Culture


Psymposia’s Response to Heroic Hearts’ Pharma-Backed Press Conference


Veterans deserve the highest quality treatment for PTSD. It’s unacceptable and dangerous to use veterans as guinea pigs for a big pharma profit grab without resolving safety and efficacy concerns.

Every Disclosed Conflict of Interest at Psychedelic Science 2023


All the financial conflict disclosures from Psychedelics Science 2023 speakers, in one handy list.

Psychedelic Science 2023 Contract Muzzles Speakers: Two Clauses Dictate What Presenters Can and Can’t Say


In order to present at Psychedelic Science 2023, speakers must agree to two out-of-the-ordinary requests about content exclusivity and MAPS’ reputation.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 4: The Church That Cried Capitalism


The Church of Psilomethoxin claims it’s the victim of “psychedelic capitalism,” but almost everything it claims is wrong.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 3: Matters of Faith. Father, Son, and Wholly Dosed?


The Church of Psilomethoxin now admits that its claims about psilomethoxin are solely based on faith. But how strong are the religious convictions of the Church?

The Church of Psilomethoxin Part 2: Unraveling the Sacred Chemistry


Psymposia’s investigation into the Church of Psilomethoxin (CoP) turns to the Church’s claims that it’s currently “scientifically impossible” to test for psilomethoxin. Psychedelic chemist David Nichols calls that claim “completely nonsensical and nonscientific.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 1: Sacramental Skepticism. Is the Church in Denial?


This is the first article in a series investigating the Church of Psilomethoxin (CoP), exploring the recent debate about the Church's sacrament and the people involved in promoting the Church and its claims.

Rick Doblin Is No Longer MAPS’ Executive Director. We Didn’t Notice — Did You?


The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) quietly replaced founder Rick Doblin as Executive Director with Kris Lotlikar.

An open letter in response to John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight episode on Psychedelic Assisted Therapy


Last Week Tonight joined a long and growing list of media outlets that have added fuel to the hype of psychedelic medicalization. By omitting the potential risks and actual harms associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy, this messaging increases the risk to the public by presenting unrealistic expectations about experimental treatments.

Psychedelic Training Provider Fluence Files Trademark for Common Phrase, Walks Back After Criticism


Fluence will no longer seek a trademark for the phrase “Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration.”

A Channel for Magic: Ralph Hood’s Mysticism Scale and the Occult Roots of the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Program


Psychologist Ralph Hood’s study of serpent handling and mysticism helped legitimize the study of psychedelics. So why doesn't he want them approved for medical use?

The Misadventures of “Toxic Bob”


Throughout his lifetime, Robert Friedland has evolved from Steve Jobs' psychedelic guru to mining guru, leaving a trail of environmental destruction in his wake.

How To Open Your Wallet: The Hyped and Distorted Claims of Online Psychedelic Marketing


From cultural appropriation to “Shroom Boom,” psychedelic online marketing gaffes and misrepresentations are becoming more and more prevalent from major psychedelic organizations.

Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing


Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing. We believe that an organization responsible for private data, in such close proximity to criminalized subcultures, must take matters of privacy and security seriously.

Why New Zealand’s “Smoking Ban” Is Harmful


A tobacco ban will likely reduce smoking. But focusing only on drug use masks the violence behind policy choices. A ban on tobacco is not done with a magic wand. Behind every law is state violence.

The Masters of Bad Trips


As proponents of psychedelics begin to grapple with legacies of abuse, it’s time to learn from victims themselves. Psymposia is co-producing an investigative podcast series, Power Trip, with New York Magazine.

New Website Details Abuse Allegations Against German Psychedelic Practitioners


A new website — whoisjoeschraube.com — alleges that Joe Schraube and Miguel Delgado have taken advantage of positions of power and abused people under the influence of psychedelics.

MAPS Canada’s Data Breach Foreshadows Corporadelic Future


As the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry increasingly prioritizes personal data extraction through mobile apps, wearables, and so-called “targeted” medicine, a recent data breach by former MAPS Canada Executive Director Mark Haden provides a warning about some of the possible consequences to the financial incentives of datafication.

DoubleBlind Claims Its Ad Was the ‘First-Ever’ U.S. Psychedelic Destigmatization Campaign — It Wasn’t


DoubleBlind claims its recently-unveiled New York City billboard is a lot of things, except what it actually is: a giant advertisement.

