I have been standing in front of audiences for thirty years talking about
audiences for thirty years talking about
audiences for thirty years talking about drugs and I often start my presentations
drugs and I often start my presentations
drugs and I often start my presentations with an apology
with an apology
with an apology specifically I apologize for the lies of
specifically I apologize for the lies of
specifically I apologize for the lies of past drug educators including myself and
past drug educators including myself and
past drug educators including myself and I acknowledge that we’ve told three lies
I acknowledge that we’ve told three lies
I acknowledge that we’ve told three lies we’ve exaggerated the harms of drugs
we’ve exaggerated the harms of drugs
we’ve exaggerated the harms of drugs we’ve never acknowledged the benefits of
we’ve never acknowledged the benefits of
we’ve never acknowledged the benefits of drugs and we’ve never talked about the
drugs and we’ve never talked about the
drugs and we’ve never talked about the dominant model for controlling drugs in
dominant model for controlling drugs in
dominant model for controlling drugs in our society which is drug prohibition
our society which is drug prohibition
our society which is drug prohibition which has failed us all so badly now for
which has failed us all so badly now for
which has failed us all so badly now for much of my career I’ve talked about that
much of my career I’ve talked about that
much of my career I’ve talked about that last point talked about the failure of
last point talked about the failure of
last point talked about the failure of the war on drugs but today I’m going to
the war on drugs but today I’m going to
the war on drugs but today I’m going to talk about the benefits of drugs
talk about the benefits of drugs
talk about the benefits of drugs specifically I’m going to talk about
specifically I’m going to talk about
specifically I’m going to talk about psychedelics now psychedelics have been
psychedelics now psychedelics have been
psychedelics now psychedelics have been around in human cultures since before
around in human cultures since before
around in human cultures since before recorded human history and we can see at
recorded human history and we can see at
recorded human history and we can see at least four communities cultures today
least four communities cultures today
least four communities cultures today that have woven the psychedelic
that have woven the psychedelic
that have woven the psychedelic experience into the fabric of their
experience into the fabric of their
experience into the fabric of their culture does the curanderos use of
culture does the curanderos use of
culture does the curanderos use of psilocybin mushrooms the ayahuasca used
psilocybin mushrooms the ayahuasca used
psilocybin mushrooms the ayahuasca used in the Amazon basin there’s the whole
in the Amazon basin there’s the whole
in the Amazon basin there’s the whole use of peyote and the shamanic use of
use of peyote and the shamanic use of
use of peyote and the shamanic use of Amanita muscaria in Siberia now on the
Amanita muscaria in Siberia now on the
Amanita muscaria in Siberia now on the surface how the container of safety is
surface how the container of safety is
surface how the container of safety is created with these cultures with this
created with these cultures with this
created with these cultures with this psychedelic experience is all different
psychedelic experience is all different
psychedelic experience is all different but if you look at how the experience is
but if you look at how the experience is
but if you look at how the experience is integrated into the culture that it’s
integrated into the culture that it’s
integrated into the culture that it’s actually quite similar they’re used for
actually quite similar they’re used for
actually quite similar they’re used for healing
healing
healing everything from psychological to
everything from psychological to
everything from psychological to physical issues they’re used for
physical issues they’re used for
physical issues they’re used for celebration of transitions everything
celebration of transitions everything
celebration of transitions everything from seasonal changes to puberty rites
from seasonal changes to puberty rites
from seasonal changes to puberty rites and they’re used for spirituality to
and they’re used for spirituality to
and they’re used for spirituality to connect the individuals and the culture
connect the individuals and the culture
connect the individuals and the culture to the cosmos as a whole
if I wanted to use one word to describe
if I wanted to use one word to describe that what I would say is the word would
that what I would say is the word would
that what I would say is the word would be pro-social psychedelics have always
be pro-social psychedelics have always
be pro-social psychedelics have always been used to connect people to their
been used to connect people to their
been used to connect people to their culture and to the universe so it was
culture and to the universe so it was
culture and to the universe so it was historically unprecedented what happened
historically unprecedented what happened
historically unprecedented what happened in the 1960s when psychedelics got
in the 1960s when psychedelics got
in the 1960s when psychedelics got linked to an antisocial message it had
