Psychedelic Science 2025 Rewind
2025, What a Time to be Alive!
I went to Psychedelic Science 2025 with no expectations, survived the conference maelstrom and I’m fond of the future of psychedelics. I’m just about done decompressing and integrating after the psychedelic blitz. In no order of importance, here are random thoughts and reflections on Psychedelic Science 2025 and what could be on the horizon.
Psychedelic Science = Mini SXSW
I attended Psychedelic Science for the first time. I heard boogie stories about how cavernous the Denver Convention Center is. Those stories are not all myths. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of size and scope.
Psychedelic Science feels like a mini version of South by Southwest. Psychedelic Science drew between 8,000-10,000 people. Although SXSW draws two, or three, times more people, Psychedelic Science bears a resemblance. Huge convention center downtown, dozens of conference rooms and speaking halls, panels/lectures/seminars all day long, and tons of parties at night.
Psychedelic Blitz
The conference is a psychedelic blitz. The potential for overwhelm is real. Attendees feel the fear of missing out, scrambling around the convention center like travelers making connecting flights at O’Hare.
In my case, I also helped organize off-site events on back-to-back days, so I worked and did the conference. As soon as I realized the depth and breadth of the psychedelic blitz, I gave up meeting everyone I wanted to, and seeing all the talks I had scheduled.
This salvaged my sanity as my phone went off for days like a Las Vegas slot machine. The notifications, calls, texts, and emails unleashed a psychedelic blitz that made me want to murder my phone by booting it off a nearby peak in the Rockies.
Psychedelic Science App Failure
I thought I set my schedule with military precision. Alas, I missed the one talk that was a can’t miss- the Andrew Gallimore panel. While bouncing around the convention center like a manic pinball I found out that the Psychedelic Science app required an update. Many of the lectures, panels and seminars had changed time and place. So I arrived to Gallimore’s panel 20 minutes late, and he just finished speaking. Grr. To my dismay, I missed the memo about updating the app, if there ever was one. I guess the app is good when it’s updated.
Healthy Psychedelic Debates and Disagreements Exist
The psychedelic community doesn’t suffer from ideological homogeneity. I witnessed a spirited conversation questioning whether the West is co-opting ancestral wisdom, indigenous traditions and plant medicine. I don’t know, and I can see both sides of the argument.
I have heard a claim for years now that indigenous shamans say plant medicine wants to be spread and shared. Is it a psychedelic urban legend that Peruvian ayahuasceros don’t mind their sacred, spirit medicine entering an economic system based on profit? I think we need to start asking indigenous shamans this question.
The good news is that the psychedelic community isn’t quieting dissent, which keeps culty vibes at bay.
Psychedelic Monetization
The debate around psychedelic capitalism and monetization enjoys robust discussion and of course dovetails with the issue of co-opting indigenous plant medicine traditions. Again, I see both sides. On one hand, we have to conserve and preserve indigenous plant medicine traditions and ancestral wisdom. On the other hand, we can’t take away the right to earn a living. The collision of capitalism and psychedelics feels icky at times.
In my mind, I square the circle with a theory that psychedelics are a Trojan Horse. Who knows, maybe psychedelics and plant medicine are conscious. Maybe they’re choosing us. Maybe they have to enter our current economic and financial system to accomplish whatever mission they’re on. Psychedelics are unpredictable, wild, and uncontrollable. They’re chaotic agents of change. Maybe once inside the fortress walls psychedelics will unleash something we didn’t expect?
Keep the fascinating story of Quanah Parker in mind. After his surrender, the last surving Comanche chief converted to Western life, bought a house in Oklahoma, became a wealthy cattle rancher and wore suits. This helped him propagate peyote and peyotism, leading to the foundation of the Native American Church, which is alive and well over 100 years later.
I embrace this possibility to avoid binary thinking and maintain my sanity. If you’re not questioning reality in 2025, in particular in regards to psychedelics, you’re missing out on the interesting times we live in.
Perry is to Ibogaine as Boehner is to Cannabis?
More than 50 years ago all-American outlaw Hunter S. Thompson blasted ibogaine into collective consciousness. In 1972, Thompson started a rumor that Ed Muskie had done ibogaine, flatlining Muskie’s Democratic, presidential campaign bid. Now, ibogaine has reemerged with force and a high-political profile once again, thanks to former Texas governor and presidential candidate, Rick Perry.
Perry has been collaborating with Ambio Life Sciences. I saw Rick at the Ambio Life Sciences booth. Rick also delivered a keynote speech at the conference I believe. Since the beginning of this year, Perry has campaigned in support of ibogaine, across the media. He’s appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast with Bryan Hubbard. Perry’s and Hubbard’s efforts have paid off. In mid-June of 2025, Texas governor Rick Abbott signed off on a bill approving $50 million to study ibogaine.