Culture


Psymposia’s Response to Heroic Hearts’ Pharma-Backed Press Conference


Veterans deserve the highest quality treatment for PTSD. It’s unacceptable and dangerous to use veterans as guinea pigs for a big pharma profit grab without resolving safety and efficacy concerns.

Every Disclosed Conflict of Interest at Psychedelic Science 2023


All the financial conflict disclosures from Psychedelics Science 2023 speakers, in one handy list.

Psychedelic Science 2023 Contract Muzzles Speakers: Two Clauses Dictate What Presenters Can and Can’t Say


In order to present at Psychedelic Science 2023, speakers must agree to two out-of-the-ordinary requests about content exclusivity and MAPS’ reputation.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 4: The Church That Cried Capitalism


The Church of Psilomethoxin claims it’s the victim of “psychedelic capitalism,” but almost everything it claims is wrong.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 3: Matters of Faith. Father, Son, and Wholly Dosed?


The Church of Psilomethoxin now admits that its claims about psilomethoxin are solely based on faith. But how strong are the religious convictions of the Church?

The Church of Psilomethoxin Part 2: Unraveling the Sacred Chemistry


Psymposia’s investigation into the Church of Psilomethoxin (CoP) turns to the Church’s claims that it’s currently “scientifically impossible” to test for psilomethoxin. Psychedelic chemist David Nichols calls that claim “completely nonsensical and nonscientific.

Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 1: Sacramental Skepticism. Is the Church in Denial?


This is the first article in a series investigating the Church of Psilomethoxin (CoP), exploring the recent debate about the Church's sacrament and the people involved in promoting the Church and its claims.

Rick Doblin Is No Longer MAPS’ Executive Director. We Didn’t Notice — Did You?


The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) quietly replaced founder Rick Doblin as Executive Director with Kris Lotlikar.

An open letter in response to John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight episode on Psychedelic Assisted Therapy


Last Week Tonight joined a long and growing list of media outlets that have added fuel to the hype of psychedelic medicalization. By omitting the potential risks and actual harms associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy, this messaging increases the risk to the public by presenting unrealistic expectations about experimental treatments.

Psychedelic Training Provider Fluence Files Trademark for Common Phrase, Walks Back After Criticism


Fluence will no longer seek a trademark for the phrase “Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration.”

A Channel for Magic: Ralph Hood’s Mysticism Scale and the Occult Roots of the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Program


Psychologist Ralph Hood’s study of serpent handling and mysticism helped legitimize the study of psychedelics. So why doesn't he want them approved for medical use?

The Misadventures of “Toxic Bob”


Throughout his lifetime, Robert Friedland has evolved from Steve Jobs' psychedelic guru to mining guru, leaving a trail of environmental destruction in his wake.

How To Open Your Wallet: The Hyped and Distorted Claims of Online Psychedelic Marketing


From cultural appropriation to “Shroom Boom,” psychedelic online marketing gaffes and misrepresentations are becoming more and more prevalent from major psychedelic organizations.

Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing


Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing. We believe that an organization responsible for private data, in such close proximity to criminalized subcultures, must take matters of privacy and security seriously.

Why New Zealand’s “Smoking Ban” Is Harmful


A tobacco ban will likely reduce smoking. But focusing only on drug use masks the violence behind policy choices. A ban on tobacco is not done with a magic wand. Behind every law is state violence.

The Masters of Bad Trips


As proponents of psychedelics begin to grapple with legacies of abuse, it’s time to learn from victims themselves. Psymposia is co-producing an investigative podcast series, Power Trip, with New York Magazine.

New Website Details Abuse Allegations Against German Psychedelic Practitioners


A new website — whoisjoeschraube.com — alleges that Joe Schraube and Miguel Delgado have taken advantage of positions of power and abused people under the influence of psychedelics.

MAPS Canada’s Data Breach Foreshadows Corporadelic Future


As the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry increasingly prioritizes personal data extraction through mobile apps, wearables, and so-called “targeted” medicine, a recent data breach by former MAPS Canada Executive Director Mark Haden provides a warning about some of the possible consequences to the financial incentives of datafication.

DoubleBlind Claims Its Ad Was the ‘First-Ever’ U.S. Psychedelic Destigmatization Campaign — It Wasn’t


DoubleBlind claims its recently-unveiled New York City billboard is a lot of things, except what it actually is: a giant advertisement.