linked to an antisocial message it had
linked to an antisocial message it had never happened before Tim Leary said
never happened before Tim Leary said
never happened before Tim Leary said tune in turn on and drop out and the
tune in turn on and drop out and the
tune in turn on and drop out and the subsequent social backlash has caused
subsequent social backlash has caused
subsequent social backlash has caused immense human suffering and it goes on
immense human suffering and it goes on
immense human suffering and it goes on today at a bit early there were some
today at a bit early there were some
today at a bit early there were some other cultural issues going on at the
other cultural issues going on at the
other cultural issues going on at the time but certainly that disconnects
time but certainly that disconnects
time but certainly that disconnects message was profound and the media
message was profound and the media
message was profound and the media participated in the spinning of a web of
participated in the spinning of a web of
participated in the spinning of a web of illusions LSD Safed ape rapes TV actress
LSD made me a prostitute girl gives
LSD made me a prostitute girl gives birth to frog and even the science of
birth to frog and even the science of
birth to frog and even the science of the time was suppressed for 40 years
the time was suppressed for 40 years
the time was suppressed for 40 years scientists couldn’t do what they needed
scientists couldn’t do what they needed
scientists couldn’t do what they needed to do which is measure stuff now can I
to do which is measure stuff now can I
to do which is measure stuff now can I think of any other time in human history
think of any other time in human history
think of any other time in human history when science is either being suppressed
when science is either being suppressed
when science is either being suppressed or criminalized well it’s a matter of
or criminalized well it’s a matter of
or criminalized well it’s a matter of fact I can in 1616 and then for the hub
fact I can in 1616 and then for the hub
fact I can in 1616 and then for the hub subsequent 143 years the science of the
subsequent 143 years the science of the
subsequent 143 years the science of the telescope was banned it was illegal for
telescope was banned it was illegal for
telescope was banned it was illegal for people to report what they saw through
people to report what they saw through
people to report what they saw through the lens of the telescope specifically
the lens of the telescope specifically
the lens of the telescope specifically that the earth was not the center of the
that the earth was not the center of the
that the earth was not the center of the universe LSD is to the study of the mind
universe LSD is to the study of the mind
universe LSD is to the study of the mind what the telescope is to astronomy and
what the telescope is to astronomy and
what the telescope is to astronomy and what the microscope is to biology
what the microscope is to biology
what the microscope is to biology according to stanislav grof well
according to stanislav grof well
according to stanislav grof well psychedelics are back
this is the Canadian Medical Association
this is the Canadian Medical Association Journal the conservative voice of
Journal the conservative voice of
Journal the conservative voice of Canadian medicine with a number of
Canadian medicine with a number of
Canadian medicine with a number of articles exploring the psychedelic
articles exploring the psychedelic
articles exploring the psychedelic Renaissance the explosion of research
Renaissance the explosion of research
Renaissance the explosion of research has happened in recent years that’s
has happened in recent years that’s
has happened in recent years that’s really what I want to talk to you about
really what I want to talk to you about
really what I want to talk to you about but to be really clear what I’m talking
but to be really clear what I’m talking
but to be really clear what I’m talking about here is skilled trained competent
about here is skilled trained competent
about here is skilled trained competent professionals using pure substances in
professionals using pure substances in
professionals using pure substances in ways that are well supervised I’m not
ways that are well supervised I’m not
ways that are well supervised I’m not talking about impure street drugs used
talking about impure street drugs used
talking about impure street drugs used by unsupervised irresponsible
by unsupervised irresponsible
by unsupervised irresponsible adolescents so how do researchers think
adolescents so how do researchers think
adolescents so how do researchers think about psychedelics these days because
about psychedelics these days because
about psychedelics these days because they break them into three categories
they break them into three categories
they break them into three categories the first are the classics LSD mescaline
the first are the classics LSD mescaline
the first are the classics LSD mescaline dimethyltryptamine and psilocybin and
dimethyltryptamine and psilocybin and
dimethyltryptamine and psilocybin and these offer researchers a variety of
these offer researchers a variety of
these offer researchers a variety of attributes that are worthy of
attributes that are worthy of
attributes that are worthy of investigation for example spirituality
investigation for example spirituality