Before I get into the irony of this, I think this is great. (Please see my Trojan Horse theory above.) Please provide all the healing modalities possible to people suffering. On the other hand, old Ed Muskie might be rolling in his grave, and his angry ghost could appear soon.
Besides the ironic fact that Texas doesn’t even have legal, medical cannabis (aside for epilepsy I believe), Rick Perry might be invoking the John Boehner game plan for ibogaine, one of the strongest, psychedelic, plant medicines in the world.
Remember John Boehner? Boehner served 13 terms as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 8th congressional district from 1991 to 2015 and was the 53rd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015 during Obama’s presidential tenure.
Did John Boehner ever once say anything in support of cannabis legalization, or even decriminalization during his time in office? Of course not. Well since Boehner left office, he wasted no time ditching the public sector for riches in the private sector. Boehner got involved in Big Cannabis and now Boehner sees green raking in millions. When is the private sector NOT lucrative for former public servants? Is political influence for sale in the United States? I’m shocked.
I don’t know how apropos this take is, however it raises questions. Correlation between Boehner’s career path and Perry’s isn’t causation. Nevertheless, Mark Twain taught us that history doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. If Perry cashes in on ibogaine, then Muskie’s ghost is going to be pissed off, because he lost his reputation to ibogaine, and didn’t even make a single penny from it.
With all this in mind, when I saw Rick Perry crossing the street in front of the convention center, I walked up to him and introduced myself. Why not? I told Perry I’m a former Texas resident and we shook hands. Then I shared a quick story from years ago when I lived in Austin.
I told Perry about seeing former Florida governor Rick Scott at my barbershop once in Austin, with a security detail outside the door. With his gregarious Texan manner, Perry told me he calls Scott often and talks with him by phone regularly. Why should a little Medicare fraud stop anyone from talking with Rick Scott? I didn’t ask Scott for comment on his involvment in the scandal while at the barbershop.
Don’t be surprised if Rick Perry gets ibogaine approved for psychedelic therapy in Texas, which will be a great thing, that may come at a price. That price won’t be black or white, but green, um...I mean gray.
Not Heavy on the Lucky Charms Marshmallows
The woo woo element of Psychedelic Science wasn’t overpowering at all. The conference displayed a comfortable ratio of technicolored marshmallow rainbows, unicorns, 4 leaf clovers, etc., to the toasted oat mainstream, that’s more laptop and less playa. Just enough Lucky Charms to keep things sweet and interesting. Seeing people walk around dressed up as giant mushrooms maintains a fun and light vibe.
Psychedelic Stalwarts
I heard a few people say this year’s edition was less carnival-like compared to the last. Now that the FDA harshed the MDMA-therapy buzz last year, the bandwagon jumpers and parade goers have melted away, leaving the psychedelic stalwarts behind.
I got the feeling that the people at the conference were a diverse mix of rebels, change agents, outsiders, fringe thinkers, innovators, dreamers and creators approaching psychedelics from an array of angles and traditions. They’re also scientists, therapists, shamans, healers, truth seekers, business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. A motley crew of shipwrecked, near-future time travellers trying to persuade the masses in support of a cause still stigmatized and held as taboo, in a world not quite ready for it yet, and in desperate need.
Yeah there were parties, fun and shenanigans, and I still got the sense that there’s work to be done. The psychedelic stalwarts are dedicated and courageous for stepping outside the guardrails and not giving a fuck. That takes balls. They’re active and enthusiastic. They have a ton of zeal. They’re smart and in the words of Fox Mulder, “I want to believe.”
Without a doubt, to some extent, every member of the psychedelic community lives in a bubble. We’ve gotten past the taboos and stigmas, and we still live in a world that hasn’t. How does the psychedelic revival gain more acceptance? Being shipwrecked on an island, will the psychedelic stalwarts go Lord of the Flies or Swiss Family Robinson?
2025, What a Time to be Alive!
A number of intriguing sights, scenes and trends unfolded. A lot of people enjoyed exercising their freedoms and cognitive liberties on a regular basis, in particular at the parties and even in front of the convention center. The psychedelic ecosystem provided a coral reef of human activity on 14th Street. While the serious work took place inside, many people took the opportunity to let off steam and create a light, casual atmosphere outside with summer festival vibes.
Whereas 30 years ago smoking weed on a public sidewalk would have gotten you a free night of room and board, now people blaze away without the police batting an eye. I beheld the spectacle of a psychedelic celebration unfolding before me, in a state with legal cannabis, and a thought repeated in my mind- 2025, what a time to be alive!
