was all evidence that there's a whole world being created here, an entire culture to counter the crazy-making consensus reality that remains the larger Setting of any trip.
And I was happy at the week's end to run a circle (thank you Colin Pugh, Pammy Jackson, and the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society!) to help dozens of attendees integrate their experience of the conference. I also led a talk (thank you Psychedelic Club of Denver!) on "Using MDMA For Community Building, Friendship and Joy."
Some additional and very personally satisfying moments:
** At my publisher's booth (Inner Traditions) where I was signing copies of "Listening to Ecstasy" a trans person (and southern redneck) took one look at my wife, and exclaimed, "Mah God! You're Shelley!" He'd recognized her from the YouTube videos we'd posted years ago. He was in awe.
** Dancing my ass off all night at a club on that Wednesday night. A dude of about 35 strolled up to me as he was leaving, and told me, "You're my hero!" (Sometimes in life, just surviving and living fully is enough to earn respect.)
** Also at my book signing, a woman from Flagstaff stuck a $50 bill (for my $19 book) in my hand and refused to accept the change, saying how grateful she was for my work.
** Meeting my publisher in person for the first time and stoking his interest in Shelley's book idea, and an idea for my 2nd book!
** Learning from a producer of the doc we're featured in ("Everybody's Doing Drugs") that a clip from the film of Shelley and me talking about tripping at Disneyworld went viral on TikTok!
But let's face it -- there remain many unresolved issues facing and roiling the psychedelic space:
The controversy around the place of business interests that are (depending on your point of view, either) bolstering or polluting the whole movement.
The medical model vs. the value of underground practitioners and enthusiasts.
The haunting question of access -- namely, psychedelic healing for whom, exactly?
The role of marginalized and indigenous peoples in the space.
The issue of psychedelic healers -- the uncredentialed and credentialed alike -- at this "wild west" moment of unregulated practitioners...and the damage they can do, intentionally or by accident.
And what I am calling the real elephant in the room: Conservative Trump voters and other right wing Republicans embracing psychedelics, and those on the other side who are trying to ignore or condemn them, or even keep them out of the space, thereby creating yet another marginalized group.
But I want us all to take a minute here, take a deep breath, and savor this historical moment. We have not only come far, and fast, but what looks like a true renaissance in psychedelic research and acceptance may be the beginnings of a true revolution. Because I know that one really can't trip or roll without having one's worldview radically altered. (Put another way, it takes an altered state to alter the state.) We've only begun to learn the implications of millions of Americans intentionally spending several hours dissolving their egos, shutting down their default mode networks and rewiring their brains.
For them to integrate all that, things are going to change.
We are witnessing a new chapter in the history of our world, and stand at the inception of a wild and exhilarating ride.
Charles Wininger, LP, LMHC