investigation for example spirituality now it’s kind of neutral spirituality
now it’s kind of neutral spirituality
now it’s kind of neutral spirituality because Buddhists find the Buddha
because Buddhists find the Buddha
because Buddhists find the Buddha Christian’s find Christ an atheists and
Christian’s find Christ an atheists and
Christian’s find Christ an atheists and agnostics find the entire universe and
agnostics find the entire universe and
agnostics find the entire universe and this particular aspect of these
this particular aspect of these
this particular aspect of these medicines is quite useful for situations
medicines is quite useful for situations
medicines is quite useful for situations like end-of-life anxiety when we are
like end-of-life anxiety when we are
like end-of-life anxiety when we are dying and we’re anxious about the
dying and we’re anxious about the
dying and we’re anxious about the experience and we take a dosage of
experience and we take a dosage of
experience and we take a dosage of psilocybin and we meet our maker and
psilocybin and we meet our maker and
psilocybin and we meet our maker and we’re told it’s okay we can relax we’re
we’re told it’s okay we can relax we’re
we’re told it’s okay we can relax we’re just coming home it tends to reduce the
just coming home it tends to reduce the
just coming home it tends to reduce the stress of that transition the classical
stress of that transition the classical
stress of that transition the classical psychedelics also offer a disorientation
psychedelics also offer a disorientation
psychedelics also offer a disorientation of the ego which can be very helpful in
of the ego which can be very helpful in
of the ego which can be very helpful in things like treatment for alcoholism
things like treatment for alcoholism
things like treatment for alcoholism they also increase the permeability
they also increase the permeability
they also increase the permeability between the unconscious and the
between the unconscious and the
between the unconscious and the conscious mind they allow us to have
conscious mind they allow us to have
conscious mind they allow us to have access
access
access to our unconscious in a way that we
to our unconscious in a way that we
to our unconscious in a way that we don’t normally if you really think about
don’t normally if you really think about
don’t normally if you really think about the human experience a lot of our lives
the human experience a lot of our lives
the human experience a lot of our lives are lived unconsciously for example
are lived unconsciously for example
are lived unconsciously for example driving a car our conscious mind is
driving a car our conscious mind is
driving a car our conscious mind is thinking about the radio and what we’re
thinking about the radio and what we’re
thinking about the radio and what we’re gonna have for lunch and the conflict we
gonna have for lunch and the conflict we
gonna have for lunch and the conflict we had with our spouse or whatever we don’t
had with our spouse or whatever we don’t
had with our spouse or whatever we don’t think about our feet our unconscious
think about our feet our unconscious
think about our feet our unconscious mind is driving the car we live our
mind is driving the car we live our
mind is driving the car we live our lives with lots of tape loops that just
lives with lots of tape loops that just
lives with lots of tape loops that just happen automatically and if something
happen automatically and if something
happen automatically and if something bad happened to us in childhood and it’s
bad happened to us in childhood and it’s
bad happened to us in childhood and it’s replaying itself consistently in our
replaying itself consistently in our
replaying itself consistently in our adult life and causing problems for us
adult life and causing problems for us
adult life and causing problems for us it’s very hard to access because it’s
it’s very hard to access because it’s
it’s very hard to access because it’s unconscious psychedelics can help with
unconscious psychedelics can help with
unconscious psychedelics can help with that psychedelics also offer the classic
that psychedelics also offer the classic
that psychedelics also offer the classic psychedelics offer what I call the
psychedelics offer what I call the
psychedelics offer what I call the portal effect which is the wow that was
portal effect which is the wow that was
portal effect which is the wow that was incredible effect it’s a bit like
incredible effect it’s a bit like
incredible effect it’s a bit like climbing Mount Everest or graduating
climbing Mount Everest or graduating
climbing Mount Everest or graduating high school you have a sense of
high school you have a sense of
high school you have a sense of accomplishment and transition and that’s
accomplishment and transition and that’s
accomplishment and transition and that’s very helpful in many conditions the
very helpful in many conditions the
very helpful in many conditions the second group of psychedelics are the
second group of psychedelics are the
second group of psychedelics are the empathic ins 3 mm C MDA MDMA are
empathic ins 3 mm C MDA MDMA are
empathic ins 3 mm C MDA MDMA are examples and what they do is they bond
examples and what they do is they bond
examples and what they do is they bond people and increase empathy and that’s
people and increase empathy and that’s