Psychedelics and the Underground Aren’t Going Anywhere
Good luck putting the toothpaste back in the tube. From the mainstream side, we’ve replaced religion with science, and peer reviewed journals are our scriptures. Too many academics, researchers and scientists contribute to and participate in the psychedelic field now. If psychedelics are a technology, then the FDA’s MDMA-therapy rejection increased the difficulty of the innovation and adoption curve. Momentum was lost for sure. But, in Bruce Lee’s words, I think psychedelics will “be like water,” and they’re here to stay.
Furthermore, the underground psychedelic community isn’t going anywhere. It’s alive and well. The underground will keep doing what it’s doing, whether it gets any attention or not. Don’t fall into a dualistic trap and think that a psychedelic mainstream can’t coexist with a psychedelic underground.
Hugs and Drugs?
One thing gave me a pleasant surprise right away- the psychedelic community’s proclivity to hug when meeting for the first time. No fist bump, no hand shake, skip straight to a hug. This may have been the biggest, quietest message of the conference. I didn’t even know we were on a hugging basis! I say more hugs, which reminds me a bit of the rave acronym P.L.U.R. (peace, love, unity, respect) from back in the day.
I’ve lived in Latino countries (Spain and Mexico) that are much more touch positive, and embrace the tactile element of social life more than the United States. If you want to enforce your personal space in a Spanish bar, I wish you the best. Experiencing a slight return to physical human connection in the U.S. is more than welcomed and needed.
Big Fun Socializing with People
I hadn’t attended an event this size since the pre-pandemic era when I volunteered at SXSW. Post-pandemic a lot of people have gotten strange, and don’t socialize anymore. I think I fulfilled my annual socializing quota in a week.
Prior to the conference, I realized making a list of people I needed to track down and meet was a fool’s errand. At the conference, I also realized making it to all the lectures, talks and panels I planned was pure folly too. I gave up all control, and allowed the winds of fate to have their way with me.
As a result, I spent much of my time having fun roaming the convention center halls and expo floor. The key is to be like a shark. Always be moving and stay vigilant at all times, then serendipitous things will happen.
Similar to the first time I met him, Dennis McKenna walked beside me towards an escalator. Another man accompanied Dennis, so I just shared a quick, brief hello and greeting. Dennis had a bandage on his head, wasn’t walking well, and didn’t look in the best shape.
As I had predicted, often people don’t have their head in the game, and don’t see who’s standing or walking right by them. I pointed out Rick Doblin, Dr. Carl Hart, Matthew Johnson, Alex and Allyson Grey, and Paul Stamets, as they strolled by my friends and colleagues. I could have met any of them, but I already had my fill of cool encounters.
I met former NHL player Riley Cote, Zach Leary, Bessell van der Kolk, and the psychedelic artist Amanda Sage. I also met Michael and Annie Mithoefer and Dr. David Nutt who is just as jovial in real life. I crossed paths with Daniel Pinchbeck again, and for the second time, he struck me as having rolled out of bed 5 minutes ago. I couldn’t resist saying, “Hello Hamilton,” to Hamilton Morris as he passed me on the street, as if we’re on a first name basis. Also, upon meeting Reggie Watts, I complimented him on his hilarious song Fuck Shit Stack.
Above all, I was thrilled to make 2 dozen or more new friends and colleagues in a handful of days. I enjoyed meeting everyone in real life who I already knew online. Even without a list, I did a fine job of meeting almost everyone I wanted to, save for a small handful of people.
Even though I missed Andrew Gallimore’s panel discussion, one of my highlights was meeting him. I was meandering the expo floor and caught him in passing. He’s a cool guy, and I appreciated the time he shared with me. Meeting him made up for failing to see his talk. Later, as psychedelics and synchronicities will do, I went to another DMT lecture and Andrew sat down next to me. I should have invited him to a beer at the bar across the street, for a casual, happy hour chat about DMT entities at 6pm on a Wednesday afternoon.
I enjoyed another little dose of pronoia and had the pleasure of meeting Michael Phillip, the creator of the YouTube channel, Third Eye Drops. Not long ago, Michael interviewed Andrew Gallimore. I spent a good ten minutes or so chatting up Michael in a hallway. That was a fun conversation to say the least. Third Eye Drops is one of my favorite YouTube channels and I’ve followed Michael’s work for years. Michael is a cool dude too and am grateful for the time he shared with me as well.
I find something interesting about this new, decentralized media era we live in. I don’t know that there’s a single person on television or legacy media who I’d like to meet. But if that question is posed for Substackers, YouTubers and podcasters, I can provide a list.