people and increase empathy and that’s really useful to bond a therapist to
really useful to bond a therapist to
really useful to bond a therapist to somebody who wants some help
somebody who wants some help
somebody who wants some help that connection is really important it
that connection is really important it
that connection is really important it could be facilitated with these
could be facilitated with these
could be facilitated with these medicines they also take away fear so if
medicines they also take away fear so if
medicines they also take away fear so if a soldier who’s been in battle in
a soldier who’s been in battle in
a soldier who’s been in battle in Afghanistan comes back to North American
Afghanistan comes back to North American
Afghanistan comes back to North American is replaying that trauma again and again
is replaying that trauma again and again
is replaying that trauma again and again normal therapy can’t access it partly
normal therapy can’t access it partly
normal therapy can’t access it partly because it’s unconscious but partly
because it’s unconscious but partly
because it’s unconscious but partly because if anything it gets close to it
because if anything it gets close to it
because if anything it gets close to it has a huge fear response and MDMA
has a huge fear response and MDMA
has a huge fear response and MDMA specifically takes away that fear and
specifically takes away that fear and
specifically takes away that fear and allows the tape to be reworked it
allows the tape to be reworked it
allows the tape to be reworked it appears that mdma-assisted psychotherapy
appears that mdma-assisted psychotherapy
appears that mdma-assisted psychotherapy may be the best treatment for PTSD
may be the best treatment for PTSD
may be the best treatment for PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder that
post-traumatic stress disorder that
post-traumatic stress disorder that exists
and then there’s everything else things
and then there’s everything else things like ibogaine which appear to be
like ibogaine which appear to be
like ibogaine which appear to be incredibly helpful for heroin
incredibly helpful for heroin
incredibly helpful for heroin withdrawals opiate addiction this 2cb
withdrawals opiate addiction this 2cb
withdrawals opiate addiction this 2cb the salvia and this ketamine that seems
the salvia and this ketamine that seems
the salvia and this ketamine that seems to be helpful for depression now my own
to be helpful for depression now my own
to be helpful for depression now my own area of academic interest is
area of academic interest is
area of academic interest is articulating post-prohibition models for
articulating post-prohibition models for
articulating post-prohibition models for the regulation and control of all
the regulation and control of all
the regulation and control of all currently illegal drugs based on public
currently illegal drugs based on public
currently illegal drugs based on public health principles you might have noticed
health principles you might have noticed
health principles you might have noticed drug prohibition is slowly crumbling
drug prohibition is slowly crumbling
drug prohibition is slowly crumbling under the weight of its own
under the weight of its own
under the weight of its own ineffectiveness it does not protect our
ineffectiveness it does not protect our
ineffectiveness it does not protect our communities it does not protect our
communities it does not protect our
communities it does not protect our families and it does not protect our
families and it does not protect our
families and it does not protect our children so it will end and I ask the
children so it will end and I ask the
children so it will end and I ask the question what are we going to replace it
question what are we going to replace it
question what are we going to replace it with peering through the lens of Public
with peering through the lens of Public
with peering through the lens of Public Health so the goal of a public health
Health so the goal of a public health
Health so the goal of a public health approach is to maximize the benefits and
approach is to maximize the benefits and
approach is to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms I’ve already talked
minimize the harms I’ve already talked
minimize the harms I’ve already talked about some benefits so I’d like to talk
about some benefits so I’d like to talk
about some benefits so I’d like to talk about harms the harms from all drugs can
about harms the harms from all drugs can
about harms the harms from all drugs can be broken into three categories
dependency toxicity and behavior
dependency toxicity and behavior dependency I worked for the addiction
dependency I worked for the addiction
dependency I worked for the addiction services for 30 years
services for 30 years
services for 30 years nobody ever walked in my office saying I
nobody ever walked in my office saying I
nobody ever walked in my office saying I can’t stop taking LSD it never happened
can’t stop taking LSD it never happened
can’t stop taking LSD it never happened so the dependency potential for
so the dependency potential for
so the dependency potential for psychedelics is really low toxicity the
psychedelics is really low toxicity the
psychedelics is really low toxicity the last time you took a prescription drug
last time you took a prescription drug
last time you took a prescription drug if you took six times the dosage you
if you took six times the dosage you
if you took six times the dosage you probably did yourself harm that 1 to 6
probably did yourself harm that 1 to 6
probably did yourself harm that 1 to 6 ratio is very common for most drugs with
ratio is very common for most drugs with
ratio is very common for most drugs with LSD it’s in the thousands in fact Albert
LSD it’s in the thousands in fact Albert
LSD it’s in the thousands in fact Albert Hofmann who invented LSD said it was one
Hofmann who invented LSD said it was one
Hofmann who invented LSD said it was one of the least toxic substances on the
of the least toxic substances on the
of the least toxic substances on the planet so dependency is very low
planet so dependency is very low
planet so dependency is very low toxicity is very low so all of the harms
toxicity is very low so all of the harms
toxicity is very low so all of the harms from psychedelics come from one thing
from psychedelics come from one thing
from psychedelics come from one thing which is the behavior
which is the behavior
which is the behavior which is essentially lack of supervision
which is essentially lack of supervision
which is essentially lack of supervision now indigenous communities have known
now indigenous communities have known
now indigenous communities have known this for years they’ve always provided
this for years they’ve always provided
this for years they’ve always provided the experience in a very tight container
the experience in a very tight container
the experience in a very tight container of safety where they’re highly
of safety where they’re highly
of safety where they’re highly supervised experiences how researchers
supervised experiences how researchers
supervised experiences how researchers are thinking about this today is they
are thinking about this today is they
are thinking about this today is they think about the words or they talk about
think about the words or they talk about
think about the words or they talk about the words set which is expectations
the words set which is expectations
the words set which is expectations setting which is the environment dosage
setting which is the environment dosage
setting which is the environment dosage which is what you take in how much and
which is what you take in how much and
which is what you take in how much and safety which is the umbrella term so set
safety which is the umbrella term so set
safety which is the umbrella term so set setting safety and dosage are carefully
setting safety and dosage are carefully
setting safety and dosage are carefully structured by the research community
structured by the research community
structured by the research community today so in a post prohibition world if
today so in a post prohibition world if
today so in a post prohibition world if the goal is to maximize the benefits and
the goal is to maximize the benefits and
the goal is to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of psychedelics
minimize the harms of psychedelics
minimize the harms of psychedelics people would have access to the
people would have access to the
people would have access to the psychedelic experience so long as they
psychedelic experience so long as they
psychedelic experience so long as they were supervised there was a container of
were supervised there was a container of
were supervised there was a container of safety built around the experience and
safety built around the experience and
safety built around the experience and somebody was in charge a trained
somebody was in charge a trained
somebody was in charge a trained competent skilled professional who is
competent skilled professional who is
competent skilled professional who is licensed would be allowed to offer the
licensed would be allowed to offer the
licensed would be allowed to offer the experiences to others so long as set
experiences to others so long as set
experiences to others so long as set setting dosage and safety were managed
setting dosage and safety were managed
setting dosage and safety were managed and it wouldn’t matter what the
and it wouldn’t matter what the
and it wouldn’t matter what the environment was it could be indigenous
environment was it could be indigenous
environment was it could be indigenous healing circles
healing circles
healing circles it could be psychedelic psychotherapy it
it could be psychedelic psychotherapy it
it could be psychedelic psychotherapy it could be multi-day dance festivals it
could be multi-day dance festivals it
could be multi-day dance festivals it doesn’t matter as long as somebody is in
doesn’t matter as long as somebody is in
doesn’t matter as long as somebody is in charge I would like to reflect on the
charge I would like to reflect on the
charge I would like to reflect on the human predicament today we’re in trouble
human predicament today we’re in trouble
human predicament today we’re in trouble as a species global climate change is
as a species global climate change is
as a species global climate change is affecting all of us there’s a
affecting all of us there’s a
affecting all of us there’s a concentration of wealth at the top of
concentration of wealth at the top of
concentration of wealth at the top of the pile that is unprecedented in any
the pile that is unprecedented in any
the pile that is unprecedented in any society so few people control so much
society so few people control so much