The people in attendance make conferences and conventions. Psychedelic Science boasts quite a billing, making it a fun event. The ease of access and ability to meet people who you’ve followed, read their work, or watched on videos and podcasts for years gave me a pleasant surprise. Nothing beats the feeling of finding your tribe and having a quality conversation without asking for an autograph or a selfie.
Psychedelic Bubble and Blindspot Concerns
As I mentioned before, this was my first visit to the States in almost 2 years. I did experience some small doses of reverse culture shock. The most potent doses of reverse culture shock came by way of Uber.
As I went to and fro across downtown Denver, the social decay couldn’t be ignored. Homelessness seems rampant, and I saw a ragged couple in an alley dumpster diving, looking for food I assume. But that wasn’t the worst.
On Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. I walked down east 17th street in downtown Denver. A man passed me on the sidewalk. He was in his mid-20s or so, caucasian, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. Years ago I would have assumed he was a college student or a young office worker. Not this year.
He stumbled out from in between 2 parked cars, and bumbled onto the sidewalk. His arms hung lifeless at his sides, and his head was slung low. His gait and forward leaning body posture made me think of a zombie. Alas, I think this was something much worse- fentanyl. The poor soul has a few weeks to a month before he’s standing still, bent over at the waist, and staring at his feet on a street corner.
This is not the same Denver I saw 4 years ago in 2021, nor is this the same United States from pre-pandemic times. Homelessness and drug addiction aren’t new in the States, and I saw plenty of it years ago in Chicago. However, the social decay is reaching new lows, and it’s not just in Denver.
I think this is the default state of inner city America in 2025. Venturing just a few blocks away from the convention center, downtown Denver doesn’t look bustling and happening. American downtowns look like they’re dying. Sure Denver has a big downtown construction project going on, and it’s hard to ignore people sleeping in doorways. Or is it?
I find it somewhere between unusual and unsettling when people don’t acknowledge the erosion at least once in a while. American decay is an uncomfortable reality that can’t be ignored and here’s why.
Last I researched there are over 200 million people with trauma in the United States. Right now, the only thing suffering more than the American economy is the American people. The country is running on 20th century software in the 21st century, thus throwing open the floodgates on trauma and the mental health crisis. Our society is creating the mental health crisis and as the United States regresses, the problems will exacerbate.
If we don’t address the societal level issues facing us today, the mental health crisis will become catastrophic. We can’t fix our problems until we talk about them, both in and outside of the psychedelic community. The psychedelic community is doing a ton of good for the world. However, if the conversation doesn’t expand and begin to include the upstream causes of the mental health crisis, then we’re just sticking our collective finger in a dam.
If that dam breaks, there won’t be enough plant medicine in the world to heal the coming tsunami. In the current cultural context psychedelics are a reactive solution. Furthermore, if the current trajectory of the economy continues, affordable access to psychedelic therapy and retreats will be for a select few (Viva the underground!). We need proactive solutions. We can’t be content with staying in a psychedelic bubble and ignoring blindspots. As Gabor Maté points out, politics, health and spirituality are inseparable.
Seeing the current state of the United States saddens me, and it’s easier to see the decline after being outside the country for a while. I couldn’t help but feel like I was on an island of content at Psychedelic Science 2025, in a sea of American despair. Insert ayahuasca sigh here.
Kanna Business
Yeah that’s right, kanna business, not cannabis. Up until Psychedelic Science 2025, I never heard of, saw, or tried kanna. Kanna seemed to take over the conference and became popular. But what the hell is kanna?
Kanna is a succulent plant from South Africa that begs a question- is kanna nature’s MDMA? Kanna is an all-natural plant medicine that provides a “blissful, euphoric, and anxiety-reducing effect on users.” Kanna gummies were a thing at the conference, with various expo booths selling them. One company even sold kanna snuff.
Kanna is an interesting plant medicine. All the best sorting out branding in the consumer packaged goods arena though. Just a few years ago, I sorted out the differences between salvia, rapé, and kratom at last. Throw kanna into this mix and it’s not going to be easy. Don’t forget about kava, the psychoactive, non-alcoholic drink. Oh there’s khat too, the leaf with stimulant effects, chewed in Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen. What’s that plant medicine that starts with K again?
Post-Conference Decompression
I didn’t get to spend enough time in the mountains after the conference to help decompress. Without a doubt, Psychedelic Science is a little like Burning Man for the white collar crowd. You have to decompress after Psychedelic Science, like Burning Man. If I go again in 2 years, I need to jump in a float tank after the psychedelic blitz.
See you at Psychedelic Science 2027?