society so few people control so much wealth there’s a huge amount of violence
wealth there’s a huge amount of violence
wealth there’s a huge amount of violence and religious extremism and we live in
and religious extremism and we live in
and religious extremism and we live in these fairly strange societies were
these fairly strange societies were
these fairly strange societies were somehow we’ve equated happiness with
somehow we’ve equated happiness with
somehow we’ve equated happiness with buying stuff
buying stuff
buying stuff so if I really think about those
so if I really think about those
so if I really think about those problems there problems of disconnection
problems there problems of disconnection
problems there problems of disconnection we are disconnected from the earth we
we are disconnected from the earth we
we are disconnected from the earth we are disconnected from each other we are
are disconnected from each other we are
are disconnected from each other we are disconnected from a true sense of
disconnected from a true sense of
disconnected from a true sense of meaning and purpose in our lives and
meaning and purpose in our lives and
meaning and purpose in our lives and we’re disconnected from healthy
we’re disconnected from healthy
we’re disconnected from healthy spiritual experiences the good news is
spiritual experiences the good news is
spiritual experiences the good news is psychedelics are all about connections
psychedelics are all about connections
psychedelics are all about connections these two images are very powerful their
these two images are very powerful their
these two images are very powerful their depictions of the human brain based on
depictions of the human brain based on
depictions of the human brain based on neuroscience the one on the left is the
neuroscience the one on the left is the
neuroscience the one on the left is the normal human brain the parts of the
normal human brain the parts of the
normal human brain the parts of the outside of the circle are the different
outside of the circle are the different
outside of the circle are the different parts of the human brain the visual
parts of the human brain the visual
parts of the human brain the visual cortex for example notice that the
cortex for example notice that the
cortex for example notice that the visual cortex talks a lot to the visual
visual cortex talks a lot to the visual
visual cortex talks a lot to the visual cortex and not a lot to the other parts
cortex and not a lot to the other parts
cortex and not a lot to the other parts of the brain the image on the right is
of the brain the image on the right is
of the brain the image on the right is the human brain under the influence of
the human brain under the influence of
the human brain under the influence of psilocybin notice the rich range of new
psilocybin notice the rich range of new
psilocybin notice the rich range of new connections that are formed psychedelics
connections that are formed psychedelics
connections that are formed psychedelics are all about connections connections
are all about connections connections
are all about connections connections with self we have access to our
with self we have access to our
with self we have access to our unconscious minds in a way we do not
unconscious minds in a way we do not
unconscious minds in a way we do not normally have access to
normally have access to
normally have access to connections with each other that’s the
connections with each other that’s the
connections with each other that’s the empathic and research connections with a
empathic and research connections with a
empathic and research connections with a sense of meaning and purpose to life
sense of meaning and purpose to life
sense of meaning and purpose to life there’s a lot of research done on that
there’s a lot of research done on that
there’s a lot of research done on that and connections with a sense of true
and connections with a sense of true
and connections with a sense of true spirituality indigenous communities have
spirituality indigenous communities have
spirituality indigenous communities have known that for centuries I
sake Asimov said one of the saddest
sake Asimov said one of the saddest aspects of life now is that science
aspects of life now is that science
aspects of life now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society
gathers knowledge faster than society
gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom we as a human species
gathers wisdom we as a human species
gathers wisdom we as a human species need to grow up we need to take
need to grow up we need to take
need to grow up we need to take advantage of and learn and work with the
advantage of and learn and work with the
advantage of and learn and work with the knowledge that we already have and
knowledge that we already have and
knowledge that we already have and perhaps just perhaps something that
perhaps just perhaps something that
perhaps just perhaps something that could help us mature as a species and
could help us mature as a species and
could help us mature as a species and maybe even insist with our survival is
maybe even insist with our survival is
maybe even insist with our survival is mature skillful wise use of psychedelic
mature skillful wise use of psychedelic
mature skillful wise use of psychedelic medicines thank you
”